Copyright M Live Michigan
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - West Michigan voters headed to the polls on Tuesday will cast general election ballots for candidates in local races and determine multiple tax requests. City council/commission and several mayoral races will be on the ballot. Ottawa County voters will also decide whether to approve a proposal funding a major renovation to Grand Haven’s public safety building, along with two school district bond requests. Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters can go to Michigan.gov/vote to find their sample ballot and polling location. While the deadline to register to vote online has passed, people can still register in-person at their local city or township clerk’s office. In-person registration is available from now through when polls close at 8 p.m. People must bring proof of eligibility and residency when registering to vote. A list of what can be brought to prove eligibility and residency can be found on the state’s website, at this link. For those wanting to cast their ballots in person during the November election but beat any Election Day lines, Michigan is offering nine days of early voting through Sunday, Nov. 2. Voters can find their local early voting sites and hours at Michigan.gov/EarlyVoting. Here’s a roundup of local races and proposals on Tuesday’s Ottawa County primary ballot: RELATED: Your guide to what’s on Tuesday’s election ballot in Kent County Coopersville Mayor (4-year term) One candidate is running unopposed to become Coopersville’s next mayor. Brian Mooney is the lone candidate in the running to replace incumbent Mayor Ken Bush, who is retiring. Coopersville City Council (4-year terms) Five candidates will vie for three seats on Coopersville’s City Council. The list of candidates includes incumbents Peter Weise, Jillian Poelma and Shane Gerard, along with challengers Jamie Adams and Tiffany Langlois. Ferrysburg Mayor (2-year term) Two candidates are in the running for Ferrysburg’s mayoral seat. Incumbent Richard Carlson is being challenged by Jerry Sias. Ferrysburg City Council (4-year terms) Four candidates are running for three seats on Ferrysburg’s City Council. Incumbents Bill Cate and Debbie Murdoch are being challenged by David Cook and write-in candidate Tim O’Donnell. Grand Haven Mayor (2-year term) Incumbent Grand Haven Mayor Bob Monetz is running unopposed on the Nov. 4 ballot. Grand Haven City Council (4-year terms/partial term) Three candidates are in the running for two, four-year seats on the Grand Haven City Council. None are incumbents. The candidates on the ballot include Erin Lyon, Sarah Kallio and Dennis Scott. Additionally, one candidate - Mike Dora - will run unopposed for a partial term expiring Nov. 7, 2027. A challenger was on the ballot but withdrew. Grand Haven Board of Light and Power (6-year term/partial term) Two candidates will run for two seats on the City of Grand Haven’s Board of Light and Power. Incumbent Todd Crum will be unchallenged in running for a 6-year seat. Incumbent Phillip Polyak will run unopposed for one partial term expiring Nov. 7, 2027. Grand Haven Department of Public Safety Millage Grand Haven voters are being asked this November to pass a new millage proposal that would fund a major renovation to the city’s Department of Public Safety building, located at 525 Washington Ave. next to city hall. Employee safety concerns about firefighter fumes and air quality issues, on top of a crumbling building, prompted the request. The proposal asks for a 2.0 mills tax levy for 10 years, 2026 through 2035. If approved, the city is expected to take in $1,588,799 in tax revenue the first year, according to city records. Of the tax revenue that’s collected, 65% would go towards facility upgrades. RELATED: Grand Haven seeks millage for public safety building Holland Mayor (2-year term) Two candidates are facing off for the two-year job as mayor of Holland. Third-term incumbent Mayor Nathan Bocks is being challenged by businessman Brian Everitt in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election. RELATED: Holland mayoral candidates talk top priorities ahead of Nov. 4 election Holland City Council (4-year terms) Seven candidates are running for four open seats on the Holland City Council in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election. All four incumbents are running for reelection, and all but one of them will be challenged next month. The seats up for grabs include for Holland’s council member at-large position, where incumbent Quincy Byrd is being challenged by Abby Klomparens. In the First Ward, incumbent Tim Vreeman is being challenged by write-in candidate Linda Falstad. In the Third Ward, incumbent Bylinda Sól is being challenged by Tim Marroquin. Scott Corbin is running unopposed for the Fifth Ward seat. RELATED: Holland City Council election: Candidates share top issues, connecting with residents City of Holland Headlee Override Millage Ballot Proposition Holland voters are being asked to approve a a proposal on the Nov. 4 election ballot to override tax collecting limits set by decades-old legislation. The 1978 Headlee