Editor's note: This is the first in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing. Two council members, Bill Sharp and Vic Loomis, are up for re-election this fall.

At 77 years old there's little that slows East Lansing City Councilmember Bill Sharp down.

A former East Lansing police officer and off-ice official at Munn Ice Arena, Sharp says he lives an active life. Sharp was born in Lansing and raised in the area, said he has a lot of knowledge about the city.

"I have got the history of what is going on," he said.

One of two council members up for re-election in the fall, Sharp plans to begin campaigning for the four-year position this summer.

East Lansing's Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said Sharp is can offer advice the other members might overlook. Sharp has been a city council member since 1993.

"What Bill brings is perspective," Golden said. "He has a lot of history to contrast things with."

But not everyone sees Sharp as an asset to the city.

"If he were getting an approval rating from students, it would be 35 to 40 percent," said Andrew Schepers, Vice Chairman for Internal Affairs of ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government.

Bringing a self-admitted fire to city government, Sharp said he isn't afraid to speak against an issue the rest of council might agree with.

"I say my piece and whatever happens, happens," he said.

A survivor of prostate cancer and triple bypass heart surgery, Sharp said he will continue to take part in the community, health permitting.

Besides governing the home of MSU, Sharp's enjoys watching the its hockey team. He said he is an avid fan and attends every game possible.

"I never played hockey but got really interested in it," he said.

Sharp has worked as an off-ice official for 23 years and served 12 as a goal judge.