Kent County Assistant Named Houghton County Prosecutor

A current Kent County Assistant Prosecutor will become the new Houghton County Prosecuting Attorney.

Dan Helmer’s appointment to the post was announced today by 12th Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulleit, who was responsible for making the selection.

Helmer has been an Assistant Prosecutor in Kent County since graduating from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School law school in 2011. He is a Marquette native, and graduated from Marquette High School in 2000.

“| am thankful for the trust Judge Bulleit has put in me and | am excited to return home. It’s going to
be a new challenge, but one | welcome”, Helmer said.

Helmer replaces Paul LaBine, who stepped down as Hancock mayor to accept the prosecutor’s job in July, replacing Bulleit after her appointment to the bench. He quickly left the position, departing at the end of September, and leaving the county with no attorneys on the prosecutor’s staff.

Helmer went on to say, “My immediate priority will be filling the two vacant Assistant Prosecutor
positions, as those positions are vital to keeping Houghton County safe. Filling those spots will be a
community effort — so I’m asking for your help. There are lawyers out there — assistant prosecutors in
other counties, maybe even other states – who grew up here and left because there weren’t any
positions in the U.P. Reach out to them, get their name to me, it’s time to come home. If I just
described someone you know, or even you, let’s talk.”

Helmer will officially begin his duties on December 4, 2023. He will fill the remainder of Bulleit’s term, which ends in 2024 and will be up in next year’s general election.