Grand Haven votes to retain Board of Light and Power, plus other lakeshore decisions

WEST MICHIGAN — There were plenty of uncontested elections, ballot proposals and bond proposals along the lakeshore on Tuesday, outside Holland.

Three city council members and the mayor in Zeeland were re-elected after running unopposed. Sally Gruppen, Phung Lam and Mary Beth Timmer will each serve another four-year term, while Mayor Kevin Kylnstra will serve another two-year term.

Gruppen received 706 votes, Timmer had 668 and Lam had 623. Klynstra received 743 votes.

In Fennville, all four four-year city commission terms were left to write-in candidates. Only four candidates filed as write-ins for the election — incumbents Shawn Machan and John Jamros and newcomers Sarah Sliter and Carlos Lopez.

There were 162 write-in votes cast in Fennville. Although the names written on those ballots aren't yet available, only votes for registered candidates count — meaning one vote will be enough for election.

Incumbents Dan Rastall and Jim Hayden did not seek re-election in Fennville.

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In Saugatuck, three two-year council seats were up for grabs. Although four names were on the ballot, incumbent Garnet Lewis said last month she was no longer seeking election, as she plans to move outside city limits.

Remaining candidates included incumbent Russ Gardner and newcomers Holly Anderson and Logan White. Anderson received 250 votes, followed by Gardner with 244 and White with 223. Lewis received 54 votes.

Douglas City Council saw two candidates, incumbents Jerry Donovan and Cathy North, running for three two-year terms. Both were re-elected, with North receiving 274 votes and Donovan receiving 269.

There were 53 write-in votes cast. Frances Ann Ray was the lone registered write-in candidate, meaning one valid vote will be enough to earn her the remaining seat.

In Grand Haven, Bob Monetza was elected to a two-year term as mayor, defeating Andrea Hendrick. Monetza received 60.9% of the vote to Hendrick's 39.1%.

A pair of four-year terms on Grand Haven City Council went to incumbents Ryan Cummins and Mike Fritz over newcomers DeAnna Lieffers and Steve Skodack. Fritz had 2,483 votes, while Cummins had 1,993. Skodack finished with 1,549 votes and Lieffers with 970.

A charter amendment in Grand Haven to dissolve the city's Board of Light and Power was handily voted down. Out of nearly 4,000 votes, 70.3% voted against the proposed charter change, while 29.7% voted in support.

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Two six-year seats on the Grand Haven Board of Light and Power were available, with John David Groothuis, John A. Kinch, Kurt Knoth and Michael Welling in the running. Welling and Knoth earned election with 31.9% and 23.9% of the vote, respectively. Groothuis earned 23.1% of the vote and Kinch won 21.1% percent of the vote.

A pair of bond proposals for Grand Haven Area Public Schools were voted down.

Proposal I, a 1.92 mills, $118.3 million ask, had 55.8% opposition among 13,182 votes. It would've paid for a new middle school, security improvements, buses, technology and more.

A second proposal asking for 0.55 mills and $28.7 million received more support, but was still rejected. Proposal II was voted down by 53.5% of the voters. Projects would have included a new athletic complex at Grand Haven High School and upgrades to the performing arts and music departments.

Voters rejected a bond from GHAPS in May by about 500 votes.

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Meanwhile, in Coopersville, incumbents Renee Gavin and Tim Degeus and newcomer Daniel Bowman were elected to four-year terms on city council. Gavin received 372 votes, Degeus earned 354 and Bowman had 247.

Other candidates were Jason Tuttle (208 votes), Jillian Poelma (143 votes) and Michael Karasinski Jr. (90 votes).

Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northrup and councilmembers Toben DeVree, David Nyitray and Philip Leerar all ran unopposed for re-election to four-year terms.

— Contact Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Grand Haven votes to retain Board of Light and Power, plus other lakeshore decisions