LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Lansing voters will have until polls close Tuesday May 7 to cast their ballots in a special election to select 9 citizens to rewrite the Lansing City Charter.
The Commission could substantially rewrite the Lansing City Charter, or the city’s “constitution,” substantially restructuring the city’s government — from the way local road work is repaired to how local police are funded to who can serve in government voting on where tax dollars are expended.
From community activists to former councilmembers, 36 Lansing residents signed up in January to be elected to the Lansing Charter Revision Commission.
NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN THE RACE
36
NUMBER OF LANSING COMMUNITY ALLIANCE MEMBERS
9
NUMBER OF UNION AND LABOR ENDORSEES
9
NUMBER OF UNAFFILIATED CANDIDATES
18
Half of the candidates have aligned with either the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and labor unions or with the Lansing Community Alliance slate. The remaining candidates are not affiliated. A complete list of candidates is at the end of this report.
With the job to rewrite what Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope calls the city’s “constitution,” on the ballot and three factions vying for attention on a crowded ballot, 6 News took a deep dive into the campaign finance filings of all the candidates. Who is compliance? Who has the most money? Where is the money in the race coming from?
Seventeen of the candidates for the Charter Revision Commission received campaign finance reporting waivers from Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum. That means the candidate, and their committee, will not raise or spend in cash or in-kind donations more than $1,000.
One candidate, Douglas VanBuren Mulkey, had not, as of 5:15 p.m. Thursday filed a campaign statement of organization and owes the county clerk $300 for that violation. In addition, the failure to file a statement of organization is a civil misdemeanor, subject to a fine of up to a $1,000 if prosecuted.
6 News spoke with Mulkey Wednesday morning, and he assured a reporter he had no idea about the violation and fines and would immediately address it.
“My Office has sent four letters to the candidate, on January 24, February 13, March 15 and again on April 29, letting the candidate know about these requirements,” Byrum tells 6 News. “Additionally, my Office provided an email notice of filing requirements to all Lansing Charter Commission candidates on April 19 informing them of the Campaign Finance filing that was due on April 26.”
Two other candidates, Jody Washington and Nichalas Zande, have not updated their campaign committees’ statements of organization. Byrum says they’ve been sent letters.
One candidate, Keith Williams, who did not have a waiver, did not file his campaign finance reports and was cited by the clerk for failing to file his original campaign state of organization Feb. 20, online filings with the Ingham County Clerk show.
Three of the candidates who were required to report their campaign finances, Layna Anderson, Michelle Fickes and Muhammad Qawwee – filed campaign finance reports requiring significant corrections. Byrum says she has notified the candidates by letter and expects those reports to be amended.
Four of the candidates who did file campaign finance reports Friday report having raised or spent no money in their bid to serve. They are Jesse Lasorda, Monte D. Jackson II, Justin Sheehan and Jody Washington.
The remaining 10 candidates reported having raised money for their campaigns.
| Candidate | Reported Income | Loans from Candidate to Their Campaigns | Percentage from Out of City |
| Julie Vandenboom | $5408.38 | 0 | 71.2% |
| Randy Dykhuis | $1,110 | 0 | 27% |
| Health Lowry | $5608.56 | $1,351.76 (24.1%) | 57.9% |
| Lori Adams Simon | $10,394.12 | 0 | 41.5% |
| Ben Dowd | $200 | 0 | 50% |
| Elizabeth Driscoll Boyd | $11,175 | $10,000 (89.5%) | 61% |
| Samuel Klahn | $1,372 | 0 | 12.8% |
| Ross Yednock | $6435 | $755 (11.7%) | 60.2% |
| Brian Jeffries | $11,050 | $11,000 (99.5%) | 100% |
| Dedria Humphries Barker | $3,325 | 0 | 22.7% |
Where the candidates obtained their donations fits into a narrative begun shortly after the March 15 announcement by the Chamber and labor organizations of their joint endorsements.
“Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, the endorsed slate of candidates has been carefully chosen to prioritize the interests of all Lansing residents,” the 12 organizations reported in a news release.
On March 28, the Lansing Community Alliance sent out a news release announcing the formation of its slate.
“The creation of the Lansing Community Alliance reflects many shared concerns regarding the influence of special interest groups in local government elections,” the Alliance wrote in their announcement. “The Lansing Regional Chamber PAC and, to some extent, affiliated labor organizations, are spending considerable money to support the status quo in Lansing in this election.”
Alliance member Samuel Klahn tells 6 News this pushback was, in part, due to what he called a “disingenuous” endorsement process.
He alleges the Chamber and the unions were not clear in their communications with candidates that the 12 organizations would be endorsing 9 candidates together.
More on the Lansing Charter Revision Commission
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Ingham County Clerk Campaign Finance Records
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But he says the Lansing Community Alliance is about more than just pushing back on the organizational endorsements.
