LANSING — Peter Spadafore will be the the Lansing City Council president for 2026.
Spadafore represents Ward 4 in the city after previously serving as an at-large member. The eight-member body unanimously elected him as president during its first meeting of the new year. At-large Councilmember Trini Pehlivanoglu will serve as the council’s vice president following a separate unanimous vote.
Both Spadafore and Pehlivanoglu were nominated during the Committee of the Whole meeting held prior to the City Council meeting. Spadafore and Ward 1 Councilmember Ryan Kost, who served as council president in 2025, were nominated. Pehlivanoglu was the only nominee for vice president.
Spadafore thanked the council for their support and faith in him and Pehlivanoglu.
“We will endeavor to live up to your expectations,” he said, “and work collaboratively with everybody at this dais, everyone in the city, everyone in city government and do the best to serve the citizens of the City of Lansing.”
Four residents spoke during public comment for the Committee of the Whole meeting and all voiced support for Kost, who was nominated by Councilmember Adam Hussain, for a second term as council president. Kost and at-large Councilmember Tamera Carter had served as council president and vice president, respectively, in 2025.
The Lansing City Council started 2026 with two new members and two returning to the council but to different seats.
During the November election, Clara Martinez was elected to an at-large seat and Ward 2 voters selected Deyanira Nevarez Martinez to represent the southeast Lansing ward. Nevarez Martinez replaces Councilmember Jeremy Garza, who was elected to an at-large seat. Spadafore had held an at-large seat but in November ran for, and was elected to, a seat representing Ward 4, which includes part of north Lansing.
The seats for Kost, Carter, Hussain and Pehlivanoglu were not on the ballot in November, with their respective terms running through 2027. However, with a new city charter now in effect, starting in 2029 the entire city council, which will also expand to a ninth member, will have their terms start and end at the same time.
Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Peter Spadafore voted Lansing City Council president for 2026
Reporting by Matt Mencarini, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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