Category Archives: Election

Change coming in local county commission seats, state senator looking toward future, after candidate filing deadline

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The 2020 election cycle, the August primary and the November general elections, will have a wide spectrum of officeholders for Wyoming and Kentwood voters to decide upon.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The 2020 election cycle, the August primary and the November general elections, will have a wide spectrum of officeholders for Wyoming and Kentwood voters to decide upon — from Kentwood’s District Court judge to President of the United States.

As the candidate deadline for the filing for partisan positions on the fall primary and November ballots passed today, April 21, at 4 p.m., a review of the Kent County Elections Office list also includes three local developments of special note.
 

Three candidates will vie for the Kent County Board of Commissioners 8th District seat, which is entirely in the boundaries of the City of Wyoming, but current commissioner and long-time public servant Harold Voorhees will not be one of them.

And current State Sen. Peter MacGregor (Republican, 28th District) is running for Kent County Treasurer, an action that if successful would require him to resign from his senate seat two years before term limits would force him to do so.

Both Commissioner Voorhees and Sen. MacGregor talked to WKTV briefly today about their decisions.

For Commissioner Voorhees, this is just the right time.

Commissioner Harold Voorhees

“At the end of 2020, I will have served 30 years in elected office. I think this is the right time for someone else,” Voorhees said. “I have been blessed to be able to serve people in three different elected offices … (and) my wife and I are in our 80s and we are blessed with good health. So why not spend more time with our six children, 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. We have lots of visiting to do.”
 

The new county commission’s 8th District commissioner, to be decided in November, will be either the sole Democrat to file, Sarah Chatterley of Wyoming, or the winner of an Aug. 2 Republican Party primary between current City of Wyoming City Council Member-at-large Dan Burrill and Grandville’s Denise Kolesar.

Additionally, in the county commission’s 13th District (Kentwood), incumbent Democrat Betsy Melton filed early but then removed her name late in the process, so fellow Democrat Michelle McCloud and Republican Levi Cipcic, both unopposed in the primary, will face off in November.

As far as Sen. MacGregor’s decision, he told WKTV that his love of public service — he has more than 11 years as a state representative and now state senator —  and looming term limits are what drove him to the decision.

State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District)

“I truly love serving the people” of Kent County, he said. “Maybe I can use my skill set to continue serving this way … (and) this is kind of a free shot to test that.”

If he does not win the treasurer seat, Sen. MacGregor would continue to serve his final two years in the senate.

Also seeking the county treasurer job, and running in the Democratic primary, are José L. Reyna and Beth White, the winner of which will face MacGregor in the general election.

City of Wyoming City Council

City of Wyoming voters will have three seats on the City Council to be voted on, all three on the November ballot and two of the three unopposed at this point. Incumbents Marissa K. Postler and Robert Postema have filed for the 2nd Ward and the 3rd Ward council seats, respectively. Rob Arnoys and John Fitzgerald have filed for a Commissioner-at-large seat.

Kent County Board of Commissioners

In other Kent County Board of Commissioners contests, in the 7th District (Grandville/part of Wyoming), Republican incumbent and Grandville resident Stan Ponstein and Democrat and Grandville resident Jane Newton will run unopposed in August and face off in November.

In the 9th District (Byron Twp./part of Wyoming), incumbent Republican Matt Kallman will be opposed by Keith Courtade (D) of Wyoming, while in the 12th District (Kentwood/part of Wyoming and Grand Rapids) incumbent Democrat Monica Sparks of Kentwood and Grand Rapids Republican Ryan Malinoski will run unopposed in August and face off in November.

Kent County-wide elections

Current Kent County District Attorney Chris Becker (R) will run for reelection unopposed this election cycle, but current Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young (R) will be opposed Democrat Marc Burns.

Current county Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) will also be opposed, by Wyoming resident Devin Ortega-Furgeson (D). And current Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker (R) will be opposed by Elaine Isely (D).
 

Part of the Kent County Court System, Kentwood’s current 62 B District Court Judge William G. is bared from running again due to a state law setting an age limit of 70. Running for the non-partisan seat is Amanda Sterkenburg and Joe Jackson, both of Kentwood.

According to the Kent County Elections Office, local judicial candidates will only be on the November candidate listing unless they are forced into a primary (if more than twice the number of candidates file for the number of seats to be elected). If that happens, there will be a primary on the August ballot.

Wyoming’s and Kentwood’s state, federal elected positions 

In the Michigan State House of Representatives 72nd District, which includes Kentwood, incumbent Rep. Steven Johnson (R) of Wayland will run unopposed in the primary but in November will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Lily Cheng-Schulting of Grand Rapids and Cade Wilson of Kentwood.

The state house 77th District (which includes Wyoming) will have incumbent Tommy Brann of Wyoming running unopposed in the Republican primary and, in November, he will face the winner of an August Democratic primary field of Bob Smith of Byron Center and Dana Knight of Wyoming.

In Michigan’s 2nd U.S. Congressional District (which includes Wyoming and Kentwood) incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) and Rev. Bryan Berghoef (D)  will also run unopposed in August and face off in November.

Wyoming and Kentwood voters will in November also select between incumbent U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D) two Republicans running in the August primary, John James and Bob Carr.

According to the Kent County Elections Office, “Candidates without party affiliation have until 4 p.m. on July 16 to file petitions to appear on the November ballot.” So independents could still file for offices.


Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights school district voters to face ‘confusing’ ballot process in May

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The new State of Michigan Absentee Ballot return envelope. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org



Michigan’s Secretary of State’s office has announced that the coming May 5 ballot will “primarily” use a mail-in voting system by expanding the state’s existing absentee ballot process with all registered voters in areas set to vote being sent absentee ballot registrations.

In addition, according to a Secretary of State press release, it was announced that last week that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had issued an executive order that will close all but one polling place — typically the clerk’s office — in each election jurisdiction to be used for in-person voting.

The Kent County Clerk’s office, which is responsible for voting processes in the county, is putting plans in place for handling the changes but the admits the state’s plans may be “confusing to voters and could jeopardize election integrity,” Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Kent County Clerk/Register, said to WKTV today, April 8.

None-the-less, Posthumus Lyons said “we are moving forward in Kent County, working with local clerks to ensure we have enough workers to staff the election, adhere to the CDC guidelines for the health of the public and our workers, and protect the security and integrity of the election.”

School leaders in Kelloggsville Public Schools — which along with Godwin Heights Public Schools are the only entities in Wyoming and Kentwood with funding measures on the May ballot — are also unsure how the changes will impact the public vote.

“First off, all of our thoughts go out to the families that have been impacted by this pandemic and hope that they are healthy as possible and are making it through these difficult times,” Eric Alcorn, auxiliary services director at Kelloggsville Public Schools, said to WKTV. But “we think anytime there is a major world/national threat, pandemic, disaster, a change in the economic outlook, there is a huge impact on elections.

“I am not sure if we have ever done an election entirely through absentee voting — we will have to wait and see on what kind of impact it will have. It will for sure be a learning opportunity for us.”

The Kelloggsville Public School District has an approximately $4.2 million, 10-year sinking fund millage proposal. Godwin Heights Public Schools has a $13,975,000 bonding proposal on the ballot.

“All I can say is that we are going to do the best we can to get the word out about the sinking fund, its benefits, and the opportunities we want to provide for our students, staff and community,” Alcorn said. “We are adjusting our plan to meet the stay-at-home orders and social distancing placed on Michigan.

“We have a small community and usually like to do a lot of our marketing face-to-face and by word-of-mouth through inviting them into our facilities and talking about proposals at events and activities. At the end of the day, we are committed to providing the best educational environment for our students that we can. The revenue generated from the sinking fund will go a long way in helping us achieve that.”

Kent County Clerk has some concerns

And while the Kent County Clerk’s office is preparing as directed by the state, the county leader is not entirely comfortable with the process mandated by the state.

“My primary concern with the May 5 Election is the safety of our clerks, election workers, and of course, the voters,” Posthumus Lyons said to WKTV. “While it would have been ideal for the school districts take advantage of the opportunities they had to move their questions to the August ballot, seven have opted to continue for May.

“I understand we face a time that requires making difficult decisions, but I am admittedly concerned with the action taken by the Governor and Secretary of State to address this May election because the process they’ve put in place is confusing to voters and could jeopardize election integrity, and I do not want this to set a precedent for how we conduct future elections in Michigan.”

The Secretary of State’s office, however, sees a primarily mail-in ballot in May as the best way to handle the voting.

“Elections are the foundation of our democracy, and our nation has a long history of holding them even in times of crisis and uncertainty,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in supplied material. “All election work will be done in strict adherence to the protocols to prevent coronavirus transmission, including exercising social distancing, using sanitary equipment, and maintaining strong hygiene.”

To encourage everyone who can to stay home and vote by mail, the state will mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters, and all new registrations will be treated like an absentee ballot application, prompting the issuance of an absentee ballot, according to Benson’s office.

“Voters like voting by mail because it is easy, private, and can be done on their own timing and while researching issues and candidates at home,” Benson said. “It also eliminates the possibility of coronavirus transmission for the voter and, with simple precautions like gloves and social distancing, the election workers as well. Finally, voting by mail is absolutely secure, as the signature matching requirement is a built-in security check.”

According to the latest Secretary of State’s office direction, local city and township clerks’ offices will remain open through Election Day, enabling same-day voter registration and voting in person, including for people with disabilities who wish to vote using assistive equipment, and others to drop off their ballots if they forget to mail it in time.

Voter registration can also be done by mail or online at michigan.gov/Vote through April 20. Between April 20 and May 5, new registrations must be accompanied by proof of residence, which can also be submitted by mail or electronically.

More information on school ballot measures

For more information on the Kelloggsville Public School District funding request, see a story by our media partner School News Network.

For more information on the Godwin Heights Public Schools funding request, see a story by our media partner School News Network.

Kent County elections leaders discuss busy voting season on WKTV Journal In Focus

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By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Michigan voters are starting a busy election with the just-completed presidential primary, so on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus we offer a review of how the State of Michigan in general — and Kent County in specific — handle elections so that they provide voter accessibility, ballot security and accurate results.

With us is Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds, who was elected to the position in 2016 after serving three terms as a Republican in the Michigan House of Representatives. Also with us is county elections director Gerrid Uzarski, who was appointed by Ms. Lyons in late 2017 and, previously worked for ElectionSource, a local company which, along with Dominion Voting Systems, is contracted by the state to provide election hardware and software.

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

Vote 2020: Busy election season begins with absentee ballot availability for March 10 presidential primaries

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The new State of Michigan Absentee Ballot return envelope. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

The March 10 Presidential Primary ballots, both the crowded Democratic version and the less crowded Republican version, are already in Wyoming and Kentwood voters hands if they applied for absentee ballots.

And it is not too late to apply for absentee ballots for the coming voting day, or for the entire and very busy 2020 voting calendar which includes the March 10 presidential primary election, a May 5 potential proposal or millage election, the Aug. 4 state and federal primary election and the Nov. 3 presidential, federal and state general election.

There will also be voting in the Wyoming Public Schools district for a millage renewal on the district’s March 10 ballot, and there will be voting for Kent County Sheriff and the 62 B District Court (Kentwood) judgeship, possibly in both primary and general elections.

