City commish, on vacation, in movie

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Grand Rapids' third Ward city commissioner James White was on set for the filming of the movie "Touchback" during a scheduled vacation from his job on the city commission.

While White was away, the city commission voted down a controversial proposal to allow city residents to have chickens in their backyards.

The proposed ordinance change failed with a 3-3 vote and sparked questions about White's absence and whether or not it would have affected the outcome.

"I was not supportive of (the proposal) as written," White told 24 Hour News 8.

Noting an "overwhelming" negative response to the proposal in the area he represents, White contends that his presence likely would not have helped to pass the measure.

He also disputes the notion that the vote took "a back seat" to the movie. In fact, White says, his two-week vacation was scheduled two weeks before movie-makers ever approached him about appearing in "Touchback".

The vacation was actually in place to allow White time to move into a home he and his wife had recently purchased, he said.

"It's not unusual for commissioners to be gone," White said. "It was more than just a movie. I was moving."

Initially, because he was moving, White says he was planning to turn down the opportunity to appear in the movie along side Kurt Russel.

But movie directors wanted White to play the role of the assistant coach in the movie and "worked around" his schedule so he could appear.

Since the movie was being shot at night and would allow White to work on moving during the day, he decided to take the role.

"I said OK. I'll give it a try," White said, describing his role as a "super extra". "(It's a) person who is seen a lot but doesn't say anything."

White, a longtime actor who has played numerous roles in area community theaters, considers himself a supporter of the push to bring movie makers to the area. he says he was part of the push to pass the state tax incentives for productions filmed in Michigan.

The commissioner is also appearing another movie filmed in Grand Rapids this summer. White is playing the role of a homeless man in the movie "Things Fall apart," directed by Mario Van Peebles.

As for the chickens vote, White said city commissioners backing the ordinance change pushed to table the issue so they could make some changes in the proposal's language and bring it up for vote at a later date, but that move was also voted down.

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