Committee on Appointments names three finalists for First Ward City Commissioner vacancy
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The City of Grand Rapids today announced that the City Commission’s Committee on Appointments has selected three finalists for the open First Ward City Commissioner seat. The vacancy was created following the resignation of former Commissioner Drew Robbins. The finalist candidates are:
· Danielle (Dan) Cope
· Lindsey Perez‑Plescher
· Kurt Reppart
The Committee on Appointments thanked all nine applicants for their interest in serving the First Ward and expressed appreciation for the high level of dedication, community service, and commitment to Grand Rapids demonstrated across the applicant pool.
Dan Cope is an educator and faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she teaches in Integrative Studies and coordinates the INT 201 course. Cope has experience in curriculum development, civic engagement education and student support. She has also worked in local government administration, including service with the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office and Grand Rapids Charter Township, where she served as Deputy Clerk during the 2020 election cycle. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature from GVSU and is active in university shared governance, civic learning initiatives and election‑related service.
Lindsey Perez-Plescher is a licensed professional counselor with 13 years of experience in mental health, specializing in trauma-informed care, refugee services and immigrant community advocacy. She currently provides outpatient therapy at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and previously served as a bilingual counselor for refugee youth at Bethany Christian Services. She is the founder and director of the Center for Immigration Studies and Education and has spent more than a decade providing lectures, trainings, and community education on immigration, cultural competency and mental health. Perez-Plescher is active in West Side community initiatives, neighborhood associations and local human rights-focused volunteer work.
Kurt Reppart previously served as the elected First Ward City Commissioner from 2017 to 2022. During his tenure, he helped advance major initiatives including the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Homeless Outreach Team and mental health co-response model, the Office of Public Oversight and Accountability and the City’s first participatory budgeting process. Since leaving office, he has continued to work in affordable housing, nonprofit leadership and community development through his consulting practice. Reppart serves on the Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority and has been actively involved in local housing and neighborhood investment efforts.
The three finalists will be interviewed by the full Grand Rapids City Commission at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22 during a public meeting. Community members will have the opportunity to offer comments during the standard public comment period. The City Commission meeting will air on Comcast Channel 26 and be live streamed on the City of Grand Rapids Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Following the interviews, commissioners may vote to appoint the new First Ward representative or continue deliberations at a later date. The selected candidate may be sworn in immediately following the vote.
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