Mayor George Heartwell took office on January 1, 2004. The Mayor served as a Third Ward Commissioner from 1992-2000.

He is Director of the Community Leadership Institute at Aquinas College where he teaches in the Community Leadership undergraduate major.

Mayor Heartwell is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served for 14 years as Pastor at Heartside Ministry, a program serving the homeless community of Grand Rapids.

Prior to this he was President of Heartwell Mortgage Corporation.

George Heartwell is married to Susan who is the Executive Director of the Student Advancement Foundation. The Heartwells have three children and five grandchildren.

The Office

The Mayor is the official head of the City and presides at meetings of the City Commission, but has no veto power over the Commission's decisions. This person is elected "at large," or by the entire City, to a four-year term, and represents the City in official functions by signing agreements approved by the City Commission, appointing most advisory committees, and working with other governmental agencies and civic groups. The Mayor's office is located on the sixth floor of City Hall.