It was a nail bitter to the end for the 28th District Senate Republican Primary with Mark Huizenga narrowly defeating the other two candidates, Kevin Green and Tommy Brann.
Mark Huizenga (WKTV)
Huizenga received 9,531 votes with Green coming in second with 9,357. Brann, who had a two-to-one lead in the City of Wyoming and Byron Township, received a total of 9,272 votes.
The Senate seat became vacant last year when Peter MacGregor, a second-term Republican, left to take over as the Kent County treasurer.
Both Huizenga and Brann are currently serving as state representatives. Brann serves District 77 which includes the City of Wyoming and Byron Township. Huizenga serves District 74, which includes a portion of northern Kent County such as the townships of Tyron, Solon, Sparta, Algoma, Alpine and the cities of Rockford and Cedar Springs as well as the cities of Walker and Grandville.
The 28th District Senate seat includes both Brann’s and Huizenga’s areas along with the townships of Nelson, Spencer, Courtland, Oakfield, Cannon, Grattan, and Vergennes.
“I am humbled, and thank the people of the 28th Senate District for nominating me to be the Republican candidate for the November 2nd general election,” Huizenga said in a statement. “I pledge to represent you with honesty and integrity — always seeking and speaking the truth. Moving forward, we must all unite together to protect and promote our community’s shared values.”
Keith Courtade (WKTV)
At the Nov. 2 general election, Huizenga will face off against Democrat candidate Keith Courtade who won the Democrat nomination with more than 2,000 votes over candidate Gidget Groendyk. Courtade had 6,413 votes to Gorendyk’s 4,101 votes.
Courtade is a retired UAW Skills Trades worker and a former Kent County Commissioner. Huizenga, along with being a state representative, owns Mark Huizenga Systems Consulting, a consulting firm, and is the managing partner for Key Green Solutions, a software company. He also served as the City of Walker mayor.
Voter turn out for the primary was about 15 percent or 56,853 of the 381,291 registered voters in Kent County. There were only nine issues on exception of the 28th District Senate seat, most of the ballot issues were for a specific community and not countywide. In the City of Wyoming, the voter turnout for the primary was 11.85 percent or 6,531 of the 55,135 registered voters. The only item Wyoming residents were voting on was the 28th District Senate seat.
Last year, Peter MacGregor stepped away from the 28th District Senate seat to take over the position of Kent County treasurer, leaving the 28th District Senate seat open. Five candidates, two Democrats and three Republicans are seeking the nomination from their respective parties in the Aug. 3 primary. The top vote getters in each of the party elections will face off in the general election for the seat. This is for one year with the seat returning to its regular election cycle in 2022. Note, voters may only vote for a Republican or Democrat candidate.
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.
Democrats
Keith Courtade
Occupation: Retired UAW Skills Trades
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I feel important things are going on and I have a passion for it. I have always had a passion for it and I want to help people. I’ve been a voice for the middle class and have a passion to help people.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
The biggest issue is the right to vote. I believe all people should have the right to vote. The next one, and the one closer to Michigan, is cleaning up and protecting our groundwater. I’ve seen firsthand what happened in Flint as I was working at the GM plant there at the time. More needs to be done to fix the problem not just in the in the Flint area but all of Michigan as contaminated groundwater is a statewide issue.
Gidget Groendyk
Occupation: Hobby farmer and home remodeler
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
My family has always been committed to serving the community which started with my grandfather who the day after the Pearl Harbor attack joined Patton’s army.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
I am a grassroots activist, environmentalist, advocate for social justice, nonviolent resister and regular citizens who’ve had enough of corporate-dominated politics. I would look at infrastructure, the PFAS contamination, and work on reopening small businesses.
Republicans
Tommy Brann
Occupation: The current 77th District State Representative, serving the City of Wyoming and Byron Township, Brann is a restaurant owner and president of the Division Avenue Business Association.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
My restaurant business is a small business and I will have been there 50 years. I see so much at my restaurant. My experiences at the restaurant I take to Lansing such as homelessness, something that I often witness. I fought hard to get $1.9 million to get homeless shelters up to $18 per bed. I also have given half of my salary, about $60,000, back to the community.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
I will continue to be focused on housing and homelessness. Also we need to be supporting family businesses and I want to work to get our K-12 education in the top 10 of the nation.
Kevin Green
Occupation: Green is the Algoma Township Supervisor and has served as a Wyoming City Council member and 77th District State Representative.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I felt that the Legislature was not being effective in stopping the Governor on her mandates. I feel that my voice could be a lot more effective in carrying what the people want and I believe I have shown that in my past history in public service.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
Election integrity is an important issue. We need to follow that chain of custody, following the vote and making sure it matches with the signature. We also need to focus on our businesses as they slowly reopen. Lastly, I have worked on legislation for Count the Kicks, which is a a stillbirth prevention campaign that encourages expectant parents to track their baby’s movements during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Mark Huizenga
Occupation: The current 74th District State Representative, which covers Rockford, Cedar Springs, Algoma Township along with the cities of Walker and Grandville, Huizenga owns Mark Huizenga Systems Consulting, a consulting firm, and is the managing partner for Key Green Solutions, a software company.
Why did you decide to run for the District 28 Senate seat?
I have always been involved not because of the campaigns or the politics, but because I have been asked to. My past background includes serving the state and mayoral experience with the City of Walker. I offer transparent accountability and am known to respond to all questions. I also make a point of meeting with people and talking about the issues that impact them.
What are the key issues you are focused on?
Currently there is no formula for state funding of higher education with some institutions receiving more than others. I sit on the Higher Education Committee and have been working toward creating a more equability funding system. Other issues are mental health, especial in our schools and I have worked to help launch a new hotline through the Department of Health and Human Services. Also, we need to look at gun violence.
