Erik Altmann is the Mayor of East Lansing

City Council voted to make Erik Altmann the mayor of East Lansing at its meeting last night.

Altmann, who served on council from 2015-2019 and was elected again in 2023, is set to lead city meetings for the next two years as the head of East Lansing’s legislative branch.

“I think we have a great group here. We have people with diverse perspectives and rich experiences and history that they will bring to the table,” Altmann said at last night’s meeting. “That sets us up to consider whatever issues come our way carefully and thoughtfully and from many different angles.”

Altmann was elected in a 3-2 vote. Kerry Ebersole Singh, who has served as mayor pro tem for the last two years, received the other two votes. Along with his vote for himself, Councilmembers Mark Meadows and Steve Whelan voted for Altmann.

After Altmann was voted mayor, newly elected council member Chuck Grigsby was unanimously voted mayor pro tem. In this role, Grigsby will lead city meetings that Altmann is absent for.

Chuck Grigsby is sworn in to the East Lansing City Council alongside his wife, Sara, and son Xander. (Anna Liz Nichols for ELi)

During his comments, Grigsby referenced his time meeting with community members as a volunteer in East Lansing schools and on city commissions.

“That perspective will stay with me in this role, and will guide me to keep asking who is being heard, who is being left out and how can we bring more voices into the conversation,” he said.

At the start of the meeting, Grigsby and Whelan were sworn in to their seats after being elected earlier this month. Whelan started his term by saying he learned a lot about the city while knocking on 3,300 doors campaigning. He acknowledged the city faces challenges, but said he thinks bright days are ahead. He also thanked city staff for their work.

“For those of you on the city staff that are not retired yet, keep on going, we need you,” Whelan said.

Steve Whelan is sworn in to the East Lansing City Council alongside his wife, Sallie. (Anna Liz Nichols for ELi)

Singh, who has served for two years on council, shared several updates at the meeting. She said that historically the Michigan State University president and city leaders met quarterly, but during her time on council that meeting has not taken place. She said the first meeting is scheduled for December.

Singh also spoke about the city’s financial challenges, which will be critical for the council to address.

“Lawsuits that prior council policy [caused] were lost in the last year, totaling $14 million needing to be paid, revenue sharing was cut and we are facing a structural deficit,” she said. “We have our work cut out for us.”