For more information on the Wyoming Public Schools Operating Millage Restoration Proposal on the March 10 ballot, visit here.

But first, the presidential primary. And given the evolving list of political candidates in each party’s race, the ballot will show candidates who have already dropped out of the race.

“The list of candidates who will appear on the March 10 Presidential Primary is created, per statute, by the Secretary of State and the state chairpersons of the two political parties, based on whom they deem to be nationally-recognized candidates,” Robert J. Macomber, Kent County Chief Deputy Clerk and Register of Deeds, said to WKTV. “Because the candidate list was finalized in December in order to meet programming and printing deadlines, the ballots will include the names of several candidates whom have since ended their campaigns.”

While there are things for voters to watch out for on the presidential primary ballot, there are also things to know about the state’s new absentee ballot rules and envelopes.

Voters in both Wyoming and Kentwood can request absentee ballots, for specific voting dates or for the entire 2020 calendar, by contacting the city’s respective city clerk offices. For more information on Kentwood, visit here. For more information on Wyoming, visit here.

“With the passage of Proposal 18-3, Michigan voters now have the right to vote absentee without providing a reason, and the right to request to be placed on what is known as the Permanent Absentee List, and maintained by most city and township clerks,” Macomber said. “When on the permanent list, the voter will automatically receive an Absentee Ballot Application in advance of each election. On that application, the voter will have the option to request to receive the ballot for one election, or each subsequent election in that year.”

Absentee, not early, voting with new envelopes

While it seem to be a nuance, absentee voting is not early voting — and that particularly matters for the coming presidential primary.

“You may hear the terms Absentee Voting and Early Voting used interchangeably, however Michigan is has absentee voting, not early voting,” Macomber said. “In early voting states, ballots are immediately tabulated upon return to the clerk. In an election like a Presidential Primary, that distinction matters.

“In Michigan, whether they voted for a candidate who may have exited the race, or simply changed their mind prior to any election, voters who return an absentee ballot have the right to spoil their ballot and cast a new ballot at any time prior to 4 p.m. the day before the election. For the Presidential Primary, that would be 4 p.m. on March 9. Ballots cast for candidates that have dropped out will still appear in Election Night results, and how those votes are later allocated into delegates are determined by the political parties rules.”

There are also newly designed envelopes for absentee ballots, and some details on how they should properly be returned.

The new State of Michigan Absentee Ballot envelope sent to voters who request them. (WKTV)

“The Secretary of State has adopted a new design for absentee envelopes, and voters should pay close attention to their mail in light of that change,” Macomber said. “Previously, absentee ballots came in a dark yellow/golden envelope. The ballots are now mailed in a mostly white envelope with a blue strip on the left side, with ‘Official Absent Voter Ballot.’

“Normal postage requirements, or the timeframe to return the ballots has not changed — ballots need to be received by the voters city or township clerk’s office (not the polling location), whether mailed or hand delivered, by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.”

For more Kent County election information visit here. For more State of Michigan election information, visit here.

Gov. Whitmer’s road bond plan discussed at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

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WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Local state legislators, and leaders from the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, weighed in on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plan to borrow $3.5 billion to rebuild the state’s deteriorating highways and bridges over a 5-year span, as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Feb. 10, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall.

The Democratic governor unveiled the bonding plan during her second annual State of the State speech to lawmakers. It will enable the state Department of Transportation to do about twice as much construction on I-, U.S.- and M-numbered routes as it can now, she said in her speech. The funds would not be used to repair local roads.

But it was near unanimous opposition to, or at least serious questioning of, the Governor’s plan from local officials.

State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R), in part, pointed out that “bonding for the roads is not a solution” and compared such a plan to “financing the roads by putting it on credit cards.” While State Rep. Steve Johnson (R) said that when it comes to government financing “it is really easy to get into debt and really hard to get out.”

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Bolt also voiced their concerns.

Mayor Kepley said, in part, that “this is not long-term planning,” and Bolt pointed out that the increased state road work “doesn’t do any good for Wyoming” as it not have any funding for city roads.

Other discussion topics at the meeting included Kent County recycling efforts and the issue of drivers license documentation for undocumented immigrants.

The meeting, as always, was hosted by chamber member and moderator Kathy Batey and chamber president Bob O’Callaghan. The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

At the February meeting, state leaders also included Rep. Tommy Brann. On the federal level, the panel included Peter Dickow, West Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, and Brian Patrick, communications director for federal Rep. Bill Huizenga (Michigan Congressional District 2).

The Government Matters meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvlive.com). This month’s meeting is available here.

The next meeting will be March 9, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Wyoming City Hall.

For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org.

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit WKTVjournal.org.

On Tap: Mitten Brewing toasts Sen. Peters assistance, where to sample craft liquors locally

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Mitten Brewing Co. north, in Northport in the Traverse Bay area, will be a great place to stop by — summer or winter. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

It is unclear which Grand Rapids area craft brew U.S. Sen. Gary Peters likes to order when he makes a stop in the area, but he probably has one on the house coming from Mitten Brewing Company.

Thanks to some federal-level advocacy from Sen. Peters’ office, Mitten Brewing Co. has a new Traverse Bay area craft brewing brewery and pub after Chris Andrus, co-owner and co-founder of the Mitten Brewing Co., was able to expedite a license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, shown with Sen. Joni Ernst at Washington, D.C.’s annual Rolling Thunder First Amendment Demonstration Run in 2018 (Supplied)

The story, as given by Sen. Peters’ office recently, is that Mitten Brewing Co. discovered that a brewery in Northport, Mich., was going out of business and “They saw this as an opportunity to expand their brewery as well as protect the jobs of those employees. In order to do so, Mitten Brewing Co. needed to obtain their licensing quickly from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to open in time for the (past) summer season.”


 
Andrus reached out to Sen. Peters’ office for help, we are told, and “The office helped cut red tape for Mitten Brewing Co. by contacting the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regarding the brewery’s licensing application. Chris soon thereafter received approval for the necessary license. The Northport location was able to open in time and is now a thriving part of the Northern Michigan community.”

Don’t know about you, but I love Mitten Brewing’ local locales and brews. Maybe I’ll buy the senator one next time we belly-up to the bar together.

Mitten Brewing’s Andrus shared his story in a video released by Sen. Peters’ office, and can be seen here.

Sen. Peters office states that Michiganders in need of assistance with a federal agency to contact his Detroit office at (844) 506-7420 (toll-free) or can visit his website at peters.senate.gov.

Grand Rapids, regional distillery choices growing all the time

It is no secret that Michigan is a booming market for craft distilled liqueurs, but the quality of Grand Rapids area, or nearby, sources might surprise you as much as they continue to surprise me.

In Grand Rapids, there is Long Road Distillers, with cocktails, small-bites, and bottles to-go are available — you can also take a tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the distilling process and get to know what is in your glass from a distilling expert.

Eastern Kille (once known a Grey Skies, FYI) has a downtown tasting room to sample their whiskey, gin, or coffee liqueur. A seasonally revolving menu of cocktails are available to highlight the spirits made onsite.

Nearby, in the great day-trip location of Saugatuck, the New Holland Spirits offer tasting flights and cocktails made with award-winning spirits, along with light snacks and a retail area with bottles to go. Holland, too makes a good stop as Coppercraft Distillery not only has small batch cocktails but an extensive dining menu.

And in the summer, when you are really in the mood for a road trip to the Traverse Bay area, we are told “Michigan’s oldest award-winning ‘Grain to Bottle’ Craft Distillery” is Grand Traverse Distillery. Grand Traverse Distillery distills all of their vodkas, whiskies, gin, and rum in a 1,100 liter Holstein twin column copper reflux pot still.

And I can personally vouch for the idea of getting a “Latitude Adjustment” at Northern Latitudes Distillery in Lake Leelanau, where their gin is to die for and their limoncello — aptly named Limoncello di Leelanau — is worth living for. The tasting room is open seven days a week, and tastings are free and you can buy your favorite selection by the bottle and/or have it mixed into an incredible cocktail.

OK, sharing a bottle of Northern Latitudes is a good reason to spend the night or weekend out of town.

Learn more about the Michigan small batch spirit producers and distilleries by visiting the website of the Michigan Craft Distillers Association.

Local government leaders look ahead to 2020 at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

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At the Jan. 13 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall were chamber member and moderator Kathy Bates, chamber president Bob O’Callaghan, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Local governmental leaders — from the mayors of Wyoming and Kentwood, to a county commissioner and state legislators, to representatives of federal officials — looked ahead to 2020 as part of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Jan. 13. at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Wyoming City Hall.

The meeting, as always, was hosted by chamber member and moderator Kathy Batey and chamber president Bob O’Callaghan. The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

At the January meeting, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley and Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll represented their cities. Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks was also present. State leaders included Sen. Peter MacGregor and Reps. Tommy Brann and Steven Johnson.

On the federal level, the panel included Brian Patrick, communications director for federal Rep. Bill Huizenga (Michigan Congressional District 2), and Peter Dickow, West Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.

The Government Matters meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvlive.com). This month’s meeting is available here.

The next meeting will be Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Wyoming City Hall.

For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org.

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the latest meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays, on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. For a highlight schedule of WKTV cable programs visit wktvjournal.org.

Ron Draayer takes seat on Kentwood City Commission

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By City of Kentwood

Ron Draayer. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

Ron Draayer, who was elected to Kentwood City Commission as a second ward commissioner during the Nov. 5 election, took the oath of office on Nov. 13 for the four-year term, filling the seat of former commissioner Michael Brown, who served four consecutive terms.

“We are pleased to welcome Ron Draayer to the Commission and look forward to working with him,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “We anticipate that his professional insight – especially with respect to technology and cybersecurity – will be a benefit to the City Commission and our community.

“We also want to thank Commissioner Michael Brown for his service to the City of Kentwood and its residents for these past 16 years on City Commission. We deeply appreciate his dedication to our mission and his professionalism in which he represented himself and our City. We will miss our time with him and his expertise that he consistently brought to the Commission.”

A resident of Kentwood since 2016, Draayer brings 40 years of knowledge in education, technology and cybersecurity to the role. He recently retired as a classroom professor at Davenport University.

Draayer previously served as a board member of Michigan InfraGard, an FBI organization that works with law enforcement, business leaders and academic professionals to help protect electrical, water, transportation and other infrastructure assets.

He has also been a local and state advisor for Business Professionals of America, or BPA, a national organization that promotes student growth and achievement through academic competitions. Draayer served on the National Board of BPA and has established a middle-level BPA program in Michigan designed for middle-level and junior-high students.

“I am truly honored to be able to serve the City of Kentwood and the residents of Ward 2,” Draayer said. “Kentwood is a very special City with people whose origins are from all over the world.

“I pledge to work hard and ensure Kentwood continues to be a community where people can raise their families in good neighborhoods.”

Draayer holds a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, a master’s in management from Aquinas College and a Master of Science from Ferris State University.

Ron Draayer wins Kentwood commission race; unopposed incumbents to return

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By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

With unofficial final results in from the Nov. 5 election, Ron Draayer has defeated Bill Benoit for the City of Kentwood’s Ward 2 Commissioner seat currently held by Michael Brown.

