MEET JOHN ANTER
A third-generation Port Huron resident, John Anter is a longtime electrician, consensus builder, and problem solver who has dedicated his career to powering our region’s economy and way of life.
John’s working-class roots run deep in St. Clair County. His grandfather tended bar at the iconic Brass Rail and lived above the bar with his young family. Following service in the U.S. Army, John’s father owned Artie’s Lunch & Lounge and Arthur’s Lounge downtown, establishing the businesses as favorites in the community. John’s Uncle Joe, a U.S. Marine, ran Lott-Anter Tailoring on 24th Street and earned recognition from President Reagan for their pro bono work repairing hundreds of tattered American flags owned by local families.
Growing up in a large, tight-knit family, John and his five sisters learned the importance of community and hard work from their parents. John balanced after-school jobs with baseball and hockey before graduating from Port Huron Central.
John helped run his family’s bars and restaurants in downtown Port Huron before working in the skilled trades. He and his siblings had limited access to healthcare growing up. John’s mother was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away at just 51 years old. This gut-wrenching experience informed John’s understanding of just how important healthcare is and why everyone should get the care and treatment they need when they need it.
A member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58, John has worked as a licensed master electrician for the past three decades. He has led safety instruction and work crews on large-scale projects across the region, including the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Henry Ford Hospital expansion, and the Gordie Howe Bridge. His cross-sector work is a testament to his steady hand and common-sense approach to solving problems.
Committed to helping our community, John serves as a member of the City Planning Commission and as the master electrician on the Construction Appeals Board for the City of Port Huron. Through this work, he listens to and uplifts the wide-ranging voices of local residents, including homeowners, renters, landlords, small business owners, major employers, and organizations that are the backbone of our community.
John is passionate about protecting our Lakes and natural resources as a competitive sailor, avid runner, and outdoor enthusiast who regularly cleans up litter in our lakes and waterways. A longtime Port Huron Yacht Club board member and past Commodore, he has earned a reputation as an effective consensus builder who brings people together. He is a member of the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit, board member of The Commodores Club that represents 24 sailing and racing organizations in the U.S. and Canada, and past winner of the Bayview Mackinac Race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island, one of the most challenging freshwater boat races in the world.
From rising costs to healthcare access, John understands the challenges facing local families because he’s lived them. Now, he is running for State Representative to improve quality of life and ensure our area remains a great place to live, work, and visit. John is committed to building stronger, healthier communities and will always put people first, not politics.