Schor draws 4 Lansing primary challengers; 14 seek Council ...

Two file to run against Lansing Mayor Andy Schor

Brett Brockschmidt moved to Lansing, Michigan, five years ago. He holds a bachelor's degree in financial administration from Michigan State University. 

Brett is a retired financial professional and landlord. He owns and manages duplex rental properties and offers consulting services to small businesses, including bookkeeping, market research, and tax preparation. Earlier in his career, he worked as an assistant controller at two large corporations and later served as an assistant vice president at Bank of America in San Francisco.

Brett Brockschmidt - Ballotpedia

Brett Brockschmidt’s campaign for Mayor of Lansing is his first entry into politics. 

Proposes raising the city income tax or establishing a local sales tax to offset costs.

Proposes raising the city income tax for the city's wealthiest or establishing a local sales tax instead of increasing property taxes.

Opposes tax breaks for corporations without guarantees of local employee residency and taxation.

Supports cutting Lansing budgets and focusing on fully staffing necessary services.

- Proposes raising the city income tax for the city's wealthiest or establishing a local sales tax instead of increasing property taxes.
- Opposes tax breaks for corporations without guarantees of local employee residency and taxation.
- Supports cutting Lansing budgets and focusing on fully staffing necessary services.

Economy

Proposes freezing property taxes at the assessed value when the property was purchased for lower-income residents.

Opposes spending on "planning & development" for unaffordable projects, subsidizing businesses with "façade grants," and unnecessary new buildings.

Opposes spending on "planning & development" for unaffordable projects when the city cannot help those who are homeless.

Opposes higher property taxes, saying they lead to higher rents and home maintenance neglect, ultimately taxing people out of their homes.

- Proposes freezing property taxes at the assessed value when the property was purchased for lower-income residents.
- Opposes spending on "planning & development" for unaffordable projects when the city cannot help those who are homeless.
- Opposes higher property taxes, saying they lead to higher rents and home maintenance neglect, ultimately taxing people out of their homes.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports hiring more police officers to reduce overtime and allow for better screening of new hires for de-escalation skills and racial bias.

- Supports hiring more police officers to reduce overtime and allow for better screening of new hires for de-escalation skills and racial bias.

Public Safety

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

Healthcare

Opposes using too much bond money and increasing taxes to pay for "shiny new buildings," like a new city hall, police and courts campus, and private developer skyscraper.

Believes streets, sidewalks, and parks are neglected and current budgets will take too long to repair them.

Believes Lansing wastes $150,000 on "off-year" elections and that voter apathy leads to mediocre city officials elected by only 15% of voters.

Believes Lansing wastes $150,000 on "off-year" elections.

- Opposes using too much bond money and increasing taxes to pay for "shiny new buildings," like a new city hall, police and courts campus, and private developer skyscraper.
- Believes streets, sidewalks, and parks are neglected and current budgets will take too long to repair them.
- Believes Lansing wastes $150,000 on "off-year" elections.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

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Brett Brockschmidt

Brett Brockschmidt moved to Lansing, Michigan, about five years ago to retire. He is a retired duplex owner and holds a bachelor's degree in financial administration from Michigan State University. He continues to do consulting work for small businesses, providing bookkeeping, market research and tax services.

Brett Brockschmidt is a retired financial professional and landlord living in Lansing. He owns and manages duplex rental properties and offers consulting services to small businesses, including bookkeeping, market research, and tax preparation. Earlier in his career, he worked as an assistant controller at two large corporations and later served as an assistant vice president at Bank of America in San Francisco. He moved to Lansing about five years ago to retire but continues to provide his consulting expertise to local businesses.

Brett Brockschmidt’s campaign for Mayor of Lansing is his first entry into politics. He is on the ballot in the August 5, 2025 primary for Mayor of Lansing alongside incumbent Andy Schor, Jeffrey Brown, David Ellis, and Kelsea Hector. The top two voter-getters in the August 5 primary will advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Proposes reducing police department overtime to pay for more officers.

Proposes property tax relief for lower-income residents by freezing property taxes at the assessed value when the property was purchased.

Proposes raising the city income tax or establishing a local sales tax to offset the cost of property tax relief.