Running unopposed and reelected to other Kentwood Commission seats were incumbent Commissioner at Large Maurice H. Groce and incumbent Ward 1 Commissioner Robert D. Coughlin.

Unofficial final results from the Kent County Elections office had Draayer with 1,335 votes, Benoit with 845 and 11 write-in votes for others. Groce totaled 3,246 with 59 write-in votes for the city-wide seat, and Coughlin gained 1,228 with 34 write-in votes for the single-ward seat.

“I want to thank the residents of Ward 2 in Kentwood for voting for me and electing me to the Kentwood City Commission,” commissioner-elect Draayer said to WKTV Wednesday morning. “I pledge to work hard and be available to people to help with their concerns.

“I want to ensure that Kentwood continues to be a city where people can come from all over the world to raise their families in good neighborhoods. I also want to thank my family and friends for supporting me in this campaign and working hard for my election. I appreciate it very much.”

Draayer was a classroom teacher at Davenport University for 40 years and taught classes in the field of technology and cyber security.



Benoit works for the Charter Township of Cascade as a building inspector and plan reviewer, and is currently on the City of Kentwood Planning Commission.

“I would like to congratulate Mr. Draayer and I look forward to continue serving the citizens of Kentwood on the Planning Commission,” Benoit said to WKTV.

Coughlin will also continue to serve the city and Ward 1.

“I would like to thanks the voters in Kentwood for their support in yesterday’s election,” Commissioner Coughlin said to WKTV. “As I begin my 5th term as City Commissioner, let me reiterate that it has been an honor to serve our community for the last 16 years and I am looking forward to another four.

“Kentwood is on the move and we have a lot of great things happening. I am thrilled to be a part of it and will continue to serve my constituents with the utmost integrity and productivity. I love this city, it’s residents, and it’s diversity and will work hard to maintain the great standards we have achieved.”

Commissioner Groce’s seat is also a 4-year term.

WKTV coverage of Kentwood commission candidates includes We The People, forum videos

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By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The two candidates for the City of Kentwood’s Ward 2 Commissioner seat currently held by Michael Brown, which will be decided on the Nov. 5 ballot, participated in WKTV Journal’s “We the People” public service videos, which allow the candidates to communicate their qualifications and goals directly to the public.

The two candidates for the Ward 2 seat are Bill Benoit and Ron Draayer. Also on the ballot in November but running unopposed for other Kentwood Commission seats are incumbent Commissioner at Large Maurice H. Groce and incumbent Ward 1 Commissioner Robert D. Coughlin.

Benoit, Draayer and Commissioner Coughlin each produced “We The People” videos, which are available on WKTV’s YouTube Channel at WKTVvideos. Commissioner Grace was invited to produce a video.

WKTV’s “We The People” candidate introduction videos series are produced prior to each election voted on by Wyoming and Kentwood residents. Each video is five minutes or less, with content decided upon by the candidates, and produced without content edit by WKTV staff.

Bill Benoit’s video is here. Ron Draayer’s video is here. Commissioner Coughlin’s video is here.

The two Ward 2 candidates also recently answers questions from a moderator at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Candidate Forum, which took place Sept. 11, at the Kentwood Branch of the Kent District Library, with WKTV Community Media cameras recording the event.

Benoit, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who works for the Charter Township of Cascade as a building inspector and plan reviewer, and is currently on the City of Kentwood Planning Commission.

Draayer, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who was a classroom teacher at Davenport University for 40 years and taught classes in the field of technology and cyber security.

WKTV Community Media was at the forum and will both broadcast it on WKTV Government Channel 26 as well as making it available on WKTV’s YouTube Channel at WKTVvideos. The forum will be broadcast Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon; as well as several but as-yet unscheduled times in October. See the WKTV on-air schedule for dates and times.

WKTV to broadcast, make available on YouTube, Chamber’s Kentwood commission candidate forum

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Election, Hard News, Local Faces, Politics, WKTV Projects,

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The two candidates for the City of Kentwood’s Ward 2 Commissioner seat currently held by Michael Brown, which will be decided on the Nov. 5 ballot, recently answers questions from a moderator at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Candidate Forum.

The Chamber’s Candidate Forum took place Sept. 11, at the Kentwood Branch of the Kent District Library, with WKTV Community Media cameras recording the event. The event was hosted by Chamber President Bob O’Callaghan and moderated by Kathey Batey.

The two candidates for the Ward 2 seat are Bill Benoit and Ron Draayer. Also on the ballot in November but not at the forum as they are running unopposed for other Kentwood Commission seats are incumbent Commissioner at Large Maurice H. Groce and incumbent Ward 1 Commissioner Robert D. Coughlin.

Draayer, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who was a classroom teacher at Davenport University for 40 years and taught classes in the field of technology and cyber security.


Benoit, according to the candidate, is a Kentwood resident who works for the Charter Township of Cascade as a building inspector and plan reviewer, and is currently on the City of Kentwood Planning Commission.


WKTV Community Media was at the forum and will both broadcast it on WKTV Government Channel 26 as well as making it available on WKTV’s YouTube Channel. The forum will be broadcast today, Friday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon; as well as several but as-yet unscheduled times in October. See the WKTV on-air schedule for dates and times.

WKTV also recorded candidates Benoit, Draayer and Coughlin as part of “We The People” candidate introduction videos series which are produced prior to each election voted on by Wyoming and Kentwood residents. Those videos will be made public the week of Sept. 23.

Road work, Kentwood and beyond, discussed at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Our Cities, Politics, WKTV Projects

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The annual roadwork “construction season” in Kentwood and beyond was one of the many discussion items of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, June 10, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Kentwood City Hall.

The monthly forum is free and open to the public, and allows public questions.

“We do have two seasons: snow season and construction season, and we are starting that construction season,” City of Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said at the meeting. “We do have road construction projects in place and I encourage everybody to go to our website, and see when those are (happening) and where those construction projects are taking place.”

Mayor Kepley pointed out major work along Sparks Drive SE and Forest Hill Avenue SE including the intersections of Burton Street SE and East Paris Avenue SE. According to the city’s website listing 2019 roadwork, the project will cost $1.3 million and run June 24 through August. For more information see a WKTV story (from the City of Kentwood) here.

The meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvondemand.com). This month’s meeting is available here.

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

The next meeting will be July 8 at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St SW, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.
 
For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org .

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday and each Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26. It will also be replayed on the Saturday a week after the meeting at noon, also on Channel 26.

For a highlight schedule of WKTV programing visit here .

WKTV in Focus podcast brings issue of voter mistrust to newly elected officials

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WKTV Journal In Focus podcast on public perception of elected officials, with (from right) Emily Bridson and guests Eric-John Szczepaniak, and State Rep. Rachel Hood. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal’s In Focus series of podcasts, we discuss the public’s often negative perception of their elected leaders, from the nation’s highest office to local governments, and how that perception might be changed in the future.

Visiting our studios, each with unique perspectives on the subject, are Kentwood City Commissioner and community advocate Emily Bridson; State Rep. Rachel Hood, a Democrat, who is serving her first term representing the 76th House District, which covers a large section of the city of Grand Rapids; and Grand Valley State University student (and student body president) Eric-John Szczepaniak, who, when he was elected to the Kenowa Hills School Board in 2016, was the youngest elected official in Michigan.

For a link to the audio podcast, click here; for a link to the WKTV’s Facebook “The Whole Picture Podcasts” interview video, click here. (If you’d like to give us some feedback on our special In Focus podcast, please contact Ken Norris at ken@wktv.org.)

Regular episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times).

Tax cut impact on menu as U.S. Rep. Huizenga visits Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming

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U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, who represents Wyoming and Kentwood, talks to a group at a “Coffee with Constituents” visit to Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming April 23. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (Republican-Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District), who represents Wyoming and Kentwood, has spoken loud and often of the positive impact of Republican-led 2017 tax cuts for businesses large and small, and he did so again Tuesday at a “Coffee with Constituents” visit to Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming.

At the April 23 event, donut shop owner Marge Wilson, herself, echoed the congressman as she spoke to WKTV about what the tax cuts have meant for her business and her now-enlarged employee payroll.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga and Marge Wilson at Marge’s Donut Den. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“I was hoping (that the business tax cut) would help, but I got more value than I definitely expected,” Wilson said to WKTV. “The qualified business tax deduction … for my business, that was significant. I bought a new (commercial) mixer with the amount of taxes that I saved, and our mixer was needed.

“And then the tax bracket was reduced 3 percent, which was another help. … I was able to hire more people and give them a substantial raise in pay.”

Wilson said she hired four full-time employees.

The positive result of the tax cut “is significant,” Rep. Huizenga said to WKTV at the event. “I hear it all the time … it is real and it allows people, like Marge, and others, to hire additional people, to invest in their business.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga talks to a group at a “Coffee with Constituents” visit to Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming April 23. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

According to information distributed by Rep. Huizenga’s office recently, since passage of the 2017 Republican tax cuts, economic growth hit nearly 3 percent, with just under 3.4 million new jobs and a 3.2 percent increase in hourly wages.

 
Rep. Huizenga’s visit to Wyoming was part of a series of “coffee hour” visits where not only the representative but members of his staff were present to assist 2nd District residents who have questions regarding federal policy or are having trouble with a federal agency. So far this year, according to his office, the congressman has held coffee hours in Hart, Baldwin, and Zeeland, and has participated in a town hall forum in Ludington.

The public meetings are “a touch point, having people who have very different perspectives and views, coming in and (my) spending a few minutes with them,” Rep. Huizenga said. “This is a good way for people to have that opportunity.”

Wilson said she appreciates the effort of elected officials such as Rep. Huizenga and local State Rep. Tommy Brann (R-House District 77).

“Both of those men excel at reaching out to people,” Wilson said. “They go where a lot of people go, so they are accessible. … Here they can have a coffee and a donut together, it’s a lot more relaxed. For those guys (Huizenga and Brann) to get out of their comfort zone and come to the people, I think that is huge.”

Tax cuts and donuts were only one (large) part of the discussion at Marge’s, and while many private constituent conversations remain so, Rep. Huizenga did talk to WKTV about how his work in Washington, D.C., has changed in the aftermath of the 2018 elections and the change of House of Representatives control to the Democrats.

“My priorities are the same it is just how do you work towards them,” he said. “It is different. I no longer have the ability as to what bill we are going to be taking up in a subcommittee. It is harder to directly influence (actions) but I still have the same goals and objectives,”

For more information about Rep. Huizenga’s office and how to contact his staff, visit huizenga.house.gov .

County commission election, voting changes discussed at Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters meeting

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WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The election aftermath — from the passage of recreational marijuana, to more voting day volunteers needed, to the partisan politics on the Kent County Board Of Commissioners — were some of the discussion items of a wide-ranging inter-governmental leaders meeting Monday, Nov. 11, at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee’s monthly forum at Kentwood City Hall.

 

Newly re-elected county commissioner Harold Voorhees, who represents the City of Wyoming as District 8 commissioner, pointed out with the election results the partisan split on the commission went from 13 Republicans and six Democrats to now a 11-8 split.

