ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
Newspapers over many years have endorsed candidates for public office, based on what they’ve seen and heard. Not wanting to buck tradition, and flying in the face of the notion I’m just sitting on the sidelines and not getting into the game myself, I hereby offer my suggestions for the election that now is less than a month away.
I choose to do this now because so many citizens this year are using mail-in voting as a safe alternative in the Year of the Plague that is 2020:
Full disclosure: For the first time in my life, I plan personally to vote a straight ticket, all for Democrats, not because I love the Democratic Party, but I see them as sane alternatives to a GOP that has been taken over completely by Donald J. Trump. Virtually all Republicans have caved in to him and his entertaining, but troubling policies. They march in lock step to his commands. Thus, considered for your approval:
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims… but accomplices” ― George Orwell
Because this region offers a solid historic example of a one-party political system, there aren’t many endorsements to be made. Most Republican candidates are running unopposed.
State Representative, 72nd and 80th Districts
Yes, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure I support the two Democratic challengers over the Republican incumbents. One huge reason is that I can’t think of anything that State Reps. Mary Whiteford and Steve Johnson have done for the people of Allegan County and Gaines Township in Kent County.
I wrote of my support of Whiteford in 2015 and in 2016, the latter year when she was primaried by fellow Republican Abigail Nobel. I once backed her because I saw her as an alternative to bat-poop crazy candidates Cindy Gamrat and Nobel. But now, I don’t see where her political positions are any different than theirs.
People have accused me of letting Steve Johnson live inside my
head (usually by people who let their heads be occupied by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama). It’s hard for me to be perky and positive about a twenty-something living in the basement of his parents’ home getting 29% of the primary vote in 2016 and using his church connections to obtain a lucrative six-year gig in Lansing. Furthermore, I have yet to see Mr. Johnson wear a mask during the pandemic. So I question whether he’s looking out for you.
Though I sense both Schuilting and Almquist are likely to lose because of single-party politics and “God, Guns, Guts, Gays and Abortion,” I back Lily Cheng Schuilting and Erik Almquist.
The 72nd District takes in the City of Wayland, Wayland, Gaines Leighton and Dorr townships and the City of Kentwood. The 80th District includes the rest of Allegan County.
Watson Township Board
This is the only township around here that has a two-party system, and that itself is in serious danger.
Supervisor Kevin Travis, since being elected in 2016, has been practicing crony politics, appointing friends to certain positions, particularly his friend Jack Wood, a Republican, to the late Democrat Chuck Andrysiak’s trustee seat. It doesn’t stop there. He’s played a role in Republican Stephanie Caulder filing for treasurer against incumbent Democrat Sue Jones, even though Caulder has no experience in doing the job.
Travis and Michelle Harris also have had a hand on behalf of the proposed takeover by the Hopkins Area Fire Authority for all of the
township, leaving Martin in the dust.
As a result, I hereby endorse a slate to restore Democratic control of the Township Board, including Helen Goyings for supervisor, Kelli Morris for clerk, Jones for treasurer and former Supervisor Candy Adrianson for trustee. Let’s put an end to crony government.
Wayland City Council
I’ve had reservations about Mayor Tim Bala’s lack of transparency over the past eight years. His lack of candor about the firing of Police Chief Dan Miller prompted Tracy Bivins to run for council in 2012.
It’s been eight years, and we still haven’t been given a satisfactory answer about what happened.
Bivins also presented an alarming demonstration of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) during discussions about the Rails to Trails possibilities.
From where I sit, Bivins did a mostly creditable job on the council before having to step down because of health issues, but she hasn’t make a strong enough case to get rid of the mayor.
We also have a four-for-three race for council trustee posts. I support the three incumbents, Abe Garcia, Tim Rose and Joe Kramer, and reject the candidacy of former Supt. Norman Taylor because he flatly betrayed public education after being paid more than $1.3 million over 10 years to promote and protect the system.
I am most displeased that Taylor’s name recognition probably will enable him to win and unseat a promising newcomer such as Garcia, whom I see as most vulnerable.
Wayland Board of Education
Because the power of deciding education issues has been transferred away from local board and to the state, particularly after Proposal A, elections such as this one just don’t carry the weight they should.
Based only on what I have seen and know, I support incumbents Cinnamon Mellema and Theresa Dobry and newcomers Jason Shane and Becky Hohnke.
The contests in Martin are not contests. Hopkins has fewer candidates than seats available. Write-ins are sought. Martin has everybody running unopposed, but I hereby give a shoutout to Austin Marsman, who had the temerity and intelligence to file despite being so young.
Does anyone want to serve on a school board any more? You get almost none of the power and all of the grief. And the way public education has been mauled politically over the last 40 years, who wants to go down with a sinking ship?
