Richard A. Starr, II

Rich grew up in Canton Michigan and is a retired USAF Veteran, MBA, and Certified Management Professional who has led multi-national teams on six continents. He served for 21 years as an Aircraft Mechanic and a Cyber Systems Operator, completing two deployments to southwest Asia where he managed the mission planning networks and aircraft targeting systems for bomber operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rich finished his military service in 2019 after consecutive assignments to the International Military Staff in Brussels as the liaison to the DoD Communications Electronics Board and the NATO Allied Communications Manager. He's now a part-time investor and has represented Ionia's Second Ward since 2019. Rich became Deputy Mayor in January of 2024.

Rich and his wife Cindi have been married since 2001, and they live on W Main Street with their two daughters Aurelia and Libelle. They share a passion for antiquity and enjoy restoring Ionia's historic Vanderheyden house.