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

Opposes using too much bond money and raising taxes for new infrastructure projects like city hall, police and courts campus, and private developer skyscrapers.

Buket Urgen

Proposes freezing property taxes at the value when the property was purchased to lower taxes for lower-income residents.

Andy Schor is from Lansing, Michigan. He has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He and his wife, Erin, have raised their family in Lansing for nearly 30 years. 

Before taking elected office, Andy worked as a legislative director in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, advising lawmakers on policy, and as assistant director of State and Federal Affairs at the Michigan Municipal League, helping local governments navigate state and federal programs.

4 file to challenge Lansing Mayor Andy Schor; 5th candidate ...

Andy is currently the mayor of Lansing and is seeking his third term in office. Before becoming mayor, Schor served four terms as an Ingham County Commissioner. He also served two terms in the Michigan state legislature as a state representative.

Plans to work with small businesses and companies to provide new job opportunities and build wealth for Lansing residents.

Supports enhanced business districts and corridors with facade improvements and assistance for small businesses.

Supports improving the look of business districts and corridors, and assisting small businesses.

Supports major redevelopment and building for manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.

Supports major redevelopment and building for manufacturing.

Supports reducing poverty and building generational wealth through educational opportunities.

- Plans to work with small businesses and companies to provide new job opportunities and build wealth for Lansing residents.
- Supports improving the look of business districts and corridors, and assisting small businesses.
- Supports major redevelopment and building for manufacturing.
- Supports reducing poverty and building generational wealth through educational opportunities.

Supports new housing projects for affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing throughout the city.

- Supports new housing projects for affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing throughout the city.

Supports the creation of a $175 million Public Safety and Courts campus in South Lansing.

Plans to increase funding for public safety, focusing on reducing crime rates and enhancing community policing efforts.

Plans to increase funding for public safety, focusing on reducing crime rates and expanding community policing efforts.

Supports creating community-based programs to prevent gun violence.

As mayor, implemented Operation Slowdown to combat excessive speeding on main streets and in neighborhoods.

- Supports the creation of a $175 million Public Safety and Courts campus in South Lansing.
- Plans to increase funding for public safety, focusing on reducing crime rates and expanding community policing efforts.
- Supports creating community-based programs to prevent gun violence.
- As mayor, implemented Operation Slowdown to combat excessive speeding on main streets and in neighborhoods.

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

As mayor, opened new parks and increased options for activities in parks (pickleball!), with all residents able to walk to a park within 10 minutes from their homes.

As mayor, opened new parks and increased options for activities in parks, with all residents able to walk to a park within 10 minutes from their homes.

Started programs and created a city committee for public art to highlight creatives and vibrancy in Lansing.

Started programs and created a city committee for public art to highlight creatives in Lansing.

Created Lansing Connect and 311 One Call to City Hall for residents to report issues like potholes and code violations.

Believes efficient city services, including trash, water, street repair, and code compliance, are essential for a strong Lansing and supports financially responsible city spending.

- As mayor, opened new parks and increased options for activities in parks, with all residents able to walk to a park within 10 minutes from their homes.
- Started programs and created a city committee for public art to highlight creatives in Lansing.
- Created Lansing Connect and 311 One Call to City Hall for residents to report issues like potholes and code violations.
- Believes efficient city services, including trash, water, street repair, and code compliance, are essential for a strong Lansing and supports financially responsible city spending.

Plans to install up to 50 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, plant hundreds of trees, and rebuild a bridge over the Red Cedar River.

- Plans to install up to 50 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, plant hundreds of trees, and rebuild a bridge over the Red Cedar River.

Plans to improve public infrastructure, including roads, and ensure efficient city services like trash collection, snow plowing, and housing inspections.

- Plans to improve public infrastructure, including roads, and ensure efficient city services like trash collection, snow plowing, and housing inspections.

Plans to work frequently with the Lansing School District, Lansing Community College, Davenport, and other educational institutions in the city.

- Plans to work frequently with the Lansing School District, Lansing Community College, Davenport, and other educational institutions in the city.

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Andy Schor

Andy Schor is from Lansing, Michigan. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He and his wife, Erin, have raised their family in Lansing for nearly 30 years. Their children attended the Lansing School District, both graduating from Lansing Everett High School.