“It is about being pro-people, not just being reactivist to the Chamber,” he tells 6 News.
The Alliance’s news release announcing its formation defined its formation as “founded on the belief that every voice matters and deserves to be heard. The Alliance represents the values of inclusivity, integrity, and community engagement in the campaign for the Charter Commission.”
Steve Japinga, vice president of public affairs for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, says his organization’s political action committee has spent $5,000 on the Charter Revision Commission race.
Candidates working together is legal in Michigan. However, Byrum the top election finance enforcer in the county, says there are limits.
“A Candidate Committee may not lend funds or make an expenditure to or on behalf of another Candidate Committee, meaning slate Campaigns in which one candidate committee pays for an ad or other material supporting more than just themselves are not allowed under Michigan Campaign Finance Act,” she says. “Each candidate would have to pay for their portion of the advertisement directly to the vendor, and the advertisement must have the disclaimer of each Candidate Committee that paid for it. Additionally, they would have to report that expenditure on their Campaign Finance Report, if they are required to file with my Office.”
Receiving donations from people who will not be constituents is legal in most instances under Michigan Campaign Finance Act rules. Foreign nationals who don’t have dual citizenship or a green card are not allowed to donate to campaigns. Corporations and businesses are prohibited from making donations to campaigns; however, Limited Liability Companies are allowed to provide in-kind support to a campaign.
Julie Vandenboom, who led the candidates in her out-of-the-city donations, says a $2,250 donation from a woman in Seattle WA makes up the vast majority of her out-of-the-city donations. The woman, she says, graduated from Waverly High School with Vandenbloom in 1992.
“It was one giant donor, a Lansing native who wanted to give back to the community,” Vandenboom says of the Seattle donor.
She says that money Is being dedicated to “voter turnout.”
Vandenboom is one of the Lansing Community Alliance slate members.
“The large donation you asked about has gone almost entirely to a GOTV [Get Out The Vote] mailer hitting today,” Vandenboom texted Thursday. “And GOTV text messaging this weekend.”
Klahn says Vandenboom as well as other slate member’s out-of-the-city fundraising may be reflective of people who live in a nearby community.
“They could live in East Lansing, or Lansing Township, but they work in Lansing and this matters to them,” he says. “They share those ideals and see good people doing good things for the community.”
However, he has does have some concern about the sizeable loans two candidates made to their campaigns.
“My only campaign finance concern is how candidates who give themselves five figures can relate to the average Lansing resident who can’t imagine that much disposable income,” he texted 6 News. “If there’s any actual discrepancy I’m sure that Byrum will notice it and inform them and give them a fine.”
Boyd, who loaned her campaign $10,000, says “I did not request a check from anyone. I thought too many people were running for more important offices and need the money.”
The $1,175 that was donated, she says, was “unsolicited.”
She tells 6 News after filing her campaign reports, she received two “sizeable” checks from donors. She returned one, and with the permission of the other donor, shredded the second check.
Lori Adams Simon, who is not aligned with the Alliance or endorsed by the Chamber and the unions, raised the most money in the race.
“The Black community is definitely stepping up,” she tells 6 News of her campaign fundraising base. She notes that many community members wanted to support her, but don’t live in the city, so they donated.
“The Black community is a powerful voting block,” she says. “They are not voting for a candidate because they’re Black. They’re voting for some one who is qualified. The power of the Black vote can’t be underestimated.”
Here’s the full list of candidates, in order they filed for the race with the Lansing City Clerk:
- Julie Vandenboom – Lansing Community Alliance
- Jody Washington
- Nicklas W. Zande
- Randy Dykhuis – Lansing Community Alliance
- Heath B. Lowry — Lansing Community Alliance
- Michele K. Fickes
- Ted O’Dell
- Stephen Purchase – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Mitch Rice
- Lori Adams Simon
- Ben Dowd
- Joan Bauer – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Corwin Smidt
- Muhammad A. Qawwee II – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Elizabeth Driscoll Boyd – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Jazmin Anderson – Lansing Community Alliance
- Monte D. Jackson II
- Jesse Lasorda
- Tim Knowlton
- Simon Terhaar
- Samuel Klahn – Lansing Community Alliance
- Ross Yednock – Lansing Community Alliance
- Derek Melot
- Britt Houze
- Brian Jeffries – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Dedria Humphries Barker
- Layna Anderson – Lansing Community Alliance
- Jason Wilkes
- Miranda Swartz – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Erica Lynn – Lansing Community Alliance
- Justin Sheehan
- Jerry Norris – Lansing Community Alliance
- Keith Williams – Chamber, Union Endorsee
- Guillermo Z. Lopez – Chamber Union Endorsee
- Douglas VanBuren Mulkey
- Stan S. Shuck
Want to know more about the candidates and what their thoughts are on an issue? Here’s the official contact list from the Lansing City Clerk:
