Bocks secures re-election, council seats go to Raymond, Rowan, Shea and Schultheis

HOLLAND — Nathan Bocks has been re-elected mayor of the city of Holland.

Bocks comfortably defeated challenger Larry Shattuck, 4,924 votes to 2,370, according to unofficial tallies.

"Very excited for the future of Holland," Bocks told The Sentinel on Tuesday. "I think the people of Holland sent a resounding message that they like the direction the city is heading in. I'm excited to work with the new council and work on the great projects we have both underway right now and in the works for years to come."

With victory in hand, Bocks said he'll turn his attention to the future.

"We haven't had an official vote on the ice skating rink yet, so that's one thing I think is going to be coming up in the near future. We'll also see Waterfront Holland move back into the forefront with lots of opportunities for public input, as well as the new opinions and new voices of the new councilmembers that will be there."

The results were despite Shattuck being the top fundraiser of the campaign cycle, raising $40,730. Bocks was the second-highest fundraiser, bringing in $26,108.08. Shattuck was one of several candidates who reported donations from individuals who contributed to the Ottawa Impact or Ottawa Education PACs in 2022, the most recent donor data available on the county's campaign finance portal website.

The other candidates who accepted those donations include council candidates Benjamin Attema, Mike Short and Ryan Spencer, none of whom were elected Tuesday.

Four seats on Holland City Council up for election, three of which were contested.

Incumbent Lyn Raymond won her seat in the second ward handily, taking home 752 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Write-in candidate Orlando Estrada earned 63 votes.

Michael Schultheis and Spencer competed for the at-large seat Raymond previously held, with Schultheis victorious at 4,246 votes to 2,527.

“It’s an honor being selected by our community to serve in this capacity," Schultheis wrote in a statement. "I hope to exceed the expectations of our residents and ask that they hold me accountable. I’m excited to get to work."

Spencer told The Sentinel he called Schultheis on Tuesday to congratulate him on the victory and said he appreciated those who voted for him.

"I thank my voters and the people of Holland for supporting me, those that did, and I thought Mike and I ran a pretty classy race," he said.

Kim Rowan and Short faced off for the fourth ward. Rowan won the seat, 903 votes to 838.

Attema and Devin Shea competed for the sixth ward. Shea won the seat, 786 votes to 581.

Following the election, Attema congratulated Shea on his victory and said he wishes him discernment and wisdom as he serves on council.

"I have been prepared and at peace with facing losing the election," Attema wrote in an email to The Sentinel. "(It's) not like an exam where you can get a B even if you don’t ace the test. What I did not expect was the hunt for an OI connection and the desire to channel negative energy towards a candidate. I lament the attack on my integrity and the desire to lump me in as part of an extreme conservative movement.

"I am just me … a father of a young family ... who cares about this community. I love this city and I will continue to be engaged with it. Blessings to Devin and the other new members."

Shattuck, Short, Rowan and Shea did not immediately return requests for comment.

The newly elected councilmembers will serve four-year terms.

— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Bocks secures re-election, council seats go to Raymond, Rowan, Shea and Schultheis