Andy is the Mayor of Lansing, currently running for his third term. He works at the City of Lansing, where he leads efforts to improve city services and infrastructure. Before becoming mayor, he served four terms as an Ingham County Commissioner, representing local interests and helping to establish a land bank to redevelop vacant properties. He then spent two terms as a State Representative, where he led the drive to pass Medicaid expansion through bipartisan cooperation. Earlier in his career, Andy worked as a Legislative Director in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, advising lawmakers on policy, and as Assistant Director for State and Federal Affairs at the Michigan Municipal League, helping local governments navigate state and federal programs.

Andy Schor is currently the mayor of Lansing and is seeking his third term in office. Lansing does not have term limits for officials. Before his tenure as mayor, Schor served four terms as an Ingham County Commissioner, where he advocated on behalf of city issues and helped establish the Ingham County Land Bank. He also served in the Michigan state Legislature.

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

Supports corridor improvements and support for major business districts.

Supports new housing projects for affordable, workforce, and market rate housing throughout the city.

Aims to reduce poverty and build generational wealth through educational opportunities.

David is a home improvement retail specialist at Home Depot. In this role, he helps customers select and purchase tools and materials for home repair and renovation.

David Ellis (Michigan) - Ballotpedia

David Ellis's campaign for Mayor of Lansing in Michigan is his first entry into politics.

Wants to reduce city taxes by the end of the four-year term, even if it's by a small amount, to demonstrate that the city can lower spending and taxes.

Wants to reduce city taxes by the end of the four-year term.

Said the city can cut expenses without reducing services by focusing on more grant writing.

- Wants to reduce city taxes by the end of the four-year term.
- Said the city can cut expenses without reducing services by focusing on more grant writing.

Supports dense development in some areas to generate more tax revenue.

Believes the rent in Lansing is becoming unaffordable.

- Supports dense development in some areas to generate more tax revenue.
- Believes the rent in Lansing is becoming unaffordable.

As of June 5, 2025, David Ellis did not have a website or any information online.

Supports improving bike lanes and reducing road sizes to cut city infrastructure costs.

- Supports improving bike lanes and reducing road sizes to cut city infrastructure costs.

David Ellis

David is from Lansing, Michigan. He lives at 323 N Walnut Street in Lansing. He works as a home improvement retail specialist at Home Depot and is an urban advocate. A Lansing native, he became interested in local politics around the time of the pandemic and is a frequent attendee and speaker at City Council and other local government meetings. As a downtown resident who still bikes to work, he has criticized local infrastructure designs as unsafe. He says that working low-end jobs and punching a clock at Home Depot keeps him better connected to the people of Lansing. “I understand the struggles of a young person trying to make it in Lansing,” he said, adding that he has only ever rented and has watched rent increase year over year, making affordable housing take up a large chunk of a paycheck. He has also pointed out that “dozens and dozens of acres of state parking lots, which are vacant 24/7 year-round . our most valuable land, it’s just squandered by the state.”

David is a home improvement retail specialist at Home Depot. In this role, he helps customers select and purchase tools and materials for home repair and renovation. He works hourly jobs at one of Lansing’s largest home improvement stores, often describing his position as punching a clock in a low-end retail role. He also functions as an urban advocate, focusing on pedestrian safety, better bike lanes and road diets to reduce infrastructure costs.

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

Lansing council candidate Jeffrey Brown owed ex-employees over ...

Lansing Council member Jeffrey Brown violated the city's ethics ...

Jeffrey Brown is from Lansing, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in ministry and Christian leadership from Kingdom University International Bible College, where he also earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in the same field.

Jeffrey is the owner and chief executive officer at Inspire Global.

Jeffrey Brown (Michigan) - Ballotpedia

Jeffrey is currently an at-large member of the Lansing City Council in Michigan. He was elected in 2021 to a four-year term.

Supports negotiating, assessing city assets, and considering selling assets when beneficial, working with the CFO to review financial strengths and weaknesses, and growing the city and tax base.

Supports negotiating, assessing city assets, and considering selling assets when beneficial.

Supports working with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to review the city's financial strengths and weaknesses.

- Supports negotiating, assessing city assets, and considering selling assets when beneficial.
- Supports working with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to review the city's financial strengths and weaknesses.