 

“It does have its influence, that’s why we go through the election process,” Voorhees said to WKTV. “But on the board it has been very congenial, working together. We are hopeful it will stay that way.”

 

Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley also made a call for citizens to work with the city as election-day volunteers. The mayor pointed out that the high number of absentee battles — expected to be even higher in two years due to a voter approved ballot measure which allows same-day registration and no-reason absentee ballot requests — as well as other reasons, will create the need for more volunteers in the city. For more information contact the City of Kentwood city clerk’s office.

 

The meeting is rebroadcast on WKTV’s channels and on-demand website (wktvondemand.com). This month’s meeting is available here.

 

The Government Matters meeting brings together representatives from the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, Kent County commissioners, local Michigan state senators and representatives, as well as often representatives of Michigan’s U.S. senators and U.S. congressman who represent the Wyoming and Kentwood area.

 

The next meeting will be Dec. 10 will be at the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Road SE, from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

 

The intergovernmental discussion hosted by the chamber focuses on issues that effect residents and businesses in the two cities.

 

For more information about the chamber and Government Matters visit southkent.org .

https://www.southkent.org/government-matters/

 

The meetings are on the second Monday of each month, starting at 8 a.m. WKTV Journal will produce a highlight story after the meeting. But WKTV also offers replays of the Monday meetings on the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Comcast Cable Government Channel 26.

 

We the People: Election Results

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, ,

By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic was spot on with his prediction of 50 percent voter turnout for the Nov. 6 general election.

 

All across the state, there was record turnout at the polls with the state indicating that the numbers could break previous records set in the early 1980s. The City of Kentwood had a 57.2 percent voter turnout with 20,509 of the 35,865 registered voters casting their vote in the mid-term elections. The City of Wyoming has a 53.5 percent turnout with 26,961 of its registered 50,378 voters coming to the polls.

 

The Democrats swept away the state’s top three spots, Governor, state Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Both incumbent Bill Huizenga (R), for the 2nd District of the U.S. House of Representatives, and incumbent Justin Amash (R), for the 3rd District of the U.S. House of Representatives, were able to retain their seats by narrow margins. For complete statewide results, click here.

 

Here is the outcome of the local races:

 

Incumbent Sheldon DeKryger when he took the oath of office earlier this year. DeKryger retained his seat for another four years.

City of Wyoming

The only contested race for the City of Wyoming was the 1st Ward seat with incumbent Sheldon DeKryger and challenger Pete Ricketson both vying for the seat. The race was fairly close with DeKryger only having a 300-vote lead for most of the night. A 2 a.m., DeKryger said he got a text stating he had retained his seat with almost a 500-vote lead over Ricketson. The vote count was 3,220 to 2,709.

 

“I’m really excited that the residents spoke out in my favor,” DeKryger said in a Wednesday morning phone interview. “I am looking forward to representing the people and being their voice on the city council.”

 

DeKryger, who was appointed to the seat earlier this year after longtime Councilor Bill Ver Hurst stepped down due to health concerns, said he enjoyed getting out and talking to residents, discussing all that is happening within the city.

 

“It is a exciting time for the City of Wyoming,” DeKryger said. “There is a lot of great things going on in our city.”

 

The rest of the candidates, Mayor Jack Poll, and Councilors-at-large Kent Vanderwood and Sam Bolt, ran unopposed.

 

Democrat Monica Sparks will take over the 12th District seat from Harold Mast who did not seek re-election.

Kent County Board of Commission

 

With the announcement that incumbent Harold Mast would not seek re-election, there were a lot of people who threw their hat into the ring for the District 12 seat, which covers a portion of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. Early in the evening, with only 15 percent of the county election results having been reported, Democrat Monica Sparks was leading by more than 1,100 votes over Republican candidate Jill Martinez. Sparks hung on to that lead the rest of the night beating out Martinez 5,393 to 4,171.

 

“It feels amazing,” Sparks said last night as she celebrated with supporters. “What pulled me through was my faith, my family and my friends.

 

“I just felt it was the right thing for me to do. It is a right time and for the right reasons. It is just meant to be.”

 

In the rest of the Kent County Commission races, the incumbents defeated any challengers. According to the Kent County election results:

 

District 7
Incumbent Stan Ponstein (R) 6,439
Challenger Mike Johnson (D) 5,072

 

District 8
Incumbent Harold Voorhees (R) 9,199

 

District 9
Incumbent Matt Kallman (R) 9,725
Challenger Bob Smith (D) 5,037

 

District 10
Incumbent Emily Brieve (R) 10,801

 

District 12
Challenger Monica Sparks (D) 5,393
Challenger Jill Martinez (R) 4,171
Challenger Charolette Aikens (Green) 312

 

District 13
Incumbent Betsy Melton (D) 7,504
Challenger Jessica Ann Tyson (R) 5,817

 

Republican Aric Nesbitt is the new 26th District State Senator.

State Senate

A Republican incumbent and a Republican with a history of state government service will be representing Wyoming and Kentwood in Lansing next year. In the 26th District of the State Senate, which includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, Republican Aric, who has been a state representative and served in Gov. Rick Snyder’s cabinet, will replace term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. In the 8th District of the State Senate, which includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs, Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor finished with a strong lead over his challengers.

The results are:

 

26th District

Challenger Aric Nesbitt (R) 61,509

Challenger Garrett Lewis (D) 43,293

Erwin Haas (L) 2,374

Robert M. Alway (Green) 1,153

 

28th District
Incumbent Peter MacGregor (R) 68,744
Challenger Craig Beach (R) 45,937
Challenger Nathan Hewer (L) 3,059

 

State House of Representative

 

Both incumbents for the 72nd District, which covers a portion of the City of Kentwood, Cutlerville, and parts of Allegan County, and the 77th District, which covers a portion of Wyoming, Byron Center, and Cutlerville, retained their seats. The results are:

 

72nd District

Incumbent Steve Johnson (R) 21,373

Challenger Ron Draayer (D) 17,271

Challenger Jamie Lewis (L) 1,184

 

77th District

Incumbent Tommy Brann (R) 22,514

Challenger Dana Knight (D) 13,820

Patty Malowney (L) 866

Brandon Hoezee (US Taxpayers) 398

 

School News Network: Helping young children the purpose of countywide millage request

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Election, Kids Activities,

An estimated 45,000 children in Kent County are below age 5. Too many of them and their parents need help so they can be healthy and prepared for kindergarten, according to early childhood advocates. (Supplied)

By James Harger, School News Network

 

An estimated 45,000 children in Kent County are below age 5. Too many of them and their parents need help so they can be healthy and prepared for kindergarten, according to early childhood advocates who are backing a millage proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot.

 

They are asking Kent County voters to approve a 0.25 mill property tax levy that would provide an estimated $5.7 million a year to agencies and programs that support early childhood development programs. The millage would cost the average Kent County homeowner about $23 a year, or $1.90 a month.

 

The millage request was placed on the ballot this summer by the Kent County Board of Commissioners on a 13-5 vote. The request was made by First Steps Kent, a coalition of local foundations, community leaders and United Way agencies that support early childhood programs.

 

“We are reaching only a fraction of these children,” said Karen Lezan, program coordinator for Bright Beginnings, a Kent ISD program that helps parents prepare their children for school success. Although Kent County offers great services for early childhood development, they lack the funding to reach all of the children who could benefit, she said.

 

Bright Beginnings, an affiliate of the national “Parents as Teachers” initiative, provides parents with tools to encourage language, intellectual, physical and social and emotional growth. Their program was only able to see 532 children last year, Lezan said.

 

“Investing in early childhood pays off not only for children and their families, but for the entire community,” according to a 2017 “gap analysis” report that inspired the millage request. The study concluded 20,500 children under age 5 in Kent County are “economically disadvantaged.”

 

“Every child in Kent County deserves to be healthy and ready to learn by kindergarten, and this proposal will help make sure children under age 5 receive vital early childhood and health care services,” said Annemarie Valdez, president/CEO of First Steps Kent. “Working together, we can make sure all Kent County children have brighter futures and the opportunity to succeed.”

 

If the millage request is passed, the money would be passed along to successful programs selected by a board that is appointed by the county board. The millage request was patterned after the Kent Senior Millage, which provides funding for programs that benefit senior citizens in Kent County.

 

Taxpayer dollars raised by the millage would go through an independent financial audit every year to ensure taxpayer funds are spent wisely, according to its sponsors. This audit would evaluate the effectiveness of the funded programs to ensure transparency and accountability, sponsors said.

 

Voter registration — local, county and statewide — setting new records as Nov. 6 looms

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, , ,

Voters at the voting booth. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

 

By. K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

If voter registrations are any indicator, all indications are that next week’s Nov. 6 presidential-midterm election turnout could be record-setting in Michigan, in Kent County and in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming.

 

There are nearly 7.5 million registered voters in the state of Michigan, about 459,000 in Kent County, about 54,000 in the City of Wyoming and about 36,000 in the City of Kentwood, according to information provided to WKTV. Those totals exceed the registered voter totals for the 2016 presidential election on the county and both city levels, and, according to Fred Woodhams, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, “is a (state) record for a mid-term election.”

 

How total voter registration numbers will translate to actual voters at the polls, and those submitting absentee ballots, is unclear at this point. But Robert J. Macomber, Chief Deputy County Clerk with the Kent County Clerk and Register of Deeds Office, give some “indicators”.

 

“It’s always more difficult to predict turnout in a mid-term election, when a Presidential race is not on the ballot,” Macomber said to WKTV. “Kent County tends to turn out in the high 60’s percent range for Presidential elections and in the mid 40’s, when the Governor’s office is at the top of the ticket.

 

“However, there are indicators that can guide our clerks as they plan to allocate resources for Election Day, such as absentee ballot voting. We’ve seen those requests hit a record high statewide – over 1 million requests – which is about a 63 percent increase over the gubernatorial election in 2014. Whether those figures represent a shift in Election Day voters who now prefer to vote absentee, or that same increase in participation will be mirrored in the precincts on Election Day remains to be seen.”

 

Macomber pointed out, however, that “either way, our clerks are very well prepared to ensure that our elections are efficient, secure, and transparent.”

 

For example, the City of Wyoming, in anticipation of possible record numbers at the polls Nov. 6, offered some advice to the public for election day.

 

Megan Sall, Assistant City Manager for the City of Wyoming, told WKTV that voters can — should — check Michigan Voter Information Center (Michigan.gov/vote) prior to election day to verify registration, polling place, and see a sample ballot.

 

“Do your research ahead of time as the ballot is quite long with a wide variety of offices and issues,” Sall said in an email. “Exercise patience and expect to wait in line due to the length of the ballot and the high turnout we’re expecting. … (And) we love voter selfies, but you cannot take them with your ballot. Please wait until you leave your polling location.”

 

City of Kentwood, by the numbers

 

In the City of Kentwood, city clerk Dan Kasunic said there are 35,868 registered voters in the city this election cycle. That compares to 34,990 in the last mid-term in 2014, and  35,824 (according to the county) in the 2016 presidential election cycle.

 

Kasunic said, in the last mid-term election, there were 13,366 votes cast out of the 34,990 registered voters, about 38 percent. But this year he “expects 50 percent or better turnout.”

