ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, June 22, 2023) – The political rift between a first-term Ottawa County Commissioner and the local Republican Party is apparently widening.
On Tuesday night, the Ottawa County Republican Party passed a Resolution for Censure against Commissioner Jacob Bonnema of Zeeland, as 32 of the 34 members approved the measure. The resolution claims that he violated party principles in his statements and votes, and made claims of being harassed by County Administrator John Gibbs that the party called “frivolous.” In a statement, party Chairman Brendan Muir and Vice-Chairwoman Jenni Shepherd-Kelley said, “We trust the future will hold a change of course for Commissioner Bonnema, as well as a change in behavior.”
In a response on Wednesday, Bonnema reiterated his “common-sense conservative” beliefs, and said that the censure would, “have no impact on my commitments or voting as a commissioner.”
Bonnema was among eight new Board members elected last November with the support of the Ottawa Impact political action committee, but he broke away from that group in March over several issues.
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