13 candidates to face off in Lansing City Council primary - City Pulse

Olivia Vaden is from Lansing, Michigan. She has a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan. 

Olivia Vaden is the Director of Research and Policy at the Michigan Growth Office, where she leads research and policy initiatives to analyze economic systems and develop recommendations that improve opportunity and quality of life across the state.

Olivia Vaden - Ballotpedia

Here's who's running for Lansing City Council in a crowded field

Olivia previously ran for a seat on the Lansing City Council in 2023 but did not win. 

2025 Michigan General Election

2025 Michigan Primary Election

Supports using economic development tools historically reserved for attracting large corporations to support small, locally-owned businesses.

Advocates for technical support funding designed to help small businesses grow, expand, and create jobs in the community.

Supports designating innovation hubs or co-working spaces for artists and entrepreneurs to collaborate, access resources, and receive mentorship.

Supports collaborating with local higher education institutions, business incubators, and financial institutions to expand start-up funding and business development training opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Supports implementing new parking strategies to encourage patronage of local businesses.

- Supports using economic development tools historically reserved for attracting large corporations to support small, locally-owned businesses.
- Advocates for technical support funding designed to help small businesses grow, expand, and create jobs in the community.
- Supports designating innovation hubs or co-working spaces for artists and entrepreneurs to collaborate, access resources, and receive mentorship.
- Supports collaborating with local higher education institutions, business incubators, and financial institutions to expand start-up funding and business development training opportunities for entrepreneurs.
- Supports implementing new parking strategies to encourage patronage of local businesses.

Economy

Supports strengthening building codes to ensure rental homes meet health and safety standards for air quality, water safety, and insulation.

Supports stronger rent control measures to protect renters from excessive rent increases.

Supports creating a citywide rental registry to ensure landlords adhere to fair rental practices.

Supports reinstating the City of Lansing's Committee on Homelessness and Solutions to develop housing-first solutions.

Supports zoning reform to develop flexible housing options like micro-apartments, shared housing, and mixed-use developments.

- Opposes homeless encampment sweeps.
- Supports strengthening building codes to ensure rental homes meet health and safety standards for air quality, water safety, and insulation.
- Supports stronger rent control measures to protect renters from excessive rent increases.
- Supports creating a citywide rental registry to ensure landlords adhere to fair rental practices.
- Supports reinstating the City of Lansing's Committee on Homelessness and Solutions to develop housing-first solutions.
- Supports zoning reform to develop flexible housing options like micro-apartments, shared housing, and mixed-use developments.

Housing & Urban Development

As of June 5, 2025, Olivia Vaden’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Healthcare

- Supports designating innovation hubs or co-working spaces for artists and entrepreneurs to collaborate, access resources, and receive mentorship.

Public Services

Plans to reduce the city's carbon footprint, standardize energy efficiency in buildings, clean waterways, and protect residents from rising utility costs.

- Plans to reduce the city's carbon footprint, standardize energy efficiency in buildings, clean waterways, and protect residents from rising utility costs.

Energy & the Environment

Supports policies and infrastructure for bike lanes, walking paths, and pedestrian-friendly zones to reduce car dependency and encourage healthier alternatives.

- Supports policies and infrastructure for bike lanes, walking paths, and pedestrian-friendly zones to reduce car dependency and encourage healthier alternatives.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Olivia Vaden

As of June 6, 2025, Olivia Vaden’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Olivia Vaden lives on the south side of Lansing, Michigan. She became a first-generation college graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Michigan State University and will graduate this month with a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. She lives with her partner and their chocolate Labrador retriever and identifies as a Black queer woman. She was raised in a working-class family and says her experiences with poverty, parental addiction and incarceration, and inadequate housing continue to inform her people-first approach to leadership.

Olivia Vaden is the Director of Research and Policy at the Michigan Growth Office, where she leads efforts to analyze and reshape the systems that drive economic opportunity and improve quality of life across Michigan. She previously worked in Detroit’s philanthropic sector supporting programs that help working families, young adults, and caregivers build better futures.

Olivia Vaden’s campaign for an at-large seat on the Lansing City Council is her first entry into politics. She is one of 11 candidates competing in the nonpartisan primary for two at-large seats, appearing on the primary ballot on August 5, 2025, with the general election scheduled for November 4, 2025.

Olivia Vaden is from Lansing, Michigan. She became a first-generation college graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. She was raised in a working-class family and grew up in a low-income environment; her experiences with poverty, parental addiction and incarceration, and inadequate housing continue to inform her people-first approach to leadership.

Olivia Vaden’s campaign for an at-large seat on the Lansing City Council in Michigan is her first entry into politics. Vaden is on the ballot in the nonpartisan primary for two at-large seats on August 5, 2025.

Advocates for technical support funding to help small businesses grow, expand, and create jobs.

Olivia Vaden is from Lansing, Michigan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, returning to school during the height of the pandemic. She identifies as a Black queer woman and lives on the city’s south side with her partner and their chocolate Labrador retriever. Raised in a working-class family, her life has been shaped by the realities of poverty, parental addiction and incarceration, and inadequate housing—experiences that inform her people-first approach to leadership.

Olivia Vaden is the Director of Research and Policy at the Michigan Growth Office. She leads efforts to shape the systems that drive economic opportunity and increase quality of life across Michigan. She began her career in Detroit’s philanthropic sector, supporting programs that help working families, young adults, and caregivers build better futures. Vaden is a first-generation college graduate, earning a Bachelor’s in Public Policy from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan.

Olivia Vaden’s campaign for an at-large seat on the Lansing City Council is her first entry into politics.

Supports strengthening building codes to ensure rental homes meet health-related standards for air quality, water safety, and insulation.

Supports collaborating with state officials to implement stronger rent control measures to protect renters from excessive rent increases.

Supports requiring all new city buildings to meet net-zero energy standards, including solar panels and green roofs.

Olivia Vaden1

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Gloria Denning

Jeremy A. Garza

Jonah Stone

Julie Vandenboom

Miles Biel

Nick Pigeon

Tirstan Walters

- 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.

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