 

Another indication of Kentwood voter turnout is that there were 2,981 absentee ballots received in 2016 and that there are already 3,120 received as of early this week — and, Kasunic added, there are “more to come for 2018 … (and he expects) over 4,000.”

 

City of Wyoming, by the numbers

 

In the City of Wyoming, city clerk Kelli VandenBerg reported that there were 53,961 registered voters as of Oct. 30, with an average of 1,000 new registrations coming each month in September and October (the Aug. 2 total was 51,654 and the Sept. 25 total was 52,800).

 

Historically, in Wyoming, there were 46,758 registered voters in 2010, a total of 48,300 in 2012, with 48,791 in 2014, and 50,277 in 2016.

 

Wyoming also reported numbers on absentee ballots sent and returned, with there being an unusually high number sent this non-presidential election cycle: 4,257. There were 5,643 absentee ballots sent and 5,458 returned in 2016’s presidential cycle, but only 2,896 sent and 2,734 received in the last mid-term cycle in 2014. As of early this week, according to the city clerk’s office, there were 3,028 absentee ballots returned (out of the 4,257) with a week remaining for counting.

 

Kent County, by the numbers

 

Countywide the breakdown, according to the County Clerk’s office, is that there were 418,386 registered voters in 2010 (the last open gubernatorial election, without an incumbent running) with a turnout of 195,999 or 46.9 percent. In the 2014 gubernatorial election year there were 440,461 registered voters and a turnout of 189,517 or 43 percent.

 

In the 2016 Presidential election year, there were 453,437 registered voters with a turnout of 313,396 or 69 percent.

 

“Kent County’s number of registered voters has climbed steadily from 418,386 in 2010, when Michigan had its last (open) gubernatorial election, to 458,666 this year,” Macomber said in summary.

 

State of Michigan, by the numbers

 

According to Woodhams at the Secretary of State office, there are 7,471,882 registered voters this year, which is a record for a mid-term election, and that represents about 95 percent of the possible registered voters. As far as how many of those will show at the polls, state numbers are that there were abut 3.2 million voters in 2014, about 3.85 million in 2006 (the current record for a non-presidential election), about 4.9 million in the 2016 presidential election and about 5 million in the 2008 presidential election (the current record).

 

For really detailed historical state election turnout information visit here.

 

We the People 2018 General Election: State House of Representatives Candidates

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, WKTV Projects, ,

 

State of Michigan 72nd District House of Representatives

 

The 72nd District House of Representative seat covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr. For a district map, click here.

 

There are three candidates, one a one-term incumbent, seeking the 72th District House of Representatives. They are, in alphabetical order, Republican incumbent Steve Johnson, Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis and Democratic candidate Ron Draayer.

 

Steve Johnson – Incumbent (R) MI State Representative 72nd District

https://youtu.be/-DwMLMp2AnM

 

Name: Steve Johnson

 

Party: Republican

 

Occupation: State Representative, 72nd District

 

Why did you decide to run for the 72th District House of Representatives seat?

 

During the last two years I’ve been working on several key issues, one of them being auto insurance rates. I think that is one of the biggest issues facing our state right now, so I want to continue to be a voice for lower auto insurance rates. We came close this time and I want to continue to fight for those lower auto insurance rates.

 

If elected, what (other that auto insurance) issues do you want to focus on?

 

I think we need to get rid of some of the special interest deals we have created for certain industries, certain companies. And I think: ‘How can these special interest deals be good for the people of the 72nd District?’ I am looking out for the people of the 72nd District instead.

 

Ron Draayer – Candidate (D) MI State Representative 72nd District

https://youtu.be/tAyPdgnbwvI

 

Name: Ron Draayer

 

Party: Democrat

 

Occupation: Retired classroom teacher

 

Why did you decide to run for the 72th District House of Representatives seat?

 

I feel that Michigan needs experienced leadership to solve the many problems that we face in this state.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

There are three top issues that are most important to me: education, repairing our infrastructure, and protecting and preserving our great natural resources.

 

Note: Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis was invited but did not participate in the We the People candidate profiles.

 

State of Michigan 77th District House of Representatives

 

The 77th District House of Representative seat covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville. For a district map, click here.

 

There are three candidates, one a one-term incumbent, seeking the 77th District House of Representatives. They are, in alphabetical order, Republican incumbent Tommy Brann, Democratic candidate Dana Knight, and Libertarian candidate Patty Malowney.

 

Tommy Brann – Incumbent (R) MI State Representative 77th District

https://youtu.be/x0leltyXz0M

 

Name: Tommy Brann

 

Party: Incumbent, Republican

 

Occupation: Owner of Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille on Division Avenue

 

Why did you decide to run for the 77th District House of Representatives seat?

 

Because I am good at the job. I own a small business and every night, I comeback and work at that business and through that I bring the issues that I learned about and discuss at that business back to Lansing, which is not something many of my colleagues are able to do.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

I have an animal cruelty bill that I have been working on. Also, I want to continue the work on homelessness by getting that $2 additional per bed for the shelters. Michigan is one of the lowest in the country, $16 per bed when the average is $26, in contributing to shelters. This additional money would help with new bedding and operations. We have more than 60,000 homeless people, so it is a big problem. I also want to bring the concept of free enterprise into the schools to give students more career choices.

 

Note: Democratic candidate Dana Knight and Libertarian candidate Patty Malowney were invited but did not participate in the We the People candidate profiles.

 

We the People 2018 General Election: U.S. Congressional Candidates

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, WKTV Projects, ,

 

State of Michigan 2nd District U.S. House of Representatives

 

Michigan’s 2nd District of U.S. House of Representatives includes Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon and Ottawa counties as well as portions of Allegan, Mason and Kent counties including the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. For a district map, click here.

 

Three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election. They are, in alphabetical order, Democratic candidate Dr. Rob Davidson, U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Ronald Graeser and Republican Incumbent Bill Huizenga.

 

Dr. Rob Davidson (D), candidate, U.S. Congress 2nd District

https://youtu.be/bjL1mEDnGIo

 

Name: Dr. Rob Davidson

 

Party: Candidate, Democrat

 

Occupation: Emergency room physician

 

Why did you decide to run for the 2nd District U.S. House of Representatives seat?

 

I decided to run because I realized that congress needs more representatives who are not influenced by special interest money and are instead focused on serving their constituents. After attending town halls with Congressman Bill Huizenga … I came to the realization that his votes on critical issues such as healthcare and the economy often aligned with the interests of big businesses and wealthy special interests instead of the interests of the people in his district.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

Healthcare. I would immediately join current members in supporting legislation HR676: Expanded and Improved Medicare For All. Too many Americans cannot afford health insurance, and too many who do have health insurance struggle with high deductibles and copays.

 

Rep. Bill Huizenga (R), incumbent, U.S. Congress 2nd District

https://youtu.be/gIchkIQ3ygg

 

Name: Rep. Bill Huizenga

 

Party: Incumbent, Republican

 

Occupation: U.S. Congressman

 

Why did you decide to run for the 2nd District U.S. House of Representatives seat?

 

I want to create a better future for all of West Michigan. As Congressman, I have led bipartisan efforts to preserve and protect the Great Lakes while also working to provide real solutions that remove government barriers, lower taxes for middle class families, and increase opportunity for hardworking individuals across West Michigan.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

I was elected to Congress based on three key principles: create jobs, stop spending, and protect life. These principles still define my role in Congress.

 

Note: Contact information was not available for U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Ronald Graeser to invite him to participate in the We the People candidate profiles.

We the People 2018 General Election: State Senate Candidates

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics, WKTV Projects, , , ,

 

State of Michigan 26th District State Senate

 

The 26th District of the State Senate includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties. For a district map, click here.

 

Three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election to replace term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. They are, in alphabetical order, Libertarian candidate Erwin Haas, Democratic candidate Garnet Lewis and Republican candidate Aric Nesbitt.

 

Erwin Haas — Candidate (L) MI State Senate 26th District

https://youtu.be/IwQTYxkDjag

 

Name: Erwin Haas

 

Party: Candidate, Libertarian

 

Occupation: Retired medical doctor and former Kentwood City Commissioner

 

Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?

 

I see a lot of disfunction, a lot of programs that are outdated, badly thought-through, badly administered, and operate contrary to the public interest.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

Education, the roads, healthcare. The war on drugs, specifically. I think that the (recreational) marijuana thing is going to go through and the Republicans are going to try to block it, no matter what. They hate people doing what they want to do.

 

Garnet Lewis — Candidate (D) MI State Senate 26th District

https://youtu.be/v-rONxe7q6c

 

Name: Garnet Lewis

 

Party: Candidate, Democrat

 

Occupation: Retired university administrator and real estate business administrator

 

Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?

 

We need a representative for the district who is going to represent everyone, and will actually listen to what all the constituents say.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

My number one issue is education, school funding, then environmental protection, there are all the clean water issues alone. Then healthcare. Medicare, Medicaid expansion and, if possible, expansion so that everyone can can have access … we really need to do a better job of that.

 

Aric Nesbitt — Candidate (R) MI State Senate 26th District

https://youtu.be/GLisx52lxbM

 

Name: Aric Nesbitt

 

Party: Candidate, Republican

 

Occupation: Public Service. (Former cabinet member for Gov. Rick Snyder; former State Representative)

 

Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?

 

I want to fight to lower the cost of auto insurance, continue to pay down our longterm debt in the state, and rededicate ourselves to making sure we fix our roads and bridges. our infrastructure.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

In the long term, I want to continue to pay down our debt. And what I hear most, when I knock on doors, is the cost of auto insurance and the condition of our roads.

 

State of Michigan 28th District State Senate

The 28th District of the State Senate includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs. For a district map, click here.

 

In the 28th District State Senate race, three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election. They are, in alphabetical order, Democratic candidate Craig Beach, Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewer, and Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor.

 

Craig Beach — Candidate (D) MI State Senate 28th District

https://youtu.be/8fvzpSTX6do

 

Name: Craig Beech

 

Party: Candidate, Democrat

 

Occupation: Retired public-school teacher

 

Why did you decide to run for the 28th District State Senate seat?

 

As a public-school teacher, I have been frustrated with government in the treatment of public education, especially the lack of perspective. I want to bring an insight into education, which is what is needed. I believe education is the foundation that provides to our middle class. … America is a great country and the adults should be able to deal with this issue.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on? 

 

I have four platforms: quality of public education, people before profits, protection of our national resources, and Michigan was recently rated by a non-partisan group as the last for government accountability and transparency and I want to change that.

 

Peter MacGregor — Candidate (R) MI State Senate 28th District

https://youtu.be/dc-LSsdXhb4

 

Name: Peter MacGregor

 

Party: Incumbent, Republican

 

Occupation: Michigan State Senator, previous small business owner

 

Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?

 

Running for reelection because we have moved the state from one of the worst states in the country (to do business) to one of the top 10, and I think there are still a few more things we can do to be the No. 1 state in the country.

 

If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?

 

I still think we need to focus on our skilled trade training, on that education part. It is something that I talk to a lot of business owners who are struggling to fill the positions. To make it from No. 9 or 10 to No. 1, we have got to fill that employee gap.

