History will be made in the City of Lansing on Monday, January 5, 2026 as four of the eight seats on the council, will be held by Latinos. It was only 8 years ago that there were no Latinos on the Council. Lansing becomes the first city in the State of Michigan (dare we say the Midwest?) to have a city council comprising of 50% Latinos.
Once upon a time when Tony Benavides was the Executive Director of the Cristo Rey Community Center, he probably never dreamed that one day, he would be a Lansing City Councilman (1982- 2003). And then the Mayor of Lansing (2003-2005). And on May 6, 2019, the Chamber, where the City Council meetings take place, would be officially named the “Tony Benavides Lansing City Council Chambers”. Tony would pass away in April of 2022. You can read about Benavides here: https://cafecitocaliente.com/former-mayor-tony-benavides-passes-away-at-84/
Fast forward to the November 2025 election. Jeremy Garza, the elder statesman of the four at 49, had served two terms to represent the 2nd Ward but gave up that seat to win one of two At-Large seats up for grabs. He is on an upward path within the Greater Lansing and perhaps State of Michigan political arenas all before the age of 50. Clara Martinez, a political newcomer wone the other At-Large seat and was the top vote getter. Deyanira Nevarez Martinez who recently gave up her seat as a first timer on the Lansing School Board of Directors, ran successfully for the open 2nd seat Garza gave up. Let’s not forget about Trini Lopez Pelivanoglu who was elected in November 2024 and who is charting her own future path which looks extremely bright.
Pelivanoglu will hold her seat until January 2028 while the other three Latinos will serve until January 2030. Also, voted on in that November 2025 election was the passing of a change suggested by the Lansing City Commission. Beginning in 2030, a ninth seat will be added to the Council. Lansing officially has about 112,000 people with Latinos being 13. 7% of that population so the 50% is quite amazing.
A special ceremony will be held inside the Tony Benavides Lansing City Council Chambers at 5:30pm, Monday, January 5, 2026, prior to the first Council meeting of 2026. Both Martinez’s (no relation), will be sworn in and Council Officers will be voted on. At 7:00pm, the City Council and it’s two newest members will take their seats. Tony Benavides probably could never have imagined all of this, but I am certain though, he is smiling from the Heavens.
