Spicy-Hot Takes On Kentwood’s Mayoral And Commission Elections

You might expect a nearly-lifelong Kentwood resident like me to have some thoughts on this year’s elections.

Well, you would be absolutely right. Boy, do I have some thoughts.

After all, my young, economically disadvantaged voice is no less important just because both mayoral candidates have worked against my political endeavors. As Shirley Chisholm said it best: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” This post would be me bringing a folding chair to this election.

I’ll be expressing my thoughts a bit more formally when I vote on November 2. Yes, we all can vote absentee — and if you want or need to, here’s how! — but when I’m not working the polls, I still get a thrill by going to my polling place in person. In the meantime, here’s a view on the election from someone who actually lives here.

The Rise of the Cliques

I don’t ever remember high school being as cliquish as Kentwood politics in the 2010s and 2020s.

Shortly after he was first elected in 2013, Kepley began awarding his campaign supporters, as well as residents involved in the Republican Party, with appointments to various city boards and committees. Beneficiaries of this have included Emily Bridson; Jessica Ann Tyson; and then-Republican Monica Sparks).

Now, each of the candidates in contested Kentwood races are in one of two camps. Kepley’s camp includes incumbent Commissioner-at-Large Betsy Artz; 1st Ward candidate Clarkston Morgan; and Tyson in the 2nd Ward. The Bridson slate includes at-large candidate Leonica Riley Erwin; 1st Ward candidate Meochia Thompson; and 2nd Ward candidate Dan VanderMolen. Incumbent 2nd Ward Commissioner Thomas McKelvey had been the only candidate not on either slate until he lost the primary with just 25% of the vote.

These kinds of cliques are not completely unheard of in Kentwood. In 2015, establishment-backed City Commissioners Stephen Redmond and Bob Coughlin worked together, as did their opponents, Thomas Webb and William Wenzel (whose mailings had the exact same designs as each other).

You’d be forgiven if you thought Kepley’s and Bridson’s slates were essentially the Republican and Democratic tickets, respectively, in this officially nonpartisan election. That’s certainly what some local Democrats would have us think, and indeed, the Kent County Democratic Party formally endorsed Bridson and her slate-mates.

