Steve Whelan for East Lansing City Council
Listening First, Acting Wisely.
Strong, Accountable Government
East Lansing uses a City Manager/City Council system of government, and I fully support this balanced structure. The City Manager handles day-to-day operations while the City Council sets policy and reviews ordinances. As a councilmember, I will work to keep this balance intact—holding the City Manager accountable while ensuring council remains focused on policy, transparency, and representing the community.
Traffic Safety and Quality of Life
As a career public servant and member of the Ingham County Crash Investigation Team, I’ve seen the devastating results of distracted and impaired driving. I’ll work to make our streets safer—especially for children walking to school—by supporting programs like Safe Routes to School and by partnering with public and private initiatives.
I also support adjusting local ordinances so our police can enforce important parts of Michigan’s Motor Vehicle Code, including issues like excessively loud exhaust and extreme window tinting. These may seem small, but they impact both public safety and quality of life—especially in neighborhoods near Grand River and downtown.
Balanced Growth
East Lansing must plan carefully for the future. Neighboring communities are experiencing significant housing growth, and we need to respond with thoughtful, balanced development projects that expand our tax base and strengthen our community while preserving what makes East Lansing unique.
Addressing Housing Challenges
I’ve seen firsthand how devastating housing insecurity can be. Behind every statistic is a name and a story. Many struggling with homelessness face challenges tied to mental health or substance use. I applaud the work of our Police Social Workers and believe we must expand both public and private partnerships to help our most vulnerable residents.