Grand Rapids approves term limits; mayor affected

GRAND RAPIDS, Nov. 5, 2014 (AP): Voters in Grand Rapids have approved term limits for some city officials, affecting the city's long-serving mayor and others.

The Grand Rapids Press reports (http://bit.ly/1x5G9iN ) that under a revised charter approved Tuesday no one can serve as mayor or city commissioner for more than eight years.

George Heartwell already has been mayor for 11 years. Under the measure, commissioners Elias Lumpkins and Walt Gutowski will be bounced from office after 2015 while Rosalynn Bliss and Dave Shaffer would be out of office at the end of 2017.

Heartwell was elected mayor three times and was in position to seek a fourth term next year. The change means, however, he's out at the end of 2015.
 

George Heartwell

Heartwell says he'll be ``happy and honored to have served this city for 12 years.''

Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids

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Revised: 11/11/14 19:22:37 -0800.