Grand Rapids Reporter

Pastor Daniel Schutte is placing abortion and the gospel front and center in his bid to become the next mayor of Grand Rapids.

Schutte, a Republican and the director of the Inner-city Church Planting Mission, is challenging incumbent Mayor Roysalynn Bliss in next month's election. In a question and answer with local media outlets, Schutte, 63 and a pastor for 40 years, laid out his three priorities if he is elected.

"To proclaim the glory and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only answer to every one of our problems and challenges," Schutte told Mlive/Grand Rapids Press was at the top of his agenda.

Mayoral candidate Pastor Daniel Schutte

His two other priorities are to address the "murder of the precious and unwanted children of Grand Rapids," and to make the city a sanctuary for "unwanted children."

Schutte is challenging Democrat Bliss, the first woman elected to the post in 2015. Her priorities include developing infrastructure and mobility for citizens, economic development and working on the city's parks, pools, paths and playgrounds.

The pastor has run for office previously, as an unsuccessful candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 75 in 2018. He managed to draw in 19.1 percent of the vote.

Schutte, who leads two congregations in Grand Rapids, the Division Street Butterworth Street Fellowship as well as 30 internationally, believes he can help the people in the city be "happier, healthier and more productive" based on the Bible's teachings.

He also believes those same principles found in the Bible will help citizens tackle housing challenges as they will help them find "clean, adequate" accommodation. His response to Mlve/Grand Rapids Press' question on improving community-police relations is to introduce legislation making it a misdemeanor to curse or assault a police officer.

Schutte does not support expanding the ward structure in the city or changing the date when local elections take place, he told Mlive/Grand Rapids Press.