Meet Joshua Ramirez-Roberts: East Lansing City Council Candidate

Joshua is from East Lansing. He has a bachelor's degree in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University. He is currently pursuing certification in Secondary Social Studies Education.

Joshua Ramirez-Roberts | City Pulse

Meet East Lansing City Council Candidate Joshua Ramirez-Roberts ...

Joshua is a teaching intern at East Lansing High School. He previously worked as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives and spent two years as a student history teacher at East Lansing High School. 

Joshua ran for a seat on the East Lansing City Council in 2023 but did not win. He has served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Community Development Advisory Committee, University Student Commission and the Bailey Community Association.

Supports developing downtown to diversify business and attract professionals.

Believes the city budget allocates too much to public safety, with 60% going there, and wants more transparency on how funds are used, especially regarding the $80 to $100 million in unfunded pension debts.

Said, "We can work towards decreasing that income tax. We can work towards eliminating that income tax."

Opposes the development of large chain businesses in the community, advocating for more small businesses.

- Supports developing downtown to diversify business and attract professionals.
- Believes the city budget allocates too much to public safety, with 60% going there, and wants more transparency on how funds are used, especially regarding the $80 to $100 million in unfunded pension debts.
- Said, "We can work towards decreasing that income tax. We can work towards eliminating that income tax."
- Opposes the development of large chain businesses in the community, advocating for more small businesses.

Economy

Supports building starter homes and mixed-use condos to economically empower new demographics and help graduates settle in East Lansing.

Supports increasing low to moderate income housing in East Lansing.

- Supports building starter homes and mixed-use condos to economically empower new demographics and help graduates settle in East Lansing.
- Supports increasing low to moderate income housing in East Lansing.

Housing & Urban Development

Meet the eight candidates running for East Lansing City Council ...

Supports filling all vacant positions in the Police and Fire Departments.

Supports the implementation of community policing strategies and changes recommended by the Police Oversight Board.

Believes East Lansing should collaborate with Lansing to secure federal and state funding for business opportunities to address violence.

- Supports filling all vacant positions in the Police and Fire Departments.
- Supports the implementation of community policing strategies and changes recommended by the Police Oversight Board.
- Believes East Lansing should collaborate with Lansing to secure federal and state funding for business opportunities to address violence.

Public Safety

As of August 14, 2025, Joshua Ramirez-Roberts did not have a website or any information online.

Healthcare

Supports improving recreation and cultural opportunities.

Believes in aggressively recruiting to fill city positions, but also recruiting experienced staff to lead departments.

- Supports improving recreation and cultural opportunities.
- Believes in aggressively recruiting to fill city positions, but also recruiting experienced staff to lead departments.

Public Services

Supports climate action and believes "every unit of government has an obligation to reduce carbon emissions."

Supports installing solar panels on municipal buildings and transitioning to electric vehicle fleets.

Supports sustainable landscaping practices.

Supports sustainable landscaping practices to combat the population decline of many species.

Supports planting native fruit trees and berry bushes.

- Supports climate action and believes "every unit of government has an obligation to reduce carbon emissions."
- Supports installing solar panels on municipal buildings and transitioning to electric vehicle fleets.
- Supports sustainable landscaping practices to combat the population decline of many species.
- Supports planting native fruit trees and berry bushes.

Energy & the Environment

Supports developing a plan to bury power and utility lines.

Supports upgrading infrastructure to address severe weather events.

- Supports developing a plan to bury power and utility lines.
- Supports upgrading infrastructure to address severe weather events.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Joshua Ramirez-Roberts

Joshua Ramirez-Roberts is from East Lansing. He has a bachelor's degree in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University. He is currently in a year-long teaching internship at East Lansing High School while pursuing certification in Secondary Social Studies Education.

Joshua's campaign for East Lansing City Council Member is his second entry into politics. In 2023, he ran for a seat on the East Lansing City Council but did not win. He has served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Community Development Advisory Committee, University Student Commission and the Bailey Community Association.

Supports restoring police and fire department positions.

- City council members in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Council members attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City council members may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.