 

Note: Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewery was invited but did not participate in the We the People candidate profiles.

 

Jane Fonda to speak on economic justice at Fountain Street Church this Friday

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Non-Profits, Politics, Upcoming Events, ,

Jane Fonda’s social and political activism dates from the 1960s. (Historic File Photo)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

As part of her efforts to promote race, gender and economic justice in Michigan and across the nation, activist/actress Jane Fonda will talk about her life as an activist in a free-to-the-public event at Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church on Friday, Oct. 26.

 

The event — billed as “An Evening with Jane Fonda to Support One Fair Wage” and hosted by Michigan One Fair Wage Protect and Defend Campaign — is scheduled from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

 

Fonda has long been a visible political activist, beginning during the Vietnam War and later in advocacy for women’s issues, workers rights, and other social issues.

 

Jane Fonda (Supplied)

“Fonda will share information on her life as an activist, the recent work that she has been doing in Michigan and across the country to promote race, gender and economic justice for low-income workers, and the importance of building multi-racial alliances to create a more just society for all,” as stated in an event flyer supplied to WKTV by Michigan One Fair Wage.

 

Fountain Street is located at 24 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids. While the event is free and open to the public, they ask for an RSVP at bit.ly/fscofw .

 

One of the Michigan issues Fonda has previously advocated for is the Michigan Minimum Wage Increase Initiative, which gained enough signatures to be on the Nov. 6 ballot and was adopted by the legislature in September — a move which would allow lawmakers to make changes to it with a simple majority instead of a higher threshold should the voters have approved it in November.

 

The legislature’s action was seen by some as giving lawmakers the ability to weaken the law’s requirements during a lame-duck session later this year, or in 2019.

 

One of the groups which advocated for the Michigan Minimum Wage Increase, and now advocates for it not being altered by the Michigan lawmakers, is the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN).

 

“My statewide faith group … supports raising the minimum wage to $12/hour for all Michigan workers,” Randy Block, director of the MUUSJN, said in an email to WKTV. “It’s a moral issue: all workers deserve to earn enough to take care of their families.”

 

The MUUSJN is a statewide faith network that advocates for social justice policies, including raising the minimum wage and supporting a policy of earned paid sick time for all workers. It is part of an Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan (EJAM) coalition that supports both of these policy goals. According to supplied information, the network includes thousands of justice activists from 26 Unitarian Universalist congregations, including one in Grand Rapids.

 

For more information on the event call 517-588-9646. For more information on Michigan One Fair Wage visit MIOneFairWage.org .

 

For more information on Fountain Street Church, visit fountainstreet.org or visit the church’s Facebook page.

 

On Tap: Harmony Hall goes political, Brewery Vivant eyes Kentwood expansion

3-bottom, Beer, City of Kentwood, Election, Local Entertainment, Politics, Upcoming Events,

Harmony Hall will host a night of political discussion focused on the highly anticipated upcoming midterm election as Michigan Radio’s next installment of “Issues & Ale”. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Harmony Hall will host a night of political discussion focused on the highly anticipated upcoming midterm election as Michigan Radio’s next installment of “Issues & Ale” will take place in the hall on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m., 401 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.

 

According to supplied material, Issues & Ale is an ongoing event series designed to get the public talking about issues in Michigan in an informal environment. The events take place throughout Michigan Radio’s listening area and are always free to attend.

 

“We’ve been talking to so many people who are feeling desperate for constructive, respectful dialogue about politics and the issues that impact all of us,” Heather Van Dyke-Titus, co-owner of Harmony Hall, said. “We wanted to provide a forum for that conversation to happen. … I’m also excited that the theme of the night is a preview for the midterm elections. I can’t remember a time when an election felt more important.”

 

Michigan Radio’s It’s Just Politics co-host Zoe Clark will host the panel of Grand Rapids political experts. On Nov. 6, Michigan voters will elect a new governor and attorney general, candidates in a number of contested races in the U.S. House of Representatives and one Senate race, and vote on three statewide ballot proposals.

 

Audience members will also have the opportunity to pose questions about the election to the panel.

 

For more information visit harmonybeer.com .

 

Brewery Vivant owners eying Kentwood as futures pub/brewery

 

While not written in stone at this time, Jason and Kris Spaulding, co-owners of Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids, have gained initial City of Kentwood approval to opening a new microbrewery after action by the City Commission last month.

 

The Spauldings’ yet-unnamed microbrewery will be housed in a commercial building at 2855 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. Plans were given special land use and site plan approval, as well as a recommendation for a state liquor license, by commissioners at a meeting on Sept. 18.

 

Filed plans for the microbrewery call for 13,400 square feet for production and 3,600 square feet for the tap room and a small retail space, while the remaining 7,300 square feet of the building will continue to house a clothing retailer.

 

For more information on Brewery Vivant, see their website.

 

Tuesday, Oct. 9, is last day to register to vote for November ballot

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics

Voters at the voting booth. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The Nov. 6 general election is less than a month away and voters in Wyoming and Kentwood who have not yet registered to vote have only one more day to do so. But easy last-minute registration information is available online on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website, as is the ability to see a sample ballot based on a voter’s Zip Code.

 

Information is also available at the city clerk’s office and website in both Wyoming and Kentwood.

 

In summary, to register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by election day, and residents of the city or township in which they register. Voters may still register by mail or in person at their county, city or township clerk’s office, or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office.

 

Voters can check their registration status  — are they registered or not? — by visiting the website of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office. After confirming their voting status, they can also see a sample ballot based on their Zip Code.

 

Voters who need to register to vote can find the address of their local clerk, and specific information about mail-in registration — which must be postmarked by Tuesday, Oct. 9 — by visiting Michigan.gov/vote. Information on absentee voting as well as ballot proposals can also be gained from this website. Information about the City of Wyoming clerk’s office can be found here and information about the City of Kentwood clerk’s office can be found here.

 

As of Oct. 6, the number of people registered to vote in the election was 7,436,194, Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Fred Woodhams said Monday to other media. In October 2016, a presidential election year, the number was 7,481,074; in October 2014, the last mid-term and non-presidential election, the number was 7,413,142.

 

In addition to select city and county elections, Michigan residents will vote for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state House and select Senate, the Michigan Supreme Court, the one U.S. Senate, and all members of the U.S. Congress. There are also proposals on recreational marijuana, gerrymandering and increasing access to voting.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Dream Wheels, Election, Health, Kids Activities, Our Cities, Politics, Recreation, Sports, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"There's one way to find out if a man is honest - ask him. If he says, 'Yes,' you know he is a crook."

                                                  ~Groucho Marx

Ladies and gentlemen,
start your engines!

(Courtesy Bruce Carlson)

 

 

The 2018 Metro Cruise kicks off at 4pm Friday, Aug. 24. The alternative Latin rock group Cabildo will be on the main stage at 4:30pm, followed by local favorite, Delilah DeWylde at 7:30pm performing a range of hillbilly and blues. Friday closes at 10pm.

 

 

Looking for a superhero

Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but Kent County is on the hunt for a new sheriff. If you have leadership skills and a background in law enforcement, you might want to consider applying for the position. With the announced retirement of Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma, the county has formed a Kent County Sheriff Appointment Committee and is looking for applicants for the position. The individual appointed by the committee will hold the position through Dec. 31, 2020.

 

Take a walk on the wild side

Metro Health Village has a number of walking routes and even a bike trail — all perfect for an afternoon stroll with the kids or a quick, weeknight workout. Download a Walking/Bike Route map here.

 

Need a little push to get started? Check out the Couch to 5K Training Program. Even if you’re not looking to set any world records, this program will have you up and active in no time!

 

…and they came out in droves

No, not locusts, but we didn’t have a photo depicting the droves of voters who showed up for the primary election on Aug. 7. Take a good look at this photo — that’s the  power inherent in sheer numbers, people. A pat on the back for all who voted.

 

The Chamber’s WKTV Government Matters committee analyzed the impressive voter turnout during their meeting on Aug. 13. The committee also discussed county staff additions. All in all, pretty important stuff.

 

 

Fun Fact:

In Switzerland, it is illegal
to own just one guinea pig.

This is because guinea pigs are social animals, and they are considered victims of abuse if they are alone. Source.

Wyoming’s U.S. Representative challenger makes stop in city to talk healthcare

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Election, Health, Politics,

Dr. Rob Davidson, left, the Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga’s 2nd District seat, with speakers Joseph Bradley and Heidi Draft-Peppin, at an event in Wyoming Aug. 14. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

 

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The general election season is barely a week old but Dr. Rob Davidson, the Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga’s 2nd District seat, has already paid a visit to the City of Wyoming — and for good reason.

 

While most of the 2nd District is West Michigan lakeshore areas, the panhandle area of the district extending south of Grand Rapids which includes Wyoming is often seen as more Democratic leaning than much of the district.

 

And, according to Davidson, it is also an area — and a group of constituents — often ignored by Rep. Huizenga.

 

“A lot of people in this (part of the) district, of the 2nd, who are probably struggling the most, are probably in the most need of representation from their single connection to the federal government, their U.S. house representative,” Davidson said to WKTV, Tuesday, Aug. 14, at a campaign event at a church near Wyoming Lee High School. “And I feel like campaigns of old and certainly our current representative focuses on the lakeshore, Ottawa County, a little bit of Muskegon, and this part of our district just gets left behind.

 

“Some people out here do not even know they are in the 2nd District. They don’t know who their representative is because they just haven’t heard from him. So, to me, I think I have a very intentional focus on campaigning here, and then being here, and showing up here once I am elected to office, is essential. I think the place you need to go is the folks who need you the most.”

 

(For a video of a previous WKTV Journal: In Focus interview with Davidson, see end of this story or visit here.)

 

The Tuesday event, held at Joy Like a River church (Ministerios Ríos de Agua Viva), 1841 Havana Ave SW, was actually billed as a healthcare forum, one of several put on and planned by Davidson, who is an emergency room physician. The event had a crowd of about two dozen people (the turnout dampened, maybe, by the crowds attending the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools’ sixth grade orientation held at the same time nearby).

 

Rep. Huizenga was invited to the forum but did not attend. Davidson previously invited Rep. Huizenga to a healthcare forum July 30 in Zeeland — Rep. Huizenga’s hometown — but the congressman also declined to attend an event which had a crowd of about 200 people.

 

“We were not expecting such a huge turnout for our event in Zeeland, and what that showed us was how important healthcare is to everyone in West Michigan, so that’s why we’re doing a second event for more folks to share their thoughts and concerns,” Davidson said in previously supplied material. “Republicans, Democrats and independents filled every seat and stood along the walls for two hours to discuss healthcare in an honest, spirited yet respectful way. People talked about Congress taking healthcare away from patients with preexisting conditions, raising the prices of prescription drugs, taking away lifesaving services such as mammograms and prenatal and maternity care. I appreciated hearing from people, both those who agree with me as well as those who disagree.

 

“Congressman Bill Huizenga had an opportunity to join the forum and share information that can help families overcome their healthcare challenges, and unfortunately, he chose to avoid his own constituents.”

