By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-1001855.mp3
East Lansing, MI – The East Lansing City Council has selected interim city manager George Lahanas to fill that post on a permanent basis. The decision ends a three-month national search process.
Lahanas was one of five finalists to apply for the job as city manager. He's a 13-year veteran of East Lansing government, having served as a labor relations specialist and deputy city manager.
Lahanas says the city's financial health is its biggest challenge, and that he will lobby state lawmakers for East Lansing's slice of shared revenues.
"Fire, police, streets, sanitation; all these services are critical to our residents, and to remind them that fully funding those services really impact people's day-to-day lives in a positive way," Lahanas says. "And that's a great investment in our future."
Lahanas and council members will begin work on the city's upcoming budget cycle next week. He'll also be involved in contract negotiations with eight separate labor unions.