List of mayors of Lansing, Michigan facts for kids

Lansing, Michigan, became an official city on February 15, 1859. Since then, many people have served as its mayor, leading the city through different times. A mayor is like the chief executive officer of a city. They are responsible for making sure the city runs smoothly, from public safety to city services.

Who Has Been Mayor of Lansing?

Lansing has had many mayors since it became a city. These leaders helped shape Lansing into the place it is today. They made important decisions about how the city grew and what services it offered to its residents.

Early Mayors of Lansing

The first mayor of Lansing was Hiram H. Smith, who served in 1859. After him, John A. Kerr took office in 1860. William H. Chapman served for two years, from 1861 to 1862. Dr. Ira H. Bartholomew was mayor from 1863 to 1865. Dr. William H. Haze followed in 1866. George W. Peck was mayor in 1867. Cyrus Hewitt served from 1868 to 1869. Dr. Solomon W. Wright was mayor in 1870. John Robson served two non-consecutive terms, in 1871 and again in 1881.

Lansing's Mayors in the Late 1800s

John S. Tooker was mayor from 1872 to 1873 and again in 1876. Daniel W. Buck served from 1874 to 1875 and later in 1886. Orlando Mack Barnes was mayor in 1877. Joseph E. Warner served in 1878. William Van Buren was mayor from 1879 to 1880. Orlando F. Barnes served from 1882 to 1883. William Donovan was mayor from 1884 to 1885. Jacob F. Schultz served in 1887. John Crotty was mayor in 1888. James M. Turner served in 1889 and again in 1895. Frank B. Johnson was mayor from 1890 to 1891. Arthur O. Bement served from 1892 to 1893. Alroy A. Wilbur was mayor in 1894. Russell C. Ostrander served in 1896. Charles J. Davis was mayor from 1897 to 1899.

Lansing's Mayors in the 1900s

James F. Hammell was mayor from 1900 to 1903. Hugh Lyons served from 1904 to 1907. John S. Bennett was mayor from 1908 to 1911. J. Gottlieb Reutter served from 1912 to 1917. Jacob W. Ferle was mayor from 1918 to 1919 and again in 1922. Benjamin A. Kyes served from 1920 to 1921. Silas F. Main was mayor from 1922 to 1923. Alfred H. Doughty served from 1923 to 1926. Laird J. Troyer was mayor from 1927 to 1930. Peter F. Gray served from 1931 to 1932. Max A. Templeton was mayor for a long period, from 1933 to 1941. Arthur E. Stoppel briefly served in 1941. Sam Street Hughes also served in 1941 to 1942.

Lansing's Mayors from Mid-20th Century to Today

Ralph Crego had a very long term as mayor, from 1943 to 1961. Willard I. Bowerman, Jr. followed, serving from 1961 to 1965. Max E. Murninghan was mayor from 1965 to 1969. Gerald W. Graves served from 1969 to 1981. Terry John McKane was mayor from 1981 to 1992. Jim Crawford served from 1992 to 1993. David Hollister was mayor from 1993 to 2003. Antonio Benavides served from 2003 to 2006. Virgil Bernero was mayor from 2006 to 2018. The current mayor, Andy Schor, has been serving since 2018.

Where to Learn More

You can find more information about Lansing's history and its mayors in these sources:

• The State Journal newspaper, Lansing, Michigan; April 28, 1955; Centennial Issue; pages C-12 to C-18.
• Early Lansing History, a book by James P. Edmonds, 1944, pages 26–27.
• Out of a Wilderness: an illustrated history of greater Lansing, a book by Justin L. Kestenbaum, 1981, page 184.
• Lansing and its yesterdays; a compilation of historical material from the seventy-fifth edition of the Lansing State Journal, January 1, 1930; page 133.