As of June 5, 2025, Jeffrey Brown did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to focus on transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

- Wants to focus on transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

Jeffrey Brown

Jeffrey Brown is currently an at-large member of the Lansing City Council in Michigan. He was elected in 2021 to a four-year term.

As of June 6, 2025, Jeffrey Brown did not have a website or any information online.

Jeffrey Brown is from Lansing, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Ministry Christian Leadership from Kingdom University International Bible College, where he also earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in the same field.

Jeffrey Brown is currently an at-large member of the Lansing City Council in Michigan. He was elected in 2021 to a four-year term and assumed office on January 1, 2022; his current term ends on December 31, 2025. Instead of running for reelection to his at-large seat, the first-term incumbent filed to run against incumbent Mayor Andy Schor for Mayor of Lansing in Michigan. Brown is on the primary ballot for Mayor of Lansing on August 5, 2025, alongside Andy Schor, Brett Brockschmidt, David Ellis, and Kelsea Hector. The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

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

Believes addressing financial challenges requires earnest negotiation, asset assessment, and city growth.

Kelse Hector is a non-profit consultant. She previously worked as an educator. 

Supports small businesses and working families.

Supports allowing community members, including youth, to help decide how part of the city budget is spent.

- Supports small businesses and working families.
- Supports allowing community members, including youth, to help decide how part of the city budget is spent.

Supports expanding emergency shelters, transitional housing, and tenant protections.

Supports advocating for a Lansing Tenants' Bill of Rights and establishing a landlord accountability board.

Supports providing housing for the unhoused.

Supports increasing city partnerships to develop transitional and permanent supportive housing.

- Supports expanding emergency shelters, transitional housing, and tenant protections.
- Supports advocating for a Lansing Tenants' Bill of Rights and establishing a landlord accountability board.
- Supports providing housing for the unhoused.
- Supports increasing city partnerships to develop transitional and permanent supportive housing.

Believes in investing in public safety that is "community-informed and care-centered."

Supports "violence prevention initiatives led by people rooted in the neighborhoods they serve."

Advocates for violence prevention initiatives.

Believes in building neighborhood-level partnerships between residents, schools, and local organizations to enhance public safety and respond to conflict with care.

- Believes in investing in public safety that is "community-informed and care-centered."
- Advocates for violence prevention initiatives.
- Believes in building neighborhood-level partnerships between residents, schools, and local organizations to enhance public safety and respond to conflict with care.

Supports expanding access to community-based mental health care and crisis response teams.

- Supports expanding access to community-based mental health care and crisis response teams.

Believes in strengthening transparency and trust in city government.

Aims to "build spaces of belonging for every Lansing resident."

Supports creating language-accessible services and legal protections for immigrants.

- Believes in strengthening transparency and trust in city government.
- Aims to "build spaces of belonging for every Lansing resident."
- Supports creating language-accessible services and legal protections for immigrants.

Supports expanding access to renewable energy and energy-efficient upgrades.

Supports investing in green spaces, community gardens, and urban agriculture.

Supports developing city programs that transform surplus food into free meals for residents.

Supports local food hubs, farmers markets, and co-ops in every neighborhood.

- Supports expanding access to renewable energy and energy-efficient upgrades.
- Supports investing in green spaces, community gardens, and urban agriculture.
- Supports developing city programs that transform surplus food into free meals for residents.
- Supports local food hubs, farmers markets, and co-ops in every neighborhood.

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

Supports partnering with schools to help students learn sustainable farming and gardening.

Supports providing mentorship and funding for community and youth-led initiatives.

Believes in strengthening civic leadership, trust, and collaboration from the ground up.

Believes in strengthening civic leadership, trust, and collaboration.

- Supports partnering with schools to help students learn sustainable farming and gardening.
- Supports providing mentorship and funding for community and youth-led initiatives.
- Believes in strengthening civic leadership, trust, and collaboration.

Kelsea Hector

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

- A mayor’s job can be different in each city, but they usually make sure city laws are followed, help create and manage the city’s budget, appoint people to boards and committees, and oversee city services like police, fire departments, parks, and public transportation.
- The mayor works with the city council and sometimes helps make decisions by voting.
- They may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. 
- They are elected to a two- or four-year term, depending on the city.