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Former Hancock Mayor Paul LaBine will be sworn in today as the newest Houghton County prosecutor. LaBine presided over his final council meeting with the city of Hancock last week, after serving with the city for the past seven years. He was recently re-elected to the council this past November. State law prohibits him from holding both positions at the same time, requiring him to step away from the city. City Manager Mary Babcock said that she and the city are sad to see him leave, though they are proud of the work they accomplished together. Notably the recently passed updated zoning ordinance. LaBine helped to play a key role in the fifty year update, sitting in on both the council and planning commission at the time.
He will take over the county prosecutor role from former prosecutor Brittany Bulleit, who was recently appointed to the vacant Houghton County 12 Circuit Court seat by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. LaBine earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics at Michigan Tech University, and his Juris Doctorate at the University of Illinios at Chicago – Chicago School of Law, where he graduated Cum Lade. LaBine is licensed to practice law in California (’06), and Michigan, the later since 2009. For the past several years, since 2014, LaBine has taught full time at Gogebic Community College, while continuing to practice law in the local area. His term as County Prosecutor will end in January 2025. He will need to run for re-election in November 2024, if he wishes to continue serving Houghton County.
