Gibbs refuses to name executive aide in public. Here's who he is

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify that Reps. Neil Friske and Angela Rigas did not help Rep. Steve Carra form the "Grand New Party" political action committee, however, they appeared at Carra's press conference announcing the PAC and both have donated money to the entity.

OTTAWA COUNTY — Ottawa County's recent hire for senior executive aide is 23-year-old Jordan Epperson, of China Township in St. Clair County.

Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs declined to share Epperson's name with commissioners Tuesday, Aug. 8, saying only that he’d made a hire.

More: Ottawa Impact commissioners approve new senior aide position to assist John Gibbs

Commissioner Jacob Bonnema asked Gibbs for an update Tuesday on the new position, which was narrowly approved by the board in March. Gibbs said the new hire will start Aug. 21.

The news seemed to surprise Bonnema, who asked if the person's name had been made public. Gibbs said he and human resources knew the name. Bonnema asked when the board would find out. Gibbs said he'd let him know “at any time.” Bonnema asked: “How about now?”

“I’m not going to get into that right now,” Gibbs said. “I don’t want it to be a public spectacle.”

But multiple county officials, granted anonymity to protect themselves from retaliation, confirmed to The Sentinel that Epperson has been tapped for the job.

Epperson is a former legislative aide to Northern Michigan State Rep. Neil Friske, a far-right Charlevoix Republican who, along with Grand Rapids Rep. Angela Rigas supported fellow Rep. Steve Carra's formation of the "Grand New Party.” The political action committee supports like-minded candidates in races for state, county and school board positions.

Friske and Carra voted against banning child marriage and conversion therapy practices for LGBTQ+ children — though both measures passed. Friske has also defended the 16 members of the Michigan GOP who allegedly acted as false electors for Donald Trump in 2020, calling them patriots.

According to social media, Epperson is a 2018 graduate of Algonac High School and recent graduate of Michigan State University. Although it wasn't known by publication time what degree he holds, he posted on his Twitter account that he'd been accepted to MSU in 2017 and was planning to pursue a major in criminal justice.

He's linked to several prominent far-right Republicans in the state, including Friske and Carra and former MIGOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock — one of the 16 charged for allegedly acting as a false elector.

Epperson is also linked to Joel Studebaker, former chair of the Ottawa County GOP, who left the position weeks later to become chief of staff for MIGOP Chair Kristina Karamo. She was nominated for the role by Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss.

According to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by a Port Sheldon Township resident and obtained by The Sentinel, the county received 30 applications for the executive aide position between March 28 and May 26. Although the names of the applicants and the dates on which they applied were made available, their applications and resumes were not provided (Epperson applied April 5).

The position upgrades an existing executive assistant job. The change was approved in March by the Ottawa Impact majority on the county board, only two months after Gibbs started as county administrator.

The upgrade came at a cost of $37,349.08, raising the cost for the position to $132,218.89 including benefits. Salary for the position increased from $54,101 to $81,538 — a $27,437 increase.

Those opposed to the position questioned what Gibbs would have left to do between an upgraded assistant and deputy county administrator — a position that became vacant in late July after the resignation of Patrick Waterman.

Gibbs said the position was made necessary by changes on the board, resulting in less consensus.

“I understand that previously most of the votes by the board were 11-0,” Gibbs said in March. “There wasn't necessarily a lot of oversight or deliberations done on decisions.

“Being hands-on versus 11-0 requires more resources and more eyeballs on things. That's one of the reasons I do need this position in an upgraded capacity.”

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Gibbs said the aide would help him take notes during meetings, organize follow-ups and help keep track of who he's met with. He compared the position to a chief of staff role.

The deputy county administrator position was posted Monday, Aug. 7, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. The salary range is $129,416-$162,239.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman and executive editor Sarah Leach at newsroom@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Gibbs refuses to name executive aide in public. Here's who he is