The answer: individuals and political action committees (PACs). Among PACs, the UAW far outspends all others. Here are the PACs that spent over $3000 in the period 2005-2008:

UAW MICHIGAN V-PAC (United Auto Workers)	$51,000
IBEW COPE MI (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)	$13,950
LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER PAC	$10,000
PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 333 PAC	$9,250
TETRA TECH INC SSF	$7,100
SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 7 PAC	$5,000
BLUE CROSS/SHIELD OF MI PAC (BCBSM)	$3,500
GOV CONSULTANT SVCS INC 21ST CENTURY	$3,325

The above figures include contributions to Lansing mayoral and city council campaigns only.

A couple of these PAC names were unfamiliar to me. According to their website, Government Consultant Services is a "multi-client lobbying firm." And I've learned that Tetra Tech oversees the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Project on behalf of the City of Lansing. According to their website, they are "a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide". Tetra Tech's nearest office is in Ann Arbor.

As would be expected, most of the campaign contributions went to Mayor Virg Bernero. Below are the PAC contribution totals for each candidate. Click on candidate's name to get detail.

Virg Bernero	$68,260		Won the mayor's race in 2005
Carol Wood	$14,650		Kept her at large council seat (2007)
Derrick Quinney	$13,325		Won an at large council seat (2007)
Gina Nelson	$5,750		Lost her at large council race (2007)
Harold Leeman Jr	$5,600		Lost his ward 1 council seat (2007)
Bill Matt	$5,500		Lost his ward 3 council seat (2007)
Tony Benevides	$4,850		Lost his mayor job (2005)
Bob Johnson	$4,700		Lost his at large council race (2005)
Brian Jeffries	$3,900		Kept his at large council seat (2005)
Tim Kaltenbach	$3,650		Won the ward 4 council seat (2005)
Sandy Allen	$3,000		Kept her ward 2 council seat (2005)
Lynn Martinez	$150		Lost her mayoral bid (2005)
A'Lynn Robinson	$100		Won the ward 3 council seat (2007)
Kathie Dunbar	$100		Won an at large council seat (2005)
Eric Hewitt	$0		Won the ward 1 council seat (2007)
Robert Clark	$0		Lost his at large council race (2007)
Total:	$133,535

For an explanation of how this information was gathered, click here.

Michigan Campaign Finance Act

Rules governing the financing of campaigns were established by the Campaign Finance Act, P.A. 388 of 1976, as amended. The Act also specifies reporting requirements. Candidates who receive or spend $1000 or more in an election are subject to the reporting requirements of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.

A user-friendly description of the requirements may be found in the Candidate Committee Manual.

The Act limits contributions to candidates for local offices. They vary with the size of the district, and they apply to an election cycle. For Lansing, the limits are $1000 for individuals and $10,000 for independent political action committees like the UAW Michigan V-PAC.

State-level candidates must file campaign reports with the Secretary of State. Local candidates must file with the county clerk.