GRANDVILLE, MI – Linda Looney, the pastor who earlier this year urged Grandville city leaders to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance in response to anti-gay statements made by local business owner Dieseltec, is running for city council. Looney will appear as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 3 election.
"I just feel that Grandville needs an alternative voice for the growing diversity in the city," Looney, 68, a retired pastor in the United Church of Christ, told MLive. "The diversity that I'm seeing out here is not represented on City Council."
Looney was among a group of community members who put pressure on the city council to adopt a nondiscrimination ordinance supporting the LGBT community. Instead of passing an ordinance, Grandville City Council issued a motion stating that the city supports individual rights and fair treatment of everyone.
City officials claimed that if it were to pass an ordinance it would be the city's responsibility to pay for the prosecution and court costs for any business that violates the policy – a cost that would be overwhelming for a small city like Grandville.
Several people have declared themselves write-in candidates for the November election in Kent and Ottawa counties. Deadline to become a write-in candidate was Oct. 23.
Pastor Who Pushed For LGBT Protections Runs For City Council
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