Amendment requires a local government to reduce its millage when annual growth on existing property is greater than the rate of inflation. A Headlee override vote returns the millage to the amount originally authorized. If voters approve the ballot proposal, it would authorize the city to restore the maximum-allowable millage charge, as set by city charter, to 17.5 mills. City leaders say they have no intention of raising the city’s millage rate. RELATED: Holland voters asked to approve Headlee Override to preserve services Hudsonville City Commissioner Six candidates are vying for four open seats on Hudsonville’s City Commission. Two candidates - incumbent Jack Groot and Gabrielle Dunai - are running for a four-year term to fill the Commission’s First Ward seat. In the Second Ward, incumbent Dan Bolhuis is running unopposed to win a four-year term. In the Third Ward, incumbent Larry Brandsen is running unopposed for a four-year term. Also in the Third Ward, incumbent Jeremy Kamp is facing off against challenger Thomas Verstraete to win a partial term expiring Nov. 7, 2027. Zeeland Mayor (2-year term) One candidate is running unopposed to be Zeeland’s next mayor. Richard Van Dorp III will replace retiring Mayor Kevin Klynstra. RELATED: Longtime Zeeland mayor not seeking reelection after 30 years of city service Zeeland City Council (4-year terms) Six candidates are in the running for three seats on Zeeland’s City Council. Names on the ballot include incumbent Glenn Kass, Amy Langeland, Rebecca Perkins, Ericka Humbert, Kylee DeBoer and Andrew Bult. A seventh candidate withdrew from consideration. Fruitport Community Schools Bond Proposal Fruitport Community Schools on Nov. 4 is asking voters to approve a $78.5 million bond to build a new Edgewood Elementary School, update its middle school and two other elementary schools, and make districtwide infrastructure improvements. If approved, the request would authorize the district to borrow $78.5 million to fund the improvements. RELATED: Fruitport schools seek $78.5 million bond for new elementary, districtwide upgrades Grandville Public Schools operating millage renewal The operating millage is needed to provide operating cash to fund day-to-day operations. The current operating millage rate authorized is set to expire in December 2026. Michigan school districts are required to request voters authorize them to levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties - businesses, second homes and commercial property - not primary residences, to receive their full per pupil foundation allowance from the state. Voters are asked to allow the school district to continue to levy the 19 mills. By law districts can’t levy more than 18 mills a year. Grandville Superintendent Roger Bearup said the community authorized the additional 1-mill as a buffer to maintain the millage at 18 mills in case of a future Headlee rollback that would lower the rate below the needed 18 mills. RELATED: Voters to decide Grandville schools tax proposals for operating cash, repairs in November Grandville Public Schools sinking fund millage The proposal is for voters to restore the sinking fund millage to 1.4 mills – or $1.40 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation for a 10-year period spanning from 2027 to 2036. The millage was reduced to 1.3502 after a Headlee rollback. At 1.4 mills, if approved, the district would collect an estimated $3.38 million in 2027. The funds would be used for building and repairing school infrastructure, enhancing security, upgrading technology, and purchasing transportation vehicles. Zeeland Public Schools Bond Proposal Zeeland Public Schools is requesting voters approve a $186 million bond in November, part of an effort to fund district-wide building and safety upgrades through 2035. The bond proposal on the Nov. 4 election ballot would fund improvements or construction on 15 district buildings, including updates to all elementary playgrounds and a reconfiguration of drop off/pickup areas to reduce traffic congestion at three schools. The bond would also fund a new indoor Zeeland Activity Center near both high schools, offering an athletic facility and area for district/community programming. RELATED: Zeeland Schools asking voters for $186M bond to continue facilities upgrades Kent Intermediate School District millage proposal Some Ottawa County voters will be voting on a Kent Intermediate School District (ISD) proposal to approve a 10-year regional enhancement millage that would levy 0.9 mills, or $0.90 on each $1,000 of a home’s taxable value. It will provide funding to local schools for special education, college-readiness programs, career and technical training, and more. If approved, the proposal would renew and increase a millage that’s set to expire in 2026. The ISD would collect the funds levied by the 0.9-mill tax and distribute the money to all public and charter schools within the taxable boundaries of Kent ISD, which together serve nearly 100,000 students. The funding would be distributed to each school based on the student population size. RELATED: Kent County voters asked to renew school millage in Nov. 4 election