 

Davidson was joined by two speakers at the Wyoming event, both of whom spoke about their and their family’s needs for affordable healthcare and their opposition to Republican-led attack on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

 

One of the speakers was Heidi Draft-Peppin, a healthcare social worker whose husband is battling spina-bifida and whose has a child with autism.

 

“If the Republicans have their way, and the pre-existing conditions (coverage) of Obamacare is eliminated, it would devastate our family,” she said.

 

For more information on Davidson’s campaign visit his website.

 

See the following for Davidson’s WKTV Journal: In Focus interview from April.

 

Libertarian candidate for State Senate, legal assistance advocate on latest WKTV Journal: In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Crime Prevention, Election, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Politics, , , ,

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV talks with Dr. Erwin Haas, a Kentwood resident and retired local medical internist. Haas is the Libertarian Party candidate for the Michigan State Senate’s 26th District seat. This November, Haas will face off with Republican primary winner Aric Nesbitt and Democrat Garnet Lewis. Haas ran campaigns for U.S. Congress in 2016 and 2014, as well as for Lieutenant Governor in 2010.

 

We will talk with him about what the Libertarian party is all about and why he continues to seek elected office.

 

Also on the episode, In Focus is Thomas Sinas, a partner in West Michigan’s Sinas Dramis Law Firm and an advocate for the Kent County Legal Assistance Center. Sinas has tried both civil and criminal cases, and has also lectured and authored numerous articles on trial practice and substantive law. We talk with him about the Legal Assistance Center, and misconceptions about legal services available in civil and criminal cases.

 

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, Aug. 7, and aired again on Thursday, Aug. 7, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of Aug. 13. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Sen. Stabenow visits Kentwood to laud past, present, future support of veterans

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Veterans,

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, standing, at an event at the Disabled American Veterans — William A. Smith #2 post in Kentwood. With her are, from left, veteran farmer Frank Corrando, DAV post president Steven Pruitt, businessman Mike Hyacinthe and GVSU veterans program director Tim Marroquin. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

 

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, in Kentwood at a Disabled American Veterans post and surrounded by veteran services leaders and advocates, today detailed her past, present and planned future legislative efforts in support of veterans.

 

Speaking at the DAV William A. Smith Jr. Chapter #2 building on Eastern Avenue, appropriately just a couple blocks from the City of Kentwood’s Veterans Memorial Park on 48th Street SE, she declined to specially name her Republican challenger in the fall, John James — also a veteran — but made clear why she feels she is a better choice for veterans and military members at the polls Nov. 6.

 

“First of all, I have lived in Michigan my whole life and my record speaks for itself, particularly related to veterans,” Sen. Stabenow said to WKTV. “Coming in (to the senate) in 2001, I made setting up out-patient healthcare clinics throughout the state a top priority. We did not have them in many places, in northern, western Michigan, so on. We now have 10 additional healthcare clinics as a result of that effort.

 

“I’ve gone on to develop a whole new area of support for our veterans coming home that want to go into farming or go back into farming. We now have a whole movement of farmer veterans in Michigan, the largest chapter in the country, where we are supporting those who want to go into, back into farming, with reduced crop insurance, reduced loans, and other support.”

 

One of the four persons speaking with Sen. Stabenow at the event was, in fact, Frank Corrado, a blueberry farmer from Bangor and U.S. Army veteran, who echoed the support Michigan’s veteran farmers have received from the senator.

 

“I have (also) been very involved with the G.I. Bill,” Sen. Stabenow continued. “And changing that to now include not only active duty (personal) but our (National) Guard and reserves. And to strengthen that. And now, with my legislation (in work), going forward even farther.”

 

Sen. Stabenow has recently co-introduced legislation to reform the veterans Transition Assistance Program.

 

Two of the other speakers at the event also voiced support of her work: Mike Hyacinthe, a U.S. Navy veteran, and Tim Marroquin, the director of the Veterans Upward Bound program at Grand Valley State University.

 

“This is a life-long mission for me,” Sen. Stabenow concluded. “It actually started when I was in the (Michigan) State House (of Representatives), when I took on the fight to get Agent Orange recognized, on behalf of Vietnam War veterans. At the time, that was not recognized as an outcome of the war and the healthcare services were not available.”

 

When pressed about her Republican opponent, James, boasting that his is both a veteran and a political outsider in contrast to Sen. Stabenow, the senator again declined any direct comparison — sort of.

 

“First of all, we need people who know how to get things done, and that is the bottom line,” she said. “It is not about talk. It is about getting things done, and I’ve gotten things done, and I am going to continue to stay focused on getting things done for the people of Michigan and certainly veterans are at the top of the list.”

 

Local County Commission voting results for Wyoming, Kentwood representatives

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Politics,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The cities of Wyoming and Kentwood’s representation on the Kent County Commission will likely include a familiar face and a newcomer in the county’s 8th and 12th districts, respectively.

 

Incumbent 8th District commissioner Harold Voorhees won the Republican primary Tuesday, Aug. 7, and will likely be unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election. (There could be a write-in candidate on the ballot in the fall.)

 

In the 12th district, Republican Jill Martinez, who ran unopposed in the primary, will face off against Monica Sparks, who won the Democratic primary over a crowd field of candidates seeking to replace Harold Mast, who chose not to seek reelection.

 

For specific Kent County district borders, visit accesskent.com.

 

Election results, by the numbers

 

According to the Kent County election website at accesskent.com, following are the election results for each candidate for their entire voting district:

 

In the 8th District, which covers most of the City of Wyoming, from its western border, heading east, Voorhees won with 2,324 votes while Benjamin K. Franz gained 726.

 

In the 12th District, which covers the western portion of the City of Kentwood and the eastern portion of the City of Wyoming, Martinez collected 1,786 votes in the Republican primary, and Sparks won the Democratic primary with 1,154 votes while Katy Steele Barone gained 492, Scott Urbanowski had 307 and Keith Courtade had 182.

 

Primary voting results set up battles for Wyoming, Kentwood voters in fall general elections

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Hard News, Politics, , , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The City of Wyoming’s incumbent State Rep. Tommy Brann (R-77th District) and the City of Kentwood’s incumbent State Rep. Steve Johnson (R-72nd District) each cruised to easy victories in their respective Republican primaries in voting Tuesday, Aug. 7.

 

In state Senate primary voting, former state representative and ex-Gov. Rick Snyder cabinet member Aric Nesbitt won a three-way battle in the Republican primary for the State Senate 26th District seat, which represents Kentwood. Also, incumbent State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District), running unopposed for a seat which represents Wyoming, now knows who he will be opposed by on the Democratic side, retired public-school teacher Craig Beech.

 

Also now set for the Nov. 6 general election ballot is the two local U.S. Congressional races.

 

Incumbent Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-2nd District) will be opposed by Democrat Dr. Rob Davidson — no surprise as both were unopposed in the primary — in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched federal races in the state.

 

And incumbent Rep. Justin Amash (R-3rd District) will be opposed by Democrat Cathy Albro, who defeated Fred Wooden in the Democratic primary.

 

Election results, by the numbers

 

According to the Kent County election website at accesskent.com, following are the election results for each candidate for their entire voting district:

 

In the State House of Representatives Republican primary for the 77th District, which covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville (for a district map, click here), incumbent Rep. Brann totaled 8,974 while Jordan T. Oesch had 814. On the Democratic primary side, Dana Knight totaled 3,943 while Robert Van Kirk had 1,996. Unopposed Libertarian candidate Patty Malowney had 74 votes.

 

In the State House of Representatives Republican primary for the 72nd District, which covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr (for a district map, click here), Rep. Johnson totaled 5,971 while Jennifer Antel had 1,806. Unopposed Democratic candidate Ron Rraayer had 6,067 votes and Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis had 52.

 

In the State Senate Republican primary for the 26th District, which includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties (for a district map, click here), Nesbitt totaled 4,041 while Bob Genetski had 2,331 and Don Wickstra had 1,379. Unopposed Democratic candidate Garnet Lewis gained 6,101 votes and Libertarian candidate Erwin Haas gained 49.

 

In the State Senate Democratic primary for the 28th District, which includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs (for a district map, click here), Beech totaled 7,688 while Gidget Groendyk had 6,444 and Ryan Jeanette had 4,427. Unopposed Republican incumbent Sen. MacGregor had 30,476 votes and Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewer gained 224.

 

On the Federal election side, in the 2nd District, Rep. Huizenga totaled 14,219 votes while Democratic challenger Davidson had 12,445. In the 3rd District, Rep. Amash totaled 44,304 while Democrats Albro had 30,969 votes and Wooden had 14,808.

 

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Election, Local Entertainment, Politics, Recreation

Tuesday was primary election day in Michigan. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Quote of the (Primary Election) Day

 

“Trust is not something that’s given because you win an election; it is something you have to earn.”  — Tom Perez

 

Dead people should not vote 

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, left, with new voting equipment.(Supplied/SOS office)

The Michigan Department of State recently detailed that as part of the state’s election security readiness, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and the state’s Bureau of Elections have cleared the state’s voting registration rolls of about 1.2 million names since 2011, including more than 500,000 dead people. To get the details, click here.

 

 

Some got talent; some …

Asamu Johnson and The Associates of The Blues. (Supplied)

Kentwood City Hall and the surrounding area will be buzzing with activity on Aug. 11 as the community’s Celebrate Kentwood event returns for a day of fun and celebration and music from both professionals and amateurs, as also returning to the annual festival will be Kentwood’s Got Talent. Modeled after the popular TV show, the talent competition will feature singers, dancers and other performers from the community. Show time is set for 7p.m. For more information, click here.

Give the gift of life, give blood

 

(U.S. Air National Guard photo)

Metro Health-University of Michigan Health will hold a blood drive Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Manistee Community Room of the Metro Health Professional Building at 2122 Health Dr., Wyoming. For more on the drive, click here.

And today’s fun fact(s):

 

38 and 10

 

Approximately 38 percent of the national population is eligible to donate, but annually less than 10 percent actually does. Each year, 4.5 million Americans would die without blood transfusions.

 

Secretary of State details why, how 1.2 million Michigan voters have been ‘scrubbed’ from rolls

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Hard News, Politics, ,

Voter registration, and voter roll verification, in Michigan has seen changes in recent years. (File photo/Not Michigan registration document)

By. K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

As Michigan voters go to the polls this week for primary elections, there will be nearly 200,000 fewer registered voters on the rolls in Kentwood, Wyoming and around the state as there were prior to the 2016 election.

The Michigan Department of State recently detailed that as part of the state’s election security readiness, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and the state’s Bureau of Elections  have cleared the state’s voting registration rolls of about 1.2 million names since 2011, about 200,000 since 2016.

Call it voter “validation” or “scrubbing” or “purging,” the  breakdown of the 1.2 million total, according to Johnson’s office, includes about 563,000 once-registered voters who have died, about 500,000 who moved within the state and re-registered, about 134,000 who moved out of state and have registered as voters elsewhere, and — Secretary Johnson specifically points out — “3,512 non-citizens”.

The Secretary of State and the Bureau of Elections Qualified Voter File upgrades are only part of a recent and ongoing voter security effort in the state, and WKTV has been covering those efforts.

