Deyanira Nevarez Martinez - Ballotpedia

Deyanira Nevarez Martinez is from Gilroy, California. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, a graduate degree from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine. She lives with her husband Richard and their two sons, Carlos and Juan, in Lansing's Ward 2.

Deyanira is an assistant professor at Michigan State University.

Deyanira is currently an at-large member of the Lansing School District Board of Education.

Supports investments in job training, small business support, and local hiring practices that connect residents, especially youth and returning citizens, to stable, living-wage employment.

Supports investments in job training, small business support, and local hiring practices that connect residents to stable, living-wage employment.

- Supports investments in job training, small business support, and local hiring practices that connect residents to stable, living-wage employment.

Economy

Supports policies that protect tenants, prevent displacement, and increase access to affordable housing.

- Supports policies that protect tenants, prevent displacement, and increase access to affordable housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports community-based public safety approaches that invest in communities.

Supports community-based public safety approaches that address the root causes of issues.

- Supports community-based public safety approaches that address the root causes of issues.

Public Safety

Supports funding for community-based safety strategies, including violence interruption programs, mental health crisis response teams, and youth outreach initiatives.

Supports funding for mental health crisis response teams.

- Supports funding for mental health crisis response teams.

Healthcare

Supports funding youth programs and creating opportunities for children.

- Supports funding youth programs and creating opportunities for children.

Public Services

As of August 14, 2025, Deyanira Nevarez Martinez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Deyanira Nevarez Martinez

Deyanira Nevarez Martinez is from Gilroy, California. She has a high school diploma from Kofa High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, a graduate degree from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine. She lives with her husband Richard and their two sons, Carlos and Juan in Lansing's Ward 2.

Deyanira is currently an at-large member of the Lansing School District Board of Education. She is running for election to the Lansing City Council to represent Ward 2 in Michigan. 

As of August 14, 2025, Deyanira Nevarez Martinez did not have a website or any information online.

Supports accessible transportation for youth to school, work, and recreation.

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Buket Urgen

Erik Almquist - Ballotpedia

Erik previously served on the Fennville City Council. He ran for the Michigan House of Representatives in 2018 and 2020 but did not win.

Supports city growth but opposes doing so "on the backs of city workers."

- Supports city growth but opposes doing so "on the backs of city workers."

Lansing City Council Second Ward Candidate: Erik Almquist

Supports rent control and zoning reforms.

Believes there are several potential solutions to make housing more affordable, such as rent control, zoning reforms, and landtrusts.

- Believes there are several potential solutions to make housing more affordable, such as rent control, zoning reforms, and landtrusts.

As of August 14, 2025, Erik Almquist’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports using arts as an attraction to visit Lansing.

Said, "I believe it is very important to invest and and believe in our city and all it offers. My children used the public school system and flourished, and while I appreciate school of choice, it makes it very hard on the local school to maintain excellence when they are losing tax dollars."

Believes it is important to invest in local public schools.

- Supports using arts as an attraction to visit Lansing.
- Believes it is important to invest in local public schools.

Erik Almquist

Erik previously served on the Fennville City Council. He ran for the Michigan House of Representatives in 2018, 2020, and 2022 but did not win.

As of August 14, 2025, Erik Almquist did not have a website or any information online.

Walter Ley

Believes Lansing should be a destination city to attract new businesses.

Plans to address public safety if elected.

- 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.