Republicans offer dueling endorsements, breaking tradition in Ottawa County primary
OTTAWA COUNTY — Following a series of tradition-breaking endorsements from the Ottawa County GOP, a citizen-formed group is offering a series of competing endorsements, both for members of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
All 11 seats on board are up for re-election this fall, the first referendum on Ottawa Impact since far-right candidates unseated the majority of the previous board in 2022.
This year, terms for county commissioners will double from two years to four — making the stakes are higher than ever.
More: Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties
More than 30 candidates have filed to run in the August primary. There will be nine contested Republican races and one contested Democrat race. Also notable — at least one Democrat has filed in each of the 11 districts, a first in county history.
In a move some local Republicans have called “unprecedented,” the Ottawa County GOP held an endorsement convention this month to vote on candidates to back in August.
At that meeting, “credentialed delegates” were able to vote, and Ottawa Impact affiliated candidates received overwhelming support. Each commissioner candidate endorsed by the county GOP has been “vetted” by Ottawa Impact, according to its website.
Those candidates are:
Gretchen Cosby, District 1
Lucy Ebel, District 2
Joe Moss, District 5
Kendra Wenzel, District 6
Rachel Atwood, District 7
Sylvia Rhodea, District 8
Roger Belknap, District 9
Jason Koert, District 10
Allison Miedema, District 11
Each received at least 95% of votes from the 187 approved delegates on May 16.
Now, less than two weeks later, another local group of conservatives is offering its own endorsements.
Conservative Ottawa PAC is a recently formed, citizen-led political action committee. It was formed by “citizens deeply concerned about the controversies and growing chaos which have come to characterize the government of Ottawa County,” per a press release.
“A group of concerned Republicans got together after these events started to transpire and decided something needed to be done,” the group’s website states. “We formed this group to bring true conservative leadership to Ottawa County. Radical policies and rhetoric only serve to alienate people and hurt our community.”
Conservative Ottawa PAC announced Monday, May 27, it will endorse seven Republican candidates in August. They are:
Jim Barry in District 1
Jordan Jorritsma in District 2
Mark Northrup in District 5
Shawn Haff in District 6
John Teeples in District 7
Phil Kuyers in District 9
Richard Van Dop in District 11
The group did not offer an endorsement in Districts 8 or 10, which have contested Republican races, or Districts 3 and 4, which do not.
The PAC said it sought candidates “who hold traditional Republican values, are demonstrably qualified leaders, show respect for their fellow citizens and leaders, are fiscally responsible and believe in limited government,” Chair Kurt Van Koevering wrote in a release.
The Ottawa County GOP has also endorsed Ben Genser for treasurer, Jon Anderson (current interim county administrator) for sheriff and Gregory Todd for prosecuting attorney.
Conservative Ottawa PAC endorsed incumbent Cheryl Clark for treasurer and current undersheriff Eric DeBoer for sheriff. An endorsement for the prosecutor race will come at a later date, according to the release.
Several candidates who did not receive an endorsement from the Ottawa County GOP said the party traditionally doesn’t get involved in primary races.
“Historically, the party has stayed out of primary races. It has been up to the voters in the primary to choose their candidate,” DeBoer wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, this does not seem to be what the Ottawa GOP is about anymore. Instead, it is about consolidating power into the hands of a few.”
Teeples announced before the event that he wouldn’t attend nor accept an endorsement, even if he got one.
“It is unprecedented for the GOP in Ottawa County to vet any Republican candidate prior to a primary election, and this so-called endorsement convention seeks to disenfranchise Republican voters and divide the party,” Teeples wrote.
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Republican candidates are Barry and Cosby* in District 1; Ebel and Jorritsma in District 2; Orlando Estrada in District 3; Jacob Bonnema* in District 4; Moss* and Northrup in District 5; Haff and Wenzel* in District 6; Atwood and Teeples in District 7; Rhodea* and David Morren in District 8; Belknap* and Kuyers in District 9; Koert and Josh Brugger in District 10; and Bajema, Miedema* and Van Dop in District 11.
Democrat candidates are Danielle Smith in District 1; Chris Kleinjans* in District 2; Doug Zylstra* in District 3; Chris Crothers in District 4; Jon Rabideau in District 5; Michelle Dieleman in District 6; Heather Majestic in District 7; Rebecca Patrick in District 8; Angela Stanford-Butler in District 9; Douglas Vanbennekom and Oliver Shampine in District 10; and Keith Courtade in District 11.
* = incumbent
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Republicans offer dueling endorsements, breaking tradition in Ottawa County primary
