Six Republican incumbents will face challenges from Democrats in all seven districts.
Don Black has decided to retire as commissioner from the Seventh District and Republicans Rick Cain and Nathaniel Sherman will vie in Aug. 7 primary and face Democrat Rachel Collingsworth in the Nov. 6 contest.
Veteran Commissioner Mark DeYoung in the Fourth District will get a challenge from Democrat Mike Salisbury, a Wayland businessman.
Gale Dugan of Otsego will be opposed by Democrat Ben Snape in November in a race in the Sixth District.
In other county contests, incumbent Dean Kapenga will be challenged by Anthony Brown in the First District with Democrat Christi Allen waiting in the wings for November; Democrat Ken Whitcomb will take on GOP incumbent Jim Storey in the Second District; incumbent Republican Max Thiele will take on William Sorensen will do battle in the Aug. 7 primary to win the right to meet Democrat Kathryn Bamberg, and Tom Jessup will face Democrat Don Doggendorf in the Fifth District.
The complete list of candidates is somewhat of a surprise for the Allegan County Democratic Party, as Chairwoman Jill Dunham is hoping for a “blue wave” to overtake perhaps a complacent GOP. The Dems have been much more active than in the past, coming off a successful Sixth Congressional District candidates’ forum in Wayland and plans for one of the two Democratic attorney general candidates to speak next month.
To My Democrat friends:
Please spend tons of money and time on advertising and interviews to get your “message” out there. I don’t know what message that might be, since the National Democrat Party defends illegal aliens, sanctuary cities, excoriates law enforcement, encourages drug legalization, and pretty much everything except for supporting and helping citizen taxpayers. But at least go through the motions. I’m sure your positions and principals will be well known by election day.
Then get ready for the whuppin you’re gonna receive at the polls. My condolences upon your future election losses. Thank God for decent and patriotic citizens in West Michigan. And everyone, please vote!
And candidates please put the word Democrat or Republican on all your advertising.