Hussain, Spitzley join Lansing council

LANSING - Lansing voters ousted one incumbent City Council member Tuesday, sending two newcomers and two incumbents to City Hall.

The four winners, to be sworn in by Jan. 1, include At-Large incumbent Carol Wood and 1st Ward incumbent Jody Washington. A'Lynne Boles, an incumbent who sought re-election in the 3rd Ward, was defeated by Adam Hussain, Washington's 34-year-old son. The second at-large seat was won by Patricia Spitzley.

Hussain, a Waverly Middle School teacher, described the 3rd Ward results as "an absolute referendum" pertaining to the direction of southwest Lansing and the positive message his campaign pushed. Hussain said he received a congratulatory phone call from Boles a few minutes after results became official.

"I think it's a new day in Lansing," said Hussain, a married father of three children. "I think residents said 'Enough of the Shenanigans and enough of the political operatives trying to control the conversation.' I couldn't be more proud of southwest Lansing."

Boles released a statement via Facebook late Tuesday, thanking her constituents for their support. "The last eight years have been an absolute privilege. I wish Adam all the best in fulfilling the desires of the residents of (the) 3rd Ward."

In the four-way race for two at-large seats, Wood was the leading vote-getter with all 35 precincts reporting. Unofficial totals showed her with 6,952 and Spitzley with 4,453. Emily Dievendorf and Harold Leeman Jr. also campaigned for one of two at-large spots.

Wood has 15 years of Council experience and said she's proud to once again represent a community that's embraced her approach to local government.

“It’s building on a legacy out there that goes back to my mom and dad," Wood said of her victory. "It's about standing up for what you believe in and being honest and forthright."

Washington finished the night with 1,502 to 787 edge over challenger Shelley Davis Mielock, according to the unofficial tally. Hussain won in the closest race of the night, with unofficial totals showing a 1,441 to 1,369 advantage over Boles.

Washington said she's proud to have constituents who want her back in City Hall and a son who succeeded running a campaign based on integrity. She, however, emphasized that family ties won't get in the way of meeting residents' needs.

“As much as I fight for my ward, I know he will fight for his ward, too," Washington said of her son. "When I’m at that dais (at City Hall) there is no mother and son. I’m there to represent the 1st Ward, not Adam Hussain.”

A large majority of city voters also supported supported a City Charter amendment that limits employment contracts for all at-will city employees. The amendment limits contracts to a maximum one-year term for employees including mayoral appointees, city department directors and those representing all agencies, boards and commissions. Unofficial totals show it passed by 61% to 39%.

The charter amendment states "no such employment contract shall provide separation payments in excess of vested or accrued benefits or payments required by law." Limitations mentioned in the proposal don't apply to contracts established prior to Jan. 1, 2016.

Spitzley has over 15 years of experience in environmental policy, legal affairs and community outreach and said she believes voters supported the charter amendment because of the fallout from the 2013 ice storm. The fallout resulted in the firing of J. Peter Lark, BWL's former general manager. He received a $650,000 settlement from the city.

"One of the things that I felt and heard is that people are just over the negative politics and government," said Spitzley, deputy redevelopment manger for RACER Trust. "You're seeing that across the country. People want a change and they want to see Lansing prosper."

Figures released on Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope's website put turnout in the citywide races at 13% of 80,233 registered voters. Turnout was highest in the 3rd Ward, where 14.9% of 19,819 registered voters cast ballots.

Before results were released, Swope said he expected about 6% of voter turnout to come from absentee ballots. There are 80,233 registered voters in the city's 35 precincts. Swope said his office expected to receive about 4,700 absentee ballots before the polls closed.

The 13% voter turnout, based on Ingham County Clerk's Office data, is Lansing's lowest for a general election since 2007. That election generated 12.38% among 87,046 registered voters and included four City Council seats on the ballot.

Despite low turnout, Washington said the election's results make her optimistic about the new City Council's potential and willingness to build its 2015 momentum.

"When we have disagreed we have disagreed respectfully," Washington said of the current Council. "That old notion of us bickering just isn’t true."

The Aug. 4 primary election drew only 8.7% of the city’s registered voters, according to the Clerk’s Office. Two years ago, when the ballot featured the mayoral race, general election turnout reached 17%.

Voter turnout for a 2011 general election, the last one that featured at-large, lst Ward and 3rd Ward candidates on the ballot, was 19.2%. That ballot also included a proposed City Charter revision.

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.