With election season — and security review — looming, state confident of cybersecurity readiness
City, county clerks report issues, but quick solutions after voting equipment change
Kent County selects new voting machines; plans roll-out by November

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, left, with new voting equipment.(Supplied/SOS office)

As part of “continuous voter-list maintenance efforts, the Bureau of Elections and local clerks regularly scrub the voter list to remove ineligible voters,” Johnson has stated a press release from her office and in an op-ed submitted to other media. This includes “an upgraded Qualified Voter File system used by the Bureau of Elections and local clerks to maintain the state’s registered voter list and other election-related data.”

Not everybody gives the state Qualified Voter File system as glowing a review, however.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan questions the claim of the non-citizen voters purged and advocates for another way the state’s system could be made better — by citizen action rather than government action.

“I haven’t seen any proof to substantiate the claim that thousands of non-citizens were purged from the voting rolls,” Sharon Dolente, Voting Rights Strategist for the ACLU of Michigan, said to WKTV. “Between 2013 and the present, the Secretary has offered numbers ranging from 11 to 3,500, but absolutely no proof.

“Michigan (also) needs a failsafe system that allows an eligible voter to re-register if they were improperly purged,” Dolente said. “Same Day Registration would provide that failsafe. Voters will have a chance to implement this policy measure through the Promote the Vote initiative this fall.”

The “non-citizens” total is 0.3 percent of all voters scrubbed from the rolls and 0.05 percent of the total number of registered voters in Michigan, which is 7,387,689 as of July 28, according to Johnson’s office.

How voters get ‘scrubbed’ from the rolls

The state approved voter roll validation/scrubbing/purging system is detailed in Michigan Bureau of Elections Chapter 2, Elections Officials Manual, updated January 2017.

In brief, local city and township clerks, including the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, perform the actual scrubbing of registered voter files, as directed by the Secretary of State and the Bureau of Elections. The Kent County Clerk’s election division is not directly involved.

“Michigan’s Qualified Voter File (QVF) is maintained, and voters can only be added or removed, by the Secretary of State or Michigan’s municipal (280 city or 1,240 township) clerks throughout the state,” Robert J. Macomber, Chief Deputy County Clerk, said to WKTV. “A county clerk does not have the authority to remove voters from the QVF, even despite being the issuer of death certificates.

“While serving as the chief Elections Official of the county voting process, the County Clerk only serve as a pass-through with regards to the voter registration process. An individual may register to vote at their County Clerk’s office, but we forward that paperwork onto the local clerks, as they serve as the maintainer of the voter lists for their respective jurisdiction.”

Removal of voters who have died is a straight-forward process, and occurs if  “the clerk receives or obtains information that the voter has died. (From) sources: QVF inbox notification; county clerk; death notices published in newspaper; personal knowledge,” as detailed in the elections manual.

Voters who moved out of state are removed after it is confirmed they have registered to vote using an out-of-state address that is newer than their Michigan home address and/or registration. But the removal of voters from Michigan voter rolls using the Interstate Crosscheck system takes time.

“All people believed to have moved away are sent mailings prior to the registration cancellation,” Fred Woodhams, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said to WKTV. “The actual cancellation does not happen until two federal election cycles (Novembers in an even year) have occurred. If the person votes or updates their voter information in Michigan before the cancellation occurs, the cancellation process stops.”

The Interstate Crosscheck system is run by the Kansas Secretary of State, according to multiple media reports. Other states send in their voter data and Kansas processes it, then notifies them if there are any possible matches. Matches can occur when people move to a new state and register to vote without cancelling their previous registration. In 2017, 28 states participated and 7.2 million potential matches were identified.

Use of the system recently suffered a legal setback as a federal court in June blocked an Indiana voter registration law which would allow the state to immediately strike voters from the electoral rolls.

Voters who have moved within the state of Michigan and re-register can, however, be removed from old voter rolls immediately.

Removal can and will occur if “a voter who moves to a new jurisdiction within Michigan has his or her voter registration address change along with the address for the person’s driver’s license or state ID card,” Woodhams said. “In this case, we can be certain the person has moved out of one jurisdiction into another.”

The process of determining if a person is not a American citizen was not detailed by the Secretary of State’s office.

Also, Woodhams said there is no statistics kept on how many voters were scrubbed broken down by political party. Michigan does not require voters to choose a party when registering and “only presidential primary ballots ore differentiated by party … August primary voters are all issued one ballot that contains columns of candidates for the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. The voter marks the ballot only in the column for one of the parties.”

Wyoming public safety millage, state senate candidate on WKTV Journal: In Focus

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Election, Local Faces, Politics,

 

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV brings you two topics on the Aug. 7 primary ballot — City of Wyoming funding for its police and fire departments through its public safety special millage, and the City of Kentwood’s Republican voters selecting a candidate to run for the Michigan State Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker.

 

The City of Wyoming is requesting to renew its existing public safety millage on the Aug. 7 primary ballot. Millage renewal approval would provide a permanent annual collection of 1.25 mills for the operation, maintenance and administration of city police and fire services. Discussing the details of the request is City of Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll and Chief Kim Koster, Wyoming Public Safety Director.

 

Also on the episode, In Focus is the only one of the three candidates in the Republican primary for 26th State Senate district, which includes the City of Kentwood, without history in state government. Don Wickstra is a Hamilton dentist and political novice, and while he is chairman of the Heath Township Planning Commission he admits to being,“ a name you probably haven’t read in news stories.”

 

In Focus host Ken Norris brings you Wickstra’s story, in his own words.

 

The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.

 

The episode debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, July 24, and will again air on Thursday, July 26, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of July 30. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.

 

Primary Election 2018: WKTV informs you on the Republican State Senate 26th District race

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Election, Politics, , ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Michigan voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 7, with several local primary races on the ballot, among them is the Republican nomination for 26th District State Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tonya Shuitmaker, who is facing term limits. The district includes the City of Kentwood. WKTV has what you need to know about the three-way race between, in alphabetic order, Bob Genetski, Aric Nesbitt and Don Wickstra.

 

Genetski served the Michigan House of Representatives from 2009 through 2014, when he was elected as Allegan County Clerk. He has a bachelors degree from Auburn University and a masters in education from Grand Valley State University. He and his family live in Saugatuck. Genetski is both a one-time public school teacher and was named one of the Michigan House’s most conservative elected officials.

 

Nesbitt describes himself as a public servant, having served three terms as a state representative before, most recently, as a member of Gov. Rick Snyder’s cabinet, serving as the lottery commissioner. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Hillsdale College and a Masters in International Business from Norwegian School of Economics. He lives near Lawton with his wife, Trisha, down the road from his family’s farm.

 

Wickstra, an Hamilton dentist and political novice, is a graduate of Hope College and Loyola University Dental School, and he and his wife Lynn are grandparents who have been married for 42 years. Outside of being the chairman of the Heath Township Planning Commission, he admits to being, quote, “a name you probably haven’t read in news stories.”

 

To view Genetski’s WKTV-produced We The People video, visit here.

 

To view Nesbitt’s WKTV-produced We The People video, visit here.

 

To view Wickstra’s WKTV-produced We The People video, visit here.

 

To view Genetski’s WKTV Journal: In Focus interview, visit here.

 

To view Nesbitt’s WKTV Journal: In Focus interview, visit here.

 

To view Wickstra’s WKTV Journal: In Focus interview, visit here.

 

To view the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum for this race, visit here.

 

For more information on Genetski, visit his website here.

 

For more information on Nesbitt, visit his website here.

 

For more information on Wickstra, visit his website here.

 

With election season — and security review — looming, state confident of cybersecurity readiness

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Election, Hard News, Politics, Tech Trends, ,

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, left, with new voting equipment.(Supplied/SOS office)

 

By. K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

While the Michigan Department of State has recently been touting the state’s election security readiness, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and the state’s Bureau of Elections which she oversees recently announced that it would be hiring an outside firm to conduct the state’s first “extensive security-related review” of cybersecurity readiness.

 

The news of the planned cybersecurity review was first announced in late June when the state included in its 2018-19 budget $535,000 in state money to match a federal grant and making available a total of $11.2 million for enhanced election security.

 

“Regarding the $11.2 million in new state and federal money for election security,” Fred Woodhams, Michigan Secretary of State’s Office spokesperson, said in an email to WKTV. “The Bureau of Elections is seeking to hire an experienced firm with election administration and cybersecurity expertise to perform the security review with at least initial findings expected to be reported before the November general election.”

 

The outside firm will “conduct a security review of state, county and local election-related systems to identify potential vulnerabilities and methods to mitigate them,” he said. “The work will be the first time such an extensive security-related review will be performed but that is just the start of our plans to use the new money for election upgrades over the next few years.”

 

Currently, the state’s Chief Security Officer, housed in the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, oversees the state’s IT systems and has an office devoted to cybersecurity, according to Woodhams.

 

The Chief Security Officer “office works closely with our elections and IT staff,” Woodhams said. “The state has long-standing efforts to protect systems from malicious activity. In addition to those efforts, the new money will be allow us to hire an outside firm to search for vulnerabilities to the systems of the state and also local communities. It will be the first time that part has been done.”

 

The cybersecurity threat to local elections is an on-going debate in Washington, D.C., but the overall threat was made clear in February of this year when a Congressional Task Force on Election Security reported “Russia’s unprecedented assault on the country’s elections in 2016 – including targeting 21 states’ voting systems – exposed serious national security vulnerabilities to our election infrastructure – which includes voting machines and voter registration databases.”

 

There is no evidence that Michigan’s voting system was compromised by any entity in 2016.

 

“We are very confident in the state’s elections systems,” Woodhams said, “due to, among other reasons, the extensive and redundant accuracy and integrity practices that include a weeks-long, thorough canvassing process that verifies each precinct’s results, and ballot and voter numbers to make sure everything adds up.”

 

Voting machines in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood were upgraded last year. (Supplied)

Woodhams also pointed out the many election upgrades Secretary Johnson and the Bureau of Elections have put in place for the 2018 election cycle, including all new next-generation election equipment used in all 1,520 cities and townships, expanded cybersecurity training for local election administrators and post-election audits that include ballot validation.

 

(For more information on local use of the new machines, see a WKTV Journal story here and also another story here.)

 

Woodhams’ remarks echo a statement by Secretary Johnson, in previous Department of State press release, regarding why the state’s voters should be confident in election security.

 

“Most importantly, every voter across Michigan still will use a good, old-fashioned paper ballot to mark their choices,” Secretary Johnson said. “Then they’ll feed the ballot into a new next-generation voting machine designed with security in mind. But buying all new election equipment isn’t all we’ve done to safeguard our election system.

 

“We carefully reviewed and improved our systems, and we’ll be putting $11 million of federal security grants toward further strengthening them against attack. Plus, we’re adding required cybersecurity training to our local clerk education programs.”

 

After Kent County installed new voting machines in time for last year’s fall election, the Aug. 7 primary will be the first statewide election in which every city and township will use all new voting equipment that includes optical-scan ballot tabulators, accessible voting devices for voters with disabilities, and new election-management and reporting software.

 

Note: WKTV first heard discussion on the plan July 9 at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting when the Secretary’s west Michigan representative spoke of the grant and its intended election cybersecurity use.