Read a brief report for the May 1 Belding City Council meeting.

Anyone wishing to file for August and November elections in Montcalm County has about two weeks left to do so. All Montcalm County offices will be up for election, as well as city and township offices.

Ionia County Commissioner James Lower has announced his intention to run for Ionia County clerk. Lower, who resides in Ionia, will be running as a Republican. “Working with my colleagues on the board, I have achieved most of the goals I set out to accomplish when I ran for commissioner,” Lower said. “At this time I feel I can do more to improve our county by running for the county clerk position.”

Michael Huckleberry announced his candidacy Saturday with support from local government officials and Sen. Carl Levin. Huckleberry, 63, said he would be running for State Representative in Michigan’s 70th District.

During last week’s State of the State address, Gov. Rick Snyder placed a heavy focus on the unemployment rate for veterans in Michigan. During Monday’s Legislative Luncheon at Montcalm Community College, local legislators kept focus on the issue. “Our veterans do not have access to the opportunities that are available to them,” State Sen. Judy Emmons said. “We are last in the country for our veterans in Michigan accessing the programs that they have earned, that they have sacrificed for and we have to improve that.”

Gov. Rick Snyder centered his second State of the State address Wednesday night on building on the successes of 2011 and continuing to improve in 2012. Speaking in an upbeat manner, Snyder did not announce any major changes for the upcoming year and kept his topics on issues from 2011, stating he wants to instead focus on finishing “what we started.”

In his final act as the mayor of Belding, Roger Wills picked up his gavel, placed it in front of Ron Gunderson and exclaimed, “Mr. Gunderson, you’re the mayor.”
The City Council unanimously voted Gunderson in as the new mayor Tuesday evening after Wills received no support for a second term.

BELDING — Four people are running for two seats on the Belding City Council.

BELDING — Four people are running for two seats on the Belding City Council.

The Michigan Senate Families, Seniors and Human Services Committee led by Sen. Judy Emmons has approved an 18-bill package of reforms to help protect senior citizens, encourage increased reporting of elder abuse and streng-then penalties for people convicted of abusing a senior citizens.