Voters back local funding measures, elect new faces in Ottawa County

OTTAWA COUNTY — Voters across Ottawa County on Tuesday demonstrated strong support for local school and municipal funding proposals, while Grand Haven City Council saw the defeat of an incumbent by two political newcomers, according to unofficial results released by the Ottawa County Clerk's Office.

Local bond and millage requests were largely approved, securing funding for public safety infrastructure, school improvements and enhanced special education services across multiple communities.

Grand Haven votes for public safety millage, new council members

In Grand Haven, a millage requested by the Department of Public Safety for improvements to its Washington Avenue headquarters passed convincingly. The proposition garnered 1,835 yes votes to 1,305 no votes. 

The approved 2-mill levy, set over 10 years, is expected to generate nearly $15 million. City Manager Ashley Latsch noted that 65 percent of the funds, or approximately $9.5 million, will be directed toward building improvements. Another 25percent is earmarked for the replacement of the department’s ladder truck and new turnout gear, with the remaining 10 percent covering operating expenses.

For Grand Haven City Council, challengers Sarah Kallio and Erin Lyon defeated longtime local politician Dennis Scott. The two winners secured the open seats. Sarah Kallio received 2,055 votes (38.11 percent), while Erin Lyon garnered 1,993 votes (36.96 percent). Scott placed third with 1,344 votes (24.93 percent).

In other city races, incumbent Mayor Bob Monetza was re-elected to his third two-year term, running unopposed and receiving 2,491 votes. 

Mike Dora, running for the partial City Council term ending in 2027 to replace the vacant seat left by former council member Ryan Cummins, received 2,255 votes. 

Todd Crum (2,194 votes) and Phillip Polyak (2,133 votes) were also elected unopposed to trustee positions on the Grand Haven Board of Light and Power, with Polyak serving a partial term ending in 2027.

School districts secure bond, millage approvals

Voters strongly backed several school funding initiatives across the county and regional districts:

• Fruitport Community Schools: Voters approved a $78.5 million bond proposal, which district officials stressed will not increase property taxes. The measure passed by a vote of 2,980 (53.3 percent) to 2,614 (46.7 percent), an unofficial total combining results from both Ottawa and Muskegon counties. This successful vote comes after a similar, larger $82 million bond was narrowly rejected in May.
• Grandville Public Schools: The district saw two tax proposals pass with majority support. The operating millage renewal was approved with 4,033 yes votes total across Kent and Ottawa counties, to 2,066 no votes. In Ottawa County specifically, the renewal passed 442 to 415. The sinking fund millage also passed overall with 3,412 yes votes to 2,686 no votes, though Ottawa County voters narrowly rejected it, casting 358 yes votes and 499 no votes. The sinking fund approval restores the millage to 1.4 mills for a 10-year period, generating an estimated $3.38 million in 2027.
• Kent Intermediate School District: A 10-year regional enhancement millage renewal and increase was approved by voters across the Kent ISD’s taxable boundaries, providing funding for special education, college-readiness, and jobs training. The millage, which will levy 0.9 mills, passed in Kent County by a vote of 54,078 to 31,044. It also received 622 yes votes in Ottawa County. The measure will generate an estimated $35.6 million in 2027.
• Zeeland Public Schools: A $186 million bond proposal was approved, passing with 3,465 votes in favor to 3,132 votes opposed, according to the unofficial Ottawa County Clerk's Office totals.

Municipal elections, ballot initiatives

Numerous municipal elections across Ottawa County saw incumbents re-elected and new leaders chosen, with some results being decided by very thin margins. All results listed remain unofficial until certified by the county board of canvassers.

City of Coopersville

• Mayor: Brian Mooney won unopposed with 495 votes (100.00percent).
• Council Member: 
  • Jamie M. Adams: 190 (12.35 percent)
  • Shane Gerard: 349 (22.68 percent)
  • Tiffany Langlois: 284 (18.45 percent)
  • Jillian Poelma: 321 (20.86 percent)
  • Peter Weise: 395 (25.67 percent)

City of Ferrysburg

• Mayor: Richard Carlson defeated Jerry Sias with 521 votes (58.28 percent) to Sias' 373 votes (41.72 percent).
• Council member: 
  • Bill Cate: 582 (30.14 percent)
  • David Cook: 622 (32.21 percent)
  • Debbie Murdoch: 599 (31.02 percent)
  • Unresolved Write-ins: 128

City of Holland

• Mayor: Incumbent Nathan Bocks secured another term with 4,620 votes, defeating Brian M. Everitt, who received 1,705 votes.
• Proposal: Holland voters approved a millage ballot measure that will restore the city's maximum allowed millage to 17.5 mills, a move city officials called "vital" for the funding of future services. It passed with 3,505 votes in support and 2,779 opposed.
• Council member at large: Abby Klomparens won with 3,730 votes against Quincy Byrd, who received 2,365 votes 
• Council Member First Ward: Tim Vreeman won with 776 votes.
• Ward 3, Precinct 6 and 7: Tim Marroquin won a close race with 361 votes over Bylnda Sól's 353 votes.

City of Hudsonville

• Ward 1, Precinct 1: Gabrielle Dunai received 125 votes and Jack Groot received 205 votes.
• Ward 2, Precinct 1: Dan Bolhuis won unopposed with 203 votes.
• Ward 3, Precinct 1: Larry Brandsen won unopposed with 319 votes.

City of Zeeland

• Precinct 1, 2, 3 and 4: Richard J. VanDorp III won unopposed with 1,279 votes.
• Precinct 1, 2, 3 and 4: Results are listed in alphabetical order:
  • Andrew Bult: 659
  • Kylee DeBoer: 583 
  • Ericka Humbert: 445 
  • Glenn T. Kass: 579 
  • Amy Langeland: 759 
  • Rebecca Perkins: 707 
• Precinct 1, 2, 3 and 4: Jeremy Kamp won with 190 votes over Thomas Verstraete, who received 158 votes.

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.