Council ends dispute with Spitzley as president

LANSING - After nearly two weeks of debate, the Lansing City Council decided Monday night who its new leaders are.

At-Large Council Member Patricia Spitzley, now entering her second year in office, was elected as council president with an 8-0 vote.

"This certainly wasn't my plan," said Spitzley,  who had declined the council president position in a previous meeting. "But I do believe in moving forward and in change -- change with mentorship. I do look forward to this coming year."

Spitzley received the nomination from At-Large Council Member Carol Wood in the council's Committee of the Whole meeting. Wood was elected vice president in the meeting, also with a unanimous vote, after being nominated by Spitzley.

Both Spitzley and Wood also received unanimous votes in council's general meeting. The whole process from nomination to final approval lasted about an hour.

After the meetings, Mayor Virg Bernero showed his approval for the new council leadership.

"Congrats and best wishes to Patricia and Carol!," Bernero wrote in a text message to the Lansing State Journal. "Now let's keep the progress rolling in Lansing."

What divides Lansing City Council? Plenty

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce also applauded council's move to end its leadership dispute.

"We are pleased to see City Council resolved the leadership vote," said Steve Japinga, the chamber's director of government relations, in a statement e-mailed to the LSJ. "We look forward to working with the leadership team and City Council as we continue to build on Lansing’s momentum and focus on financial health, economic development, investment and job creation in the City of Lansing.”

Spitzley has over 15 years of experience in environmental policy, legal affairs and community outreach. She has worked with Michigan’s last three governors and is deputy redevelopment manager for RACER Trust.

Wood has served on City Council since 2000. She has served on and chaired every council committee. The last time she was a council vice president was 2003. Wood spent a month in that position before she became council president. She replaced the seat previously held by Tony Benavides, who became mayor that year. Wood was also served as council vice president for all of 2002.

First Ward Council Member Jody Washington's reaction to the new leadership during the committee meeting: "I'm a little surprised, but I think this is a good mix."

Three questions council members appeared to consider for nearly two weeks before the unanimous votes for leadership were made: Is this person fit to lead? Can I work with that person? If I support that person, will he/she get enough votes of support?

Since the council now has the leadership in place, it doesn't need to consider hiring a mediator to try and resolve the issue, a possibility that  had been discussed last week.

If council members had ended up in need of a mediator, Wood, City Attorney Jim Smiertka and City Clerk Chris Swope said Monday night there were several candidates who were willing to offer their services for free. One of those candidates: former Mayor David Hollister.

Also on Monday, Spitzley, as new council president, assigned members to various council committees. Those included ways and means, development and planning and general services. Spitzley said she made sure not to assign herself to chair any of those committees. But she did emphasize she will be actively involved in as many as possible.

"I recognize as council president it's a weighty job and a weighty responsibility," she said.

Spitzley said she would like to form a new committee to serve as "a blueprint" to help focus on the procedure for conducting committee meetings.

2017: Year of Lansing's political overhaul?

A look at the council members assigned Monday night to each committee:

• General Services: Second Ward Council Member Tina Houghton (chair), Washington (vice chair), Wood (member);
• Intergovernmental Relations: Fourth Ward Council Member Jessica Yorko (chair), At-Large Council Member Judi Borwn Clarke (vice chair), Third Ward Council Member Adam Hussain (vice chair);
• Public Services: At-Large Council Member Kathie Dunbar (chair), Wood (vice chair), Houghton (member);
• Public Safety: Hussain (chair); Wood (vice chair); Houghton (member);
• Development and Planning: Clarke (chair); Yorko (vice chair); Hussain (member); Houghton (member);
• Ways and Means: Washington (chair); Dunbar (vice chair); Wood (member); 
• Personnel: Wood (chair); Spitzley (vice chair); Dunbar (member); Washington (member)

Wood said the meeting schedules for each committee will likely be finalized in council's Jan. 30 meeting. After that, the committees are expected to address several pressing matters including two proposed medical marijuana ordinances, proposed regulations for developers, job creation and affordable housing.

Committees are expected to start meeting early next month, Wood said.

"I think it's important for us to get the work done that's given to us," said Wood, referring to council's full eight-member body.

Houghton, Yorko, Clarke and Dunbar all have terms that expire on Dec. 31. Yorko posted on her Facebook page late last year that she will run for re-election. Clarke is contemplating a run for re-election or a run for mayor. Bernero's term also expires on Dec. 31 and he hasn't decided if he will pursue another four-year term.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.