Virg is back.
State senator to run for Lansing mayor
4/21/2005, 1:47 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) State Sen. Virg Bernero announced Thursday he will run for mayor of Lansing.
It will be Bernero's second attempt at the office. The Lansing Democrat lost to incumbent Tony Benavides in a 2003 election to fill the last two years of David Hollister's term.
Hollister left to become a member of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's cabinet. Benavides automatically became mayor because he was the city council president.
This year's election will be for a four-year term.
The Lansing mayor is responsible for overseeing 1,200 city employees and a budget of more than $100 million.
"We need new energy, new passion and a new plan to grow Lansing's future," Bernero told the Lansing State Journal for an article previewing his entry into the race Thursday.
Benavides said Bernero was wasting his money.
"I'm going to beat him, and that's that," he said.