COA's Bandstra announces re-election bid

Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Richard A. Bandstra says he'll be seeking re-election to another six-year term on the court in November.

Bandstra made his announcement a few minutes ago via a press release e-mailed from his g-mail account.

Bandstra was elected to the COA bench in 1994 and served as chief judge from 1998-2001. He's a former state representative with a law degree from the University of Chicago.

What's on Bandstra's mind heading into the election season? Money and productivity:

[O]ur Court faces large challenges in the years ahead as we have to maintain our productivity and the quality of our work in the face of budget cutbacks. As a former Chief Judge, I hope that I will be able to assist recently appointed Chief Judge Henry Saad in coming up with creative ways to meet those challenges.

Bandstra will be seeking re-election in the COA's Third District, which includes the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, St.Joseph, Van Buren and Washtenaw.