Lansing faces crowded field in 2021 mayor, City Council elections. Here's who's running.

Sarah Lehr
Lansing State Journal

LANSING — City candidates will be competing in a crowded field after 20 people filed to run by the deadline Tuesday afternoon.

A nonpartisan primary Aug. 3 will narrow down the number of contenders before the Nov. 2 general election.

Familiar political faces will be vying for the mayor's office, including incumbent Mayor Andy Schor, City Council Member Patricia Spitzley and Council Member Kathie Dunbar.

Larry James Hutchinson, Jr., Farhan Sheik-Omar and Melissa Huber also have filed to run for mayor. 

Virg Bernero, who faces multiple allegations of sexual harassment, dropped his 2021 mayoral bid Sunday. Bernero served three terms as Lansing's mayor from 2006 through 2017. 

More: NAACP denounces Schor's treatment of employees, references discrimination lawsuits

More: Former staffer glad she shared her harassment story, but doubts Bernero has changed

Primary races to elect the mayor, two at-large council positions and the 2nd Ward council seat will be contested.

The at-large candidates include two people familiar to local public office — City Council President Peter Spadafore and Lansing school board member Rachel Willis. There is an open at-large seat because Dunbar cannot run for both mayor and council.

Only two 4th Ward City Council candidates — incumbent Brian Jackson and Elvin Caldwell — filed to run which means both candidates will advance to the general election without a primary.

Incumbent Chris Swope is the only person running for city clerk. 

Related: Former Mayor Virg Bernero drops Lansing mayoral bid, Dunbar joins the race

Who's filed to run?

An asterisk denotes an incumbent.

Mayor (elect 1)

  • Larry James Hutchinson Jr
  • Andy Schor*
  • Melissa Huber
  • Patricia Spitzley
  • Farhan Sheikh-Omar
  • Kathie Dunbar

City Clerk (elect 1)

  • Chris Swope*

At-large City Council (elect 2)

  • Jeffrey Brown
  • Grant M Blood II
  • Peter Spadafore*
  • D. Taft
  • Linda D. Appling
  • Rachel R. Willis
  • Claretta Duckett-Freeman
  • Linda Keefe

2nd Ward City Council, southeast Lansing (elect 1)

  • Nicklas Zande
  • Jeremy A. Garza*
  • Oprah Revish

4th Ward City Council, northwest Lansing (elect 1)

  • Brian T. Jackson*
  • Elvin Caldwell

Source: Lansing City Clerk's Office

Contact reporter Sarah Lehr at slehr@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGLehr.