GR Comptroller Donijo DeJonge resigns

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - She was appointed, then elected, then tried to convince voters to do away with her job. Tuesday, Grand Rapids City Comptroller Donijo DeJonge resigned.

The comptroller basically serves as the city's in-house auditor. She proposed the position become an appointed job, not elected, and the duties handed over to the city's chief financial officer.

But voters rejected that idea by a 64-36% margin.

After her resignation was announced during the City Commission meeting, Mayor George Heartwell expressed his disappointment.

"We will miss her talent in City Hall," Heartwell told 24 Hour News 8. "On the other hand, the commission now has the opportunity to - and we need to look at it that way - to appoint someone to fill that position. We will start that process immediately in the new year."

The mayor said he hope to make that appointment by spring. The new appointee will serve the rest of DeJonge's term, which ends at the end of 2013.