Rosalynn Bliss Elected 1st Female Mayor Of Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Rosalynn Bliss has been elected mayor of Grand Rapids, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
The Grand Rapids Press reports Bliss surpassed the 50 percent threshold in Tuesday's primary election needed to avoid a November runoff. Bliss has served as the commissioner for the city's Second Ward since 2006.
Former city commissioner and state lawmaker Robert Dean came in second with 30 percent of the vote.
Bliss is set to follow Mayor George Heartwell, whose tenure will end after 12 years due to term limits. He endorsed Bliss.
Primary elections in the state Tuesday also included a mayoral race in Flint with four candidates vying for spots in the November general election. The Flint Journal reports incumbent Dayne Walling came in first, with challenger Karen Weaver placing second.
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