About David
I’m David LaGrand and I believe it’s time for new leadership in Lansing. That’s why I’m running to be your State Senator. The son of a minister and teacher, I was born in Grand Rapids and went to school here. My wife, Melissa, and I are raising our four children in Grand Rapids and we’ve invested in our community by opening several small businesses here, including the Wealthy Street Bakery. I’ve served our community as an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor and a City Commissioner. As your voice in the State Senate, I will work to clean up the mess in Lansing, rebuild our economy and strengthen our communities.
ABOUT DAVID
David graduated from Calvin College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. After graduate work in History at the University of Michigan, David earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1992. During his legal studies David worked in West Michigan at Warner, Norcross & Judd and Dykema Gossett. When David returned to Grand Rapids, he worked at Warner, Norcross & Judd before serving for eight years as an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor. In the prosecutor’s office, David concentrated on upholding convictions on appeal and on prosecuting domestic violence crimes.
In 2000, David joined Gerald Lykins to form a private law firm. In 2007, he joined with Chris Yates and Paul Denenfeld to form Yates, LaGrand and Denenfeld PLLC which is now LaGrand and Lowery PLLC. Currently David concentrates his practice in the areas of family and criminal law. Some of his greatest achievements involve working with his clients and their community to seek socially responsible solutions to the breach of law.
David was elected to the Grand Rapids City Commission in 2007.
David has also been active in the West Michigan business community. Shortly after returning to Grand Rapids, in early 1994, David, along with some college friends, opened the successful Four Friends Coffeeshop in downtown Grand Rapids, at the leading edge of what has been a rapid revitalization of downtown.
In 2002, the LaGrands and their neighbors opened the Wealthy Street Bakery, in another revitalizing area of Grand Rapids. This unique bakery and coffee shop now employs 25 people and has received numerous awards and national recognition for both facility rehabilitation and business success.
David LaGrand was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 13, 1966. He began studies at Calvin College in 1984, and he supported himself throughout his higher education by starting his first business, a construction firm. David is still a licensed maintenance and alterations contractor.
During his studies at Calvin College, David was actively involved in the student newspaper and created and funded a minority scholarship fund with other student leaders.
David lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Melissa and their four children, John (age 17), Isaac (age 14), Helen (age 10), and Julia (age 6). He is a member of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, where he is involved in church education programs. David also volunteers in the prison ministry program sponsored by Grace Christian Reformed Church.
