State Senate Rejects Former GR Mayor For Natural Resources Appointment

lasatacommittee
lasatacommittee

The state Senate has rejected the appointment by Governor Whitmer of former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell to serve as the chairman of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, which regulates hunting and fishing. In committee this week, Senator Kim LaSata of Berrien County made the motion that the Advice and Consent Committee recommend his nomination be turned down. LaSata placed the blame on the shoulders of Governor Whitmer.

“She is well versed in the advice-and-consent process,” said LaSata. “She knows of this committee’s desire to resolve concerns with appointees before reaching the point where there is a full vote of the Senate to reject.”

Heartwell stopped hunting 30 years ago, but continues to fish. He ran into opposition from gun rights groups over his attempt as Grand Rapids mayor to make the city commission chambers a gun-free zone, with Senator Aric Nesbitt of Lawton bringing that up during Heartwell’s confirmation hearing. He is just the second Whitmer appointment out of 387 people to be rejected.