John Truscott, one of the top PR executives in Lansing, has
come to Terri Lynn Land’s defense against documentation that seems to show that
she has not been truthful about her relationship with her husband’s multi-million
dollar real estate conglomerate, Land & Co.

As I reported earlier today, five documents issued by Grand
Rapids city inspectors in 2011-12 indicate that the Southview Apartments
complex that Land claims is her lone source of income is actually owned by her
husband, Dan Hibma, and Land & Co.

Truscott, a spokesman for Land & Co., said tonight
that the story is more complicated.

Land’s company, Green Light Management, contracts out to
Land & Co. for basic services: 
rental agents that show units to prospective renters and execute leases;
bookkeeping; and administrative duties, according to Truscott.

Green Light, he said, provides maintenance, capital
improvements and marketing for Southview Apartments. Truscott also insisted that
Land owns the complex. (He said he was wrong when he told me earlier today that
the contracting provisions with Land & Co. include accounting services.)

So, why does the city of Grand Rapids list the “registered
owner” of the College Avenue complex as Hibma and Land & Co.?

“That’s not true. Green Light Management has owned those
apartments since 2011. Could it be that they (city inspectors) made a mistake?”
responded Truscott, who served as press secretary to former governor John Engler.

The inspections resulted from tenant complaints about
cockroaches, mice and bed bugs in the apartments. Though Green Light is
responsible for maintaining the units, Truscott said city inspectors may have
been improperly steered toward a Land & Co. office to arrange a solution due to the
shared responsibilities for Southview.

I am still waiting for a response to all of this from
Land’s campaign.