A photo of George Brookover, who has served as East Lansing Mayor since November of 2023. At tonight's City Council meeting, council will select a new mayor among themselves, as Brookover did not run for reelection. (Dylan Lees for ELi)

New East Lansing Mayor to be Selected, Councilmembers-Elect to be Sworn in at Meeting Tonight

A new era of leadership is upon East Lansing. 

At tonight’s City Council meeting, the first since the Nov. 4 election, the five member council will select a mayor and mayor pro tem among themselves. 

Serving on East Lansing’s City Council is not considered a full-time job, as the mayor makes $11,000 and other council members make about $9,500 annually. City employees report to the city manager, who is hired and fired by City Council. 

Still, the mayor carries an important role in East Lansing, often playing a central part in community celebrations and communicating on behalf of the city. Additionally, denied Freedom of Information Act requests are appealed to the mayor and the mayor often takes the lead on assembling special city committees. Soon, the East Lansing mayor will recommend members of a financial health review team, a recommendation that will then need to be approved by council. 

George Brookover, who has served as mayor for the last two years, did not seek reelection. Of the current council members, Kerry Ebersole Singh has served as mayor pro tem for the last two years, Mark Meadows has had two separate stints as mayor from 1997-2005 and 2015-2019, and Erik Altmann served as mayor pro tem from 2017-2019. 

While being sworn in on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, as a new member of City Council, Kerry Ebersole Singh is joined by her husband State Sen. Sam Singh and son Remington. (Dylan Lees for ELi)

Also at the meeting, Steve Whelan and Chuck Grigsby will be sworn in to council. Grigsby and Whelan will also have the opportunity to be selected as mayor or mayor pro tem. In 2023, Singh was selected as mayor pro tem at the same meeting she was sworn in. 

The public will not have the opportunity to weigh-in before council selects the mayor and mayor pro tem. Tonight’s meeting agenda shows Grigsby and Whelan will be sworn in and then the election of mayor and mayor pro tem will occur. After that, there will be time for public comment. 

The meeting will take place at the Hannah Community Center starting at 7 p.m. Those who are unable to attend in-person can live stream the meeting on the city’s website.