GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Republican leaders say they are glad to see State Representative Roy Schmidt join their party for his re-election race in the 76th District, but Michigan and Kent County Democrats say his switch on the filing deadline day is "dishonest" and "desperate."

Schmidt, a long-time moderate Democrat who previously served as a non-partisan Grand Rapids city commissioner, announced his switch to the GOP late Tuesday. In an statement emailed to WZZM 13's Peter Ross, Schmidt said he will still be dedicated to serving Grand Rapids, not partisan politics.

"The simple truth is, extreme Democratic Party bosses like Mark Brewer are unwilling to listen to ideas or accept my positions on issues that matter to me and Grand Rapids," Schmidt said in the statement.

Brewer, who is chairman of the state Democratic Party, issued his own statement on Schmidt's switch late Tuesday, saying the move was a "desperate, craven deed."

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Spray painted images of President Ford are no longer visible on the freeway that is named after him.

Last month someone painted an image of the late President on one of the columns under I-196 which is also known as the Ford Freeway.

MDOT calls the graffiti a distraction to drivers and had crews paint over the image.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - For the next three months the Sixth Street will be closed to cars and pedestrians. Monday morning, crews began a nearly $2 million rehabilitation project on the historic bridge.

The wooden braces will be replaced with metal and the surface will be repaved. The work is being funded by MDOT and the Downtown Development Authority.

The Sixth Street bridge should reopen in mid August.