Michael Farage is running for the Grand Rapids City Commission in the 2nd Ward. Farage is the President of the Grand Rapids Taxpayers Association, and a member of Empower the Citizens, a local organization responsible for the City Commission adopting term-limits in 2014, and the same organization currently trying to change the election cycle for city commissioners from odd years to even.
If his name sounds familiar, this is the second time Michael Farge is running for the City Commission, after a unsuccessful attempt in 2014. He says, his platform, remains the same.
“My rhetoric, my theories, don’t change,” Farage said. “The number one issue concerning this community is the Grand Rapids Public Schools. From 40,000 to 15,000 enrollment…when your own citizens who pay the taxes in your own community, are not sending their kids to our public schools, there is a problem,” he said.
Farage looks to fill the seat currently held by City Commissioner Ruth Kelly who is stepping down due to term-limits. If he receives 50 plus 1 percent of the vote, he wins outright, if not, a run-off will take place in November between the top two candidates.
Meanwhile, the City of Grand Rapids is reminding voters it’s not too late to register to vote. With Proposal 3 passing last November, voters in Michigan now have the opportunity to cast a “no reason” absentee vote, and they can also register the day of the election, which for the city commissioner’s race, is August 6th.