History was made Wednesday evening as Trini Lopez-Pehlivanoglu was sworn in as the one of the newest Councilmembers and became the first ever Latina to serve on the Lansing City Council since the city was founded in 1847.
Lopez-Pehlivanoglu won one of the two At-Large berths in the November 2023 election. Tamera Carter also was sworn in by Judge Kristen Simmons to the other At-Large spot and both Carter and Lopez-Pehlivanoglu will serve through 2027.
Jeremy Garza who was first elected to represent the 2nd Ward on the City Council in November 2017, was unanimously elected by his colleagues to become the first Latino President of the Council since Tony Benavides in 2003. Benavides spent 20 years as a Councilmember and held the President’s office multiple times, the last of which was from 2002-2003. He would then become Mayor from 2003-2006.
Also elected last night was Councilmember Ryan Kost who represents the City’s First Ward and Adam Hussain who was reelected to serve the 3rd Ward and was elected by his peers to be the City Council’s Vice President in a unanimous vote. Both Kost and Hussein will serve until the end of November 2027.
“I think this is a very big honor, so thank you,” Garza said. “I will make sure that we are collaborative. I look forward to working with you guys. Let’s get to work.” Garza, who represents the 2nd Ward, was first elected to council in November 2017.
