These are the key races to watch in Ottawa, Allegan counties on Tuesday
Next week is a big one for Holland area voters.
All eyes are on Ottawa County, as residents near their first referendum on Ottawa Impact since the group won the county board majority in 2022. A record number of primary challengers will make their nomination bids Tuesday, Aug. 6 — and not only for the board.
But local voters are also closely watching several Allegan County races, some of which could have a significant impact on law enforcement and prosecution.
Here are the races we'll be tightly tracking at The Sentinel:
More: Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
A record number of candidates have filed across 11 seats on the Ottawa County Board, including at least one Democrat in each district.
But, in August, we'll be watching the Republican primary races, where each incumbent commissioner affiliated with OI has a challenger. The races have led to dueling endorsements from the county GOP and newly formed PACs, like Conservative Ottawa.
More: Republicans offer dueling endorsements, breaking tradition in Ottawa County primary
In District 1, OI incumbent Gretchen Cosby faces Jim Barry. In District 2, former commissioner and OI-backed candidate Lucy Ebel faces Jordan Jorritsma. In District 5, incumbent board chair and OI co-founder Joe Moss faces a challenge from Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northrup. In District 6, OI incumbent Kendra Wenzel will face Shawn Haff, who sought an appointment to the seat when Kyle Terpstra resigned last year.
Rebekah Curran will not seek re-election in District 7 after an attempted run for U.S. Senate. Republican candidates include John Teeples and OI-backed Rachel Atwood.
The board's vice chair and other OI co-founder Sylvia Rhodea faces a challenge from David Lee Morren in District 8, and OI’s Roger Belknap will again face former commissioner Phillip Kuyers in District 9.
There will be a new representative in District 10, where Roger Bergman isn't seeking re-election. Republican candidates include OI-backed Jason Koert and Josh Brugger. In District 11, OI incumbent Allison Miedema faces two primary challengers: Sara Bajema and Richard Van Dop.
There is one contested Democratic primary for the board, also in District 10. Douglas VanBennekom and Oliver Shampine will compete for a spot on the general ballot.
Ottawa County Sheriff
With the impending retirement of Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker, the municipality will have a new top law enforcement officer.
Undersheriff Eric DeBoer and Interim County Administrator Jon Anderson are seeking the Republican nomination. There are no Democrats in the race.
More: Lakeshore sheriffs endorse DeBoer, but OCSO staff back Anderson
DeBoer was appointed undersheriff by Kempker earlier this year after Valerie Weiss announced her retirement. DeBoer joined OCSO as a reserve deputy in 1999 and has held several roles in the department since.
Anderson was made interim county administrator on March 12. He co-owns Bullet Hole Firearms and Training in Holland and is a retired sheriff's commander with 32 years of law enforcement experience.
DeBoer has earned the endorsement of the surrounding counties' sheriffs and Kempker, as well as several state representatives, but Anderson has earned the support of OCSO unions. He's also been endorsed alongside OI candidates by the Ottawa County GOP.
Ottawa County Prosecutor
The prosecutor’s office will also see a new leader this election cycle, after Lee Fischer decided not to seek re-election.
Candidates for the office include Sarah Matwiejczyk and Greg Todd. Matwiejczyk is an assistant prosecutor in Ottawa County and has been with the department for over 20 years. Her work has included cases district, circuit and family courts. She's been endorsed by Kemper and Fischer.
Todd is a lawyer from Grand Haven. He’s been a practicing attorney since 2007 and founded Polaris Law PLC in 2015. He specializes in business, real estate and probate. He's been endorsed alongside OI candidates by the Ottawa County GOP.
There are no Democrats in the race.
Ottawa County Treasurer
Two Republicans will also face off for Ottawa County Treasurer. Incumbent Cheryl Clark, who was appointed in December, will face Ben Genser.
Before her appointment, Clark served 15 years as deputy treasurer. She also spent a decade as treasurer in Robinson Township. She's been endorsed by former treasurer Amanda Price.
Genser is a private client advisor and vice president of investments for J.P. Morgan. Before that, he spent six years as a vice president and multi-site manager with Chase. He's been endorsed alongside OI candidates by the Ottawa County GOP, but has told The Sentinel he's not affiliated with the group.
The winner will face Independent Diane Fikse in November.
Allegan County Board of Commissioners
Three of five districts in Allegan County are uncontested, but we'll be watching District 1 and District 4.
Craig Van Beek, a pastor and school board chair in Hamilton, will be the only name on the ballot in District 1. However, current board chair Jim Storey is running as a write-in candidate, after an unpaid state campaign finance report led him to withdraw from the ballot. He tried to be re-added, but was unsuccessful.
In District 4, incumbent Scott Beltman faces primary challenger Bret Medemar.
There are no Democrats filed to run for the Allegan County Board.
Allegan County Prosecutor
Incumbent Myrene Koch and Mike Villar will face off for the third time on Tuesday.
Koch has been with the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office for more than 20 years. She worked as assistant prosecutor and chief assistant prosecutor before being appointed prosecutor in 2018.
Villar is a private attorney with more than 30 years of experience in criminal law.
More: 'Focused on justice': Prosecutor Myrene Koch prepares for third run in Allegan
More: Michael Villar announces another run for Allegan County prosecutor
Koch beat Villar for a partial term in 2018. The two faced off again in 2020, when Koch won by less than 20 votes.
There are no Democrats filed to run for the seat in November.
Allegan County Sheriff
Frank Baker is seeking a third term as head of ACSO. He faces a challenge from Dean Brandt on Tuesday.
There are no Democrats in the race.
Baker has worked at ACSO since 1990. He was first elected sheriff in 2016 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2020.
Brandt, a welder/fabricator and former firefighter, is a “conservative constitutionalist” who would refuse to enforce red flag gun laws, according to his website.
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Laketown Township
Laketown Township's Board of Trustees will see a bit of a shakeup this year, as its supervisor isn't seeking re-election and a trustee is challenging the incumbent clerk.
Trustee Jim Delaney will face Clerk Amber Davis, who was appointed in 2022. The race has caused tension between Delaney and Township Manager Al Meshkin, who is set to retire in December.
In the supervisor race, a pair of newcomers — Steven Ringelberg and Tara Toner — will face off. Three candidates, including incumbent Patrick Dietrich and newcomers Michael Koeman and Mark Timmerman, are running for two trustee positions.
Jim Johnson is running unopposed for treasurer.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Races to watch in Ottawa, Allegan counties in primary election
