local politics
What cities lose when plagued by low voter turnout
by (alexandersinn)
Submitted 02-02-2016 under OPINION
Voters in the Grand Rapids area decided vital issues close to home in the last local election election, which included ballot proposals for millions of dollars to improve the quality of public schools as well as new candidates for local office. That...
Citizens needed to fill City of Grand Rapids boards and commissions
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 09-01-2015 under NEWS
The City of Grand Rapids is looking for volunteers to help them fill roles in a total of 40 citizen boards and commissions. City officials are specifically looking to increase the diversity in those boards and commissions, and encourage women...
Local residents head to polls to select next mayor
by (Jhodges)
Submitted 08-04-2015 under NEWS
Today, Tuesday, August 4, is election day in Grand Rapids. To find your polling place or if you are registered to vote, use the Michigan Voter Information Center. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. so make sure to get out to vote....
Voting 101: Voting rates historically lower in primaries, for young people, black residents
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 07-21-2015 under NEWS
The August 4 Primary Election in Grand Rapids may determine the next mayor of the city. Primary elections typically have a lower voter turnout than general elections, but this also means an individual citizen's vote carries more weight in...
Meet Brian Ellis: Running for Republican Congressional seat
by (NicoleGR)
Submitted 11-01-2013 under NEWS
Brian Ellis, a Grand Rapids businessman, recently announced he is running for the Republican nomination to Congress in the third district. This includes Grand Rapids. He currently owns a financial investment advisory firm and is president of East...
Meet your local elected official, Kent County Commissioner Jim Talen
by (nancyfinney)
Submitted 07-18-2012 under LOCAL LIFE
Kent County Commissioner Jim Talen recently sat down with the Rapidian politics beat to discuss his current campaign for re-election. Talen does not have an opponent in the Democratic primary. Republican candidate Theodor Nikodem will be running...
City Comptroller proposes eliminating elected position: her own
by (jon_dunn)
Submitted 06-15-2012 under NEWS
Last year, City Comptroller Donijo Robbins DeJonge asked for a pay cut for her elected position. She believed that the allotted $72,000 was far too much for what she felt was a part-time job and asked for the salary to be cut in half. Now Robbins...
OGR 2012: Mandi Creveling's happy accident
by (marybrown)
Submitted 03-20-2012 under LOCAL LIFE
The Occupy Grand Rapids movement that began in October of 2011 has many different faces and stories. One of those faces is Mandi Creveling, a 24 year old GRCC student who has been with the movement since the beginning, although she sort of happened...
Commissioners discuss water protections, housing inspections
by (nancyfinney)
Submitted 01-12-2012 under NEWS
The first Grand Rapids city commission meeting of the new year was held on Tuesday January 10th. Approximately twenty citizens were in attendance for the evening session (Every commission meeting has time for public comment during the evening...
Citizens share their views on Governor Snyder at Jam for Democracy
by (samantha.dine)
Submitted 08-01-2011 under NEWS
Citizens gathered Sunday night at the Jam for Democracy rally event held at the Orbit Room. Petitioners from the Committee to recall Rick Snyder were on site working to get signatures that would remove Governer Snyder from office. 807,000 total...