Perry R. Lund

GLADSTONE — Attorney Perry R. Lund, from Gladstone, has declared his candidacy for the position of Delta County Probate Judge, which will become vacant when Judge Robert E. Goebel, Jr. retires from the judgeship at the end of the year after 39 years of service.

Lund, 52, is a lifelong resident of Delta County. He is a 1983 graduate of Gladstone High School, and attended Northern Michigan University where he received bachelor degrees in political science and criminal justice. He received his law degree in 1995 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

After graduating from law school he returned to Delta County and joined the law firm of Olsen, Filoramo, Jarvi & McNamara, where he gained legal experience from some of the most experienced attorneys in the area. It during this time that he also began doing court-appointed work for Judge Goebel at the Delta County Probate Court.

In 2000 he left private practice and went to work full-time for the Delta County Probate Court. He was initially hired as a juvenile probation officer, and in 2001 he was appointed by Judge Goebel to the position of Juvenal Hearing Referee. Lund has served in that capacity for the past 17 years and has presided over thousands of delinquency and neglect and abuse cases ranging from initial preliminary hearings to presiding over bench trials.

Lund also serves as the Juvenile Court Administrator, and in that capacity is responsible for the the juvenile court, including budgetary matters.

In 2017 Lund took on additional responsibilities when he was appointed by Circuit Court Judge John Economopoulos to the position of Domestic Relations Referee for the Delta County Family Division of Circuit Court. In the position, Lund presides over custody, parenting time and support issues. Although he is kept busy in both referee positions, Lund feels it is very rewarding in being able to provide services to the children and families of Delta County.

Reflecting back on his experience, Lund said, “I have dedicated my legal career to serving the children and families of Delta County. In my 23-year legal career I have acquired vast experience in probate and family law. For the past 18 years I have worked for Judge Goebel and learned every aspect of how the Delta County Probate Court operates. I have presided over in excess of 7,000 hearings in the Probate Court and the Family Division of Circuit Court. This experience, I feel, makes me uniquely qualified to serve as Delta County’s next Probate Judge. In 39 years on the bench, Judge Goebel has made our Probate Court, hands down, the best Probate Court operating in the State of Michigan. If elected, I guarantee that I will apply my experience and dedication so that tradition continues.”

Lund and his wife Tanya live in Escanaba Township. Tanya works at Refine Skin & Wellness Center in Escanaba. She is a well-known locally for her photography work and her love of animals. Tanya is a long-time member of the Delta Area Animal Society. In her spare time she volunteers for various organizations, including being on the nominating committee for the past 26 years at the Delta Intermediate School District to choose the Joseph Hampton Achievement Award and Dr. Roger L. Gustafson Scholarship award winners.

Perry is involved in many local organizations, including serving as a long-time member on the Board of Directors for Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County, Great Lakes Sports Club, Bay De Noc Great Lakes Sport Fisherman, Delta County Gun Owners Association, Whitetails Unlimited, Bay Pines Citizen’s Advisory Committee, Delta County ISD Truancy Council and Sons of the American Legion.

“This November Delta County voters will make an extremely important decision in choosing our next Probate Judge,” said Lund. “The voters shouldn’t take this duty lightly. The Probate Judge has many responsibilities but none are more important than protecting the neglected and abused children in our community. I have been protecting those children ever since becoming an attorney 23 years ago. If elected as Delta County’s next Probate Judge, I will continue protecting those children. I ask for your vote this fall to become Delta County’s next Probate Judge.”