Meet East Lansing City Council Candidate Chuck Grigsby
This is part three of ELi’s City Council candidate series. Over three days, ELi will publish articles introducing each of the six candidates in this November’s election.
Chuck Grigsby said he has always been interested in community engagement. When he moved to East Lansing, the first thing he did was start volunteering at Glencairn elementary.
“I really feel like I have a skill set that allows me to be able to work in emotional situations, to come to positive outcomes that benefit East Lansing all together,” Grigsby said.
Grigsby’s top priorities include balancing the budget, increasing transparency and making the city more accessible to prospective residents and small business owners.
Grigsby ran for City Council in 2021, finishing third behind Mayor George Brookover and Councilmember Dana Watson. He previously chaired both the Human Rights Commission, and the Police Oversight Commission Study Committee. In 2018, he founded Prime Time Mentoring and Educational Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth engagement and leadership.
Candidate background
In 2016, Grigsby and his family moved to East Lansing, his wife’s hometown. He holds a masters degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, and said he is interested in getting his doctorate in Criminal Justice Leadership.
He previously worked for the Iowa State Attorney General’s Office as an investigator, and attained certifications in restorative justice and mediation at Central Michigan University.
“That’s another element I bring to the table, in regards to being able to see conflict, deal with issues and not be emotionally charged by them, but go through data driven avenues, being able to see different perspectives and approaches and being able to provide solutions,” Grigsby said.
The longer he lives in East Lansing, Grigsby said, the more interested he becomes in how the city runs. He participated in the Emerging Leaders Program, where he gained a “wealth of knowledge” about city history, government and structure.
Budget
Balancing the budget is at the top of Grigsby’s priority list. He said the budgeting process should be transparent.
“We have some major financial challenges, and we will have to make some big decisions as we go ahead about how we address those financial challenges,” Grigsby said. “One of the things I think is important when you’re making these decisions, or part of these solutions, is to be transparent and have accountability. It’s really, really important as we address these financial challenges, that we have a transparent process.”
Grigsby supports community involvement in the budgetary process to increase public trust, especially given the controversial nature of the city’s recent financial challenges.
“A lot of cities around the nation are struggling financially, but I think what we’ve done historically have been self-inflicted wounds,” Grigsby said, citing the examples of the BWL “Franchise Fee” lawsuit, premature split with former City Manager George Lahanas and switching city attorneys. “Those financial choices add up quickly, and it can weaken public trust when we’re in a situation where we have some financial challenges.”
Grigsby said he agrees with the creation of the Financial Health Review Committee and the soon-to-be assembled team’s focus on past and current pensions, healthcare and general costs.
“Their findings can give us smarter, more sustainable decision making and opportunities,” Grigsby said. “This is something we need to get ourselves back into a strong financial footing.”
Development
Grigsby said it is important for city leaders to make it easier for small businesses and families to get footing in East Lansing.
“I want to be able to have small businesses come in here, have the confidence that they can thrive here in East Lansing,” Grigsby said. “I don’t want to have barriers to what that process is. I think we need to have more diversity in businesses, and think outside the box with the Downtown Development Authority about ideas, as well as working with the community to find what they’re looking for, and looking at that in an innovative way.”
Grigsby said the high cost and low diversity in East Lansing’s housing market dissuades families and students from staying. He suggested working closely with city commissions and using their expertise to find the best solution.
“I come from an experience of leaning on what commissions do, and the input they have because that’s what they’re there for,” Grigsby said. “They put a lot of time in, and have a lot of expertise that none of us on council have, as well as different backgrounds. Capitalizing on that resource of skill sets in there, and seeing what those ideas are and having a process where they can kick those things up to council, they can really break through with some innovative stuff.”
Other priorities
Grigsby said he would be interested in bringing his background of youth mentorship to council and create an Emerging Leaders Program for youth.
“I think it’s important that we invest in our young people so we can continue to groom leaders for our community,” Grigsby said. “Getting them involved at a level where they can feel like they’re part of their community and they influence what happens in the community. It doesn’t have to be all city government stuff, but giving them opportunities to volunteer, to have internships and other opportunities.”
Grigsby said he took the time since his last run for council to be with his family, who encouraged him to run again.
“Reconnecting with people in different areas of the community, because they all have unique leadership perspectives, that’s really where I’m at now,” Grigsby said. “I want to be a part of East Lansing’s future in regards to our financial health, our quality of life, health and other things that are important to us as we grow and go forward as a city.”
Editor’s note: Chuck Grigsby previously served as president of ELi’s board of directors.