Wood County Commissioner James Carter has announced that he will seek election to the board of commissioners in the upcoming general election. Carter, appointed to an unexpired commissioner term in July 1995, previously served as mayor of Grand Rapids for 16 years. He formerly worked for 32 years for Toledo Edison, where he was responsible for 43 employees and a budget exceeding $4 million throughout his 2,500 square miles of service territory. Upon accepting early retirement from Toledo Edison, Carter joined Poggemeyer Design Group of Bowling Green, where he served as client relations representative prior to his appointment as a commissioner. As a commissioner, Carter serves on the executive committee of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. He has also worked on the court security advisory committee and local emergency planning committee. He believes important issues facing the county include developing a comprehensive land use plan prosper in an orderly fashion, and working to protect the county's revenue through water and sewer contracts.

"It's also very important that we do not neglect agriculture in this county in an effort to spur economic development," Carter added. ''Our blend of industry, agriculture, and education has served us well in providing a high quality of life for past and current generations, and I want to make sure that we preserve this quality of life for future generations." Carter attended the University of Toledo College of Engineering, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan's Manager of Managers Course.

He has been involved in numerous civic organizations and governmental entities including the Wood County Board of Education and the Wood County Hospital Board of Trustees. A former president of the Wood County Mayors' Association and the county board of education, he is a member of the Wood County Emergency Management Agency Board of Directors, American Legion Post 232, Otsego Endowment Fund and was a volunteer fire fighter. Carter was recipient of the Spirit of Wood County Award for outstanding public service in self government in 1993. Carter and his wife, Sharon, live in Grand Rapids. They have two daughters and four grandchildren, all living in the Grand Rapids area.