Letters to the Editor
Kim Nagy proud to be public, represent public
Kim Nagy, candidate for the state Senate District 31, is proud of the term “public.” Kim is a proud public school teacher who promises to communicate clearly and regularly with the public as a public servant, if elected as a state senator.
Kim has her roots in West Michigan. She graduated from Grand Haven High School and from Hope College. A 24-year resident of Jenison, Kim is a dedicated mother, musician and teacher. Ms. Nagy has worked as a public school teacher for 26 years and as a small business owner for 18 years. She understands the kitchen-table issues that face working families every day. Kim Nagy values a strong community with solid infrastructure and order where education is a priority, and residents cherish a sense of belonging. Kim promises to focus on solutions as she perseveres through issues affecting Michigan and its residents.
Ms. Nagy values democracy and strong voting rights. She is alarmed by the 20 some election “reform” bills that her opponent, Sen. Roger Victory, has sponsored. His bills would greatly restrict voting rights with outrageous measures like the elimination of drop boxes and the prohibition of accessing applications for absentee ballots on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.
Smart and selfless, Kim is pro-fact, pro-reality and pro-truth. For excellence in a state senator for District 31, vote for Kim Nagy on Nov. 8!
Jo BirdHolland
Judge Voet a great choice for Court of Appeals
As an attorney and law professor, I am often asked who to vote for in judicial elections. This November is one such election. For the Michigan Court of Appeals, my recommendation is simple. I will be voting for Judge Raymond Voet.
Although I know both judges who are running, I have known Judge Voet, not only in his current capacity as a judge in Ionia County, but in his former position as a prosecutor back when I was a young police officer. I have had the opportunity to appear in front of Judge Voet multiple times as an attorney and, while there have been times when I have disagreed with his rulings (which is normal for any judge), I have found that he really tries to be fair.
Judge Raymond Voet is running for an open seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals and I believe he is the best candidate for that position. The Court of Appeals is tasked with reviewing decisions of lower courts, such as a district court or circuit court. Having been a district court judge for many years, Judge Voet has presided over thousands of cases. He has also served as the Chief Judge of the courts in Ionia County and has even taken on additional duties as the judge of specialty courts, including Sobriety Court and Veteran’s Court. Through these specialty courts, Judge Voet has allowed defendants to work toward rehabilitation while focusing on the root cause of the act that brought them to court in the first place. Under his guidance, many good folks who have made bad decisions have graduated Judge Voet’s programs to become well productive members of society again.
While a lot of emphasis is placed on political sides during this election season, the race for Court of Appeals Judge is non-partisan. The importance of selecting the right candidate is great, however. The Judicial Branch of our state government is often overlooked until things go wrong and the rule of law is called upon. This is why electing the right candidate for the Court of Appeals is imperative.
My vote and my recommendation is for Judge Raymond Voet. On Nov. 8, I will vote for Voet.
Edward SternishaGrand Rapids
What is your Republican Party present day?
So, you’re a Republican. You vote Republican and you support Republican candidates for office with yard signs or monetary donations. Voting for anyone other than a Republican is an impossibility for you.
It is your party! So what is your Republican Party today? Is it still the party that elected people like Eisenhower, Reagan ... both Bushes? The party that elected Paul Henry, Fred Upton, Bill Milliken and John McCain? Or is this your party?
The party that supports an ex-resident of the White House who was twice impeached, openly and shamelessly lied thousands of times, bragged about assaulting women and continues to promote anger and disunity and a false election result. The party of candidates for office in every state who would force a child who was raped to give birth and force a woman to give birth even though it would cost her her life.
A party that in 2020 would not create nor publish a platform of policies and legislation it supported (largely because it had none). A party that supports a candidate for the U.S. Senate who paid for an abortion for a woman who he had sex with and is hardly capable of putting together consecutive sentences that make any sense (sending clean air to China).
A party that has candidates for office at the state and local level that participated in the January 6 riot at the nation’s capitol. A party whose followers have openly threatened the lives of election officials in a number of our states. A party that supports giving state legislatures the power to overturn the results of elections when the results do not favor their candidates for national office. This would clearly be the end of our democracy and representative government.
These issues only scratch the surface of the depth to which the Republican party has sunk since Donald Trump became their “golden calf.”
Yup, that’s your party if you are a Republican today. Morals, ethics, honesty, integrity take a back seat to the power derived from election victory. No concern for the future of the nation, but only for the preservation of privilege. Shame on the U.S. if this is the legacy of the next election.
Rich HerbigHamilton
Danielle Smith a wise choice for Ottawa County Commission
The Nov. 8 election has never been more important for the citizens of Ottawa County.
Our county is one of the best-run counties in Michigan. We have lived in other counties and states and have been here in Ottawa County for 30 years. Ottawa County is a wonderful place to live, with excellent opportunities for individuals, families and businesses to thrive. Our current commissioners have worked hard to create programs and services that benefit all its citizens while remaining fiscally prudent.
We are supporting Danielle Smith for District 1 Ottawa County Commissioner.
Danielle is a successful business executive with extensive experience in working with complex budgets, managing global operations and making complicated and far-ranging decisions.
She is a consensus builder, focused on and experienced in working collaboratively
Danielle is deeply committed to the interests of all the citizens of Ottawa County, and is not focused on a single issue agenda.
Danielle is a working mom who understands the challenges of balancing work and family for today's families.
We will be voting for Danielle Smith on Nov. 8 and we hope everyone in District 1 will also!
Lynn and Fred RutanHolland
Nancy DeBoer an excellent candidate
Please consider voting for Nancy DeBoer as our Michigan 86th district representative in Lansing.
As a former two-term mayor of Holland and a four-term Holland City Council member at large before that Nancy has acquired a tremendous experience working with people from all walks of life. She has excellent skills bringing people together to get things done in a pragmatic and expeditious manner.
As a former Holland mayor Nancy raised significant private funds for several city projects like the Civic Center expansion and renovation, and the residential/business revitalization of the West Eighth Street segment of the downtown area, while minimizing the use of taxpayers' money.
As a former school teacher, Nancy is a strong advocate of school choice and parental oversight as part of the checks and balances in our K-12 education system.
An avid promoter of clean energy Nancy DeBoer actively supported legislative ideas for cleaning and preserving the ecosystems of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan that directly impacted the Holland area. Under her mayoral leadership Holland converted its power plant from coal to a much cleaner natural gas source.
Nancy DeBoer's integrity and honesty, and her strong belief in serving the Holland area community with humility and understanding makes her in my opinion, an ideal person to represent 86th District in Lansing.
Mihai CraioveanuHolland
DeBoer is my choice for State House
With the results of this year’s primary campaign now in the history books and as absentee voting begins for the final election on Nov. 8, the citizens of the Holland community have the opportunity to again support compassionate and visionary representation for our new 86th District House Seat in Lansing. Emerging victorious in the Republican race last spring was my long time neighbor, my former Holland City Council colleague, the former Mayor of the city that I love and my friend, Nancy DeBoer.
Since the very first day that Nancy took her seat on the city council I have been impressed with her heartfelt passion and commitment to support and to lead initiatives that build stable families, safe neighborhoods, strong schools, vital businesses and superior public infrastructure.
Building upon the foundation built by her predecessors of local elected and appointed officials, business leaders and volunteers, Nancy lifted our community with the addition of a newly expanded Civic Center, the expansion of our downtown to the north, west and south and the opening of a new world class natural gas electric power plant that will provide clean and green electric power that will fuel our community, light and heat our homes and power our manufacturing sector through the rest of this century … and beyond.
Nancy DeBoer’s accomplishments are in fact her public record. Her public and private lives are an open book. There is no doubt about who she is and the life she has led.
I always appreciate and admire citizens who choose public service but Nancy’s opponent in this most important election has a record as well.
I just read about it in local media.
Al McGeehanRetired mayor, City of Holland
Ottawa judges announce election endorsement
Earlier this year, the Legislature and governor created a fifth judgeship in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. This action confirmed what the Michigan Supreme Court's State Court Administrative Office recognized in its 2019 Judicial Resources Report — that Michigan’s seventh largest and fastest-growing county needed another judge. The new judge, to be elected by the voters on Nov. 8, will be assigned to the Family Division of the Court, and will take office Jan. 1.
We, the undersigned judges of the 20th Circuit Court Family Division, the Ottawa Probate Court and the 58th District Court in Ottawa County, understand the importance of Family Division cases. We encourage the voters of Ottawa County to elect a judge who knows and understands the law, who has relevant experience in the field of family law, and just as important, has the temperament and character to patiently hear the disputes brought before the court, to treat all those appearing in court with grace and dignity and to apply the law fairly and without favor.
We believe Paul Kraus is well qualified to assume the duties of a family division judge of the 20th Circuit Court. He has appeared in our courtrooms, both as an attorney representing persons in domestic relations and other matters, and as an assistant prosecutor prosecuting cases of child abuse and neglect. He knows the law and treats people with respect and dignity. While judges are prohibited by the Code of Judicial conduct from endorsing partisan political candidates, a judicial election is a nonpartisan election. We are pleased to endorse Kraus for the new seat on the Ottawa County Circuit Court.
Hon. Jon A. Van Allsburg, Chief Judge, 20th Circuit CourtHon. Mark A. Feyen, Chief Probate Judge, presiding judge, 20th Circuit Family DivisionHon. Kent D. Engle, 20th Circuit JudgeHon. Craig E. Bunce, 58th District JudgeHon. Jon Hulsing, Circuit Judge, 20th Circuit Court
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Kim Nagy proud to be public, represent public
