ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
The deadline for candidates for local, county and state offices in the Aug. 6 primary election has been set at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 23.
Some candidates already have filed, either by $100 fee or by presenting petitions with the required number of signatures.
Though there will be more filings later in April, the three incumbent state representatives in this area, Rachelle Smit in the 43rd, Angela Riggs in the 79th and Matt Hall in the 42nd, all Republicans, have filed for another two-year term.
Smit (R-Shelbyville) thus far will be opposed by Democrat Danene Shumaker of Plainwell. Hall (R-Richland) is facing a primary challenge from Rick Cutshaw of Scotts and Democrat Austin Marsman of Plainwell. Rigas (R-Caledonia) will be challenged by Democrat Jason Rubin of Grand Rapids.
All of the state representative districts were redrawn in 2023 by a special committee at the behest of a majority of voters in a 2022 statewide referendum.
It should be of interest that all three incumbent state representatives from the 42nd, 43rd and 79th districts, have indicated they believe Donald Trump won the presidential election of 2020. All have expressed the opinion that the election was rigged against Trump. All three GOP officials are fervently Pro-Life on the abortion issue.
Smit went even one step further by honoring the Null brothers of Shelbyville and Plainwell in a ceremony after they were acquitted of charges they took part in a plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Allegan County, just like neighboring Ottawa and Barry counties, has been proven time and time again to have a one-party political system in which Republicans nearly always win elections over Democrats.
If that trend holds, our representatives we send to Lansing to make laws all will march in lockstep to the commands of Donald Trump. None of them has questioned the results of all other electoral races, particularly in those they were declared the winners.
32 Comments