Councilmember Dana Watson Will Not Seek Reelection
Councilmember Dana Watson will not seek another term on the East Lansing City Council this November.
In an interview with East Lansing Info, she said she is announcing her decision now to encourage other candidates, including students at Michigan State University, to enter the race early.
Watson was first appointed to City Council in 2020 before winning election in 2021.
“My hope is that the early notice will allow the community and future leaders of city council the time needed to connect meaningfully,” she said. “I am a mother, a working American, and someone committed to serving my community. My political aspirations and activism are integral in who I am. And I will remain actively involved in politics, activism and this community.”
Watson said she timed her announcement so Michigan State University students would know about the possibility of a vacant seat before many of them leave for the summer.
She took aim at city leaders who she believes discount students, renters and more transient populations.
“It’s concerning when some members appear to only advocate for their own,” she said. “A key responsibility of any good politician is to think beyond their own political affiliations, consistently act in the best interest of [the] community, and work to find common ground and be accountable to their own beliefs.
“Just as I advocate for our transient students, this is our population and we can’t just represent people that have been here since redlining disappeared. We also have to represent the people who come and go and rent. We have to think about them as well.”
When asked if she had informed other members of council about her decision not to seek reelection, Watson said she had only told Mayor George Brookover.
ELi reached out to Brookover for comment on Watson’s announcement and will update this story if it becomes available.
“The council needs diverse perspectives and our community deserves to be truly understood,” she said. “Representation is key to this as someone older might not fully grasp the realities faced by younger individuals, and the reverse is true.”
Watson said she has witnessed “problematic baton passing” in state and local government, something she wants to avoid in this case.
“Opportunities or progress don’t seem to be passed on or sustained in the same way across different groups,” she said. “For true allyship with [the] community, my male allies must recognize and dismantle their own supremacy. White feminists, similarly, need to confront and take responsibility for theirs.”
While Watson is stepping aside from her post on council, she said she will continue to be engaged in local politics.
“You can expect my attendance to remain consistent and my dedication to the community will not cease until the new council member or members are sworn in,” she said. “My service to this community is an incredible honor, but not without its challenges.”