The owner of a Lawrence-based environmental consulting firm is set to become the first candidate to announce for the Lawrence City Commission.

Mike Dever said this morning he plans to announce his candidacy for one of three seats on the City Commission at an 11 a.m. event Tuesday at City Hall.

“I really believe that we need to expand our business and industrial tax base in town,” Dever said. “I think we have held off for too long in moving the burden from homeowners to businesses. We need to start making that transition.”

Dever, 43, is the owner of GuideWire Consulting, which provides site assessments and testing for a variety of environmental issues.

Three seats – all at large – are up for election. They are held by Commissioners Boog Highberger, Mike Rundle and David Schauner. None of those three has announced yet whether they intend to seek re-election.

The City Commission election will be April 3. If more than six candidates file for election, there will be a primary election on Feb. 27. Candidates have until noon Jan. 23 to file.

For more on the story, see tomorrow’s Journal-World.