Politics infiltrates Ottawa County conservation board election as officials urge residents to vote
The Ottawa Conservation District is currently navigating an unusually contentious election cycle, as residents head to the polls to fill two vacancies on the organization's board of directors.
OTTAWA COUNTY — A little-known Ottawa County election could have big implications this year.
The Ottawa Conservation District is currently navigating an unusually contentious election cycle, as residents head to the polls to fill two vacancies on the organization's board of directors.
The OCD, established in 1938, plays a critical role in managing Ottawa County’s natural resources, from agricultural sustainability to soil conservation. With a budget of nearly $2 million — funded by local, state and federal sources — the board’s influence on the county’s environmental priorities is substantial.
The district is managed by five elected board directors, who help guide the work of the OCD and provide oversight over annual goals, finances and program directions. Once elected, they each serve four-year terms and volunteer their time, meeting monthly to review district accomplishments and discuss future activities.
Although the roles are non-partisan, the race has become political with two candidates — incumbent Matt Hehl and Jeff Vredeveld — backed by members of the far-right political group Ottawa Impact, which was formed in 2021 and had a controversial controlling majority of the county's board of commissioners in 2023 and 2024.
Also running for OCD are incumbent Rivka Hodgkinson and Kelly Goward, who are being backed by the non-partisan political action committee Ottawa Integrity, which typically endorses moderate and progressive candidates.
Full candidate biographies can be found on the OCD website: ottawacd.org/annualmeeting.
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A unique election
Unlike standard county elections, which are overseen by the Ottawa County Clerk's Office, the race is administered directly by the Conservation District.
Although typical board elections for the district see participation hover around 300 voters, this year has witnessed a surge in engagement, with over 700 ballots already cast.
This spike in turnout highlights a significant mobilization effort, as local political interests — specifically an initiative by the Ottawa Impact group to secure seats on various county boards — intersect with the stewardship of the county's natural resources.
“I feel like the first few elections, we’d get anywhere from 40 to 50, maybe 60 votes, depending on who came to our annual meetings. A lot of the times people would vote there, and then maybe we’d get a small handful of absentee votes," Benjamin Jordan, the acting executive director and watershed programs coordinator for the OCD, told The Grand Haven Tribune.
But when a few candidates ramped up the scale of their campaigns about five years ago, Jordan said that they received hundreds of votes and decided to overhaul the voting process with more emphasis on the absentee ballot period.
“Two years ago, three years ago, maybe 200, 300 votes was kind of the top,” he explained. “I think we’re going to be well above that this year.”
As a nonpartisan, non-regulatory, local government entity, the OCD remains committed to its values regardless of who is on the board, according to Jordan.
“This election, from our standpoint, is not going to change our organization’s mission, but it’s important because obviously you want board members that are going to be engaged and are going to be active for the district,” Jordan said. “The board members, they help guide the district, they help create our annual appropriations budget, and make some of those decisions that are kind of above the level of just the staff themselves.
How to vote
As of March 3, mail-in absentee ballots are no longer being accepted; however, an absentee ballot can still be filled out in-person at the OCD office in Grand Haven, 16731 Ferris St., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
All ballots are due by 4 p.m. March 10, coinciding with the group's annual meeting, which will take place at Grand Haven’s Watermark Church, 13060 U.S. 31. Officials are expected to count the ballots and announce the winning candidates toward the end of the event.
The meeting is free and open to the public; attendees also may vote 4:30-5:30 p.m., but a $10 registration fee is required to stay for the main program and catered taco dinner buffet from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Eligibility: All Ottawa County residents age 18 or older are eligible to vote.
- Deadline: 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.
- Where to vote: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 16731 Ferris St., Grand Haven. (Voters are urged to bring a valid photo ID.)
For more information, contact the office at 616-842-5852, Ext. 5, or email ottawacd@macd.org.
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