2009 Lansing mayoral election

August 4, 2009 (2009-08-04) (first round)
November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03) (Runoff)


Candidate	Virgil Bernero	Carol Wood	Charles Ford
First round	4,177 43.79%	3,585 37.58%	1,474 15.45%
Runoff	9,990 62.24%	5,980 37.25%	Eliminated

Mayor before election

Virgil Bernero
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Virgil Bernero
Nonpartisan

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The 2009 Lansing mayoral election took place on November 3, 2009, with a primary election taking place on August 4, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Virgil Bernero ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by City Councilwoman Carol Wood and Charles Ford, a member of the Lansing Board of Education. Bernero placed first over Wood in the primary election, 44–38 percent, and then defeated Wood by a wide margin in the general election, winning 62–37 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

Virgil Bernero, incumbent Mayor
Carol Wood, City Councilwoman^[1]
Charles Ford, member of the Lansing Board of Education, former City Councilman^[2]
Benjamin Hassenger, cook^[3]

Results

2009 Lansing mayoral primary election results^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Virgil Bernero (inc.)	4,177	43.79%
	Nonpartisan	Carol Wood	3,585	37.58%
	Nonpartisan	Charles Ford	1,474	15.45%
	Nonpartisan	Benjamin Hassenger	271	2.84%
	Write-in		32	0.34%
Total votes			9,539	100.00%

General election

Results

2009 Lansing mayoral general election results^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Virgil Bernero (inc.)	9,990	62.24%
	Nonpartisan	Carol Wood	5,980	37.25%
Total votes			16,052	100.00%

References

^ "Wood officially joins race for Lansing mayor". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. February 19, 2009. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
^ "Ford to announce run for Lansing mayor at rally". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. February 10, 2009. p. 1B. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
^ Vela, Susan (July 26, 2009). "Mayoral hopefuls back area alliances". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1A. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
^ "Ingham County: LansingCity_Aug42009_E". Ingham County Clerk. April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
^ "Ingham County: InghamCounty_110309_E". Ingham County Clerk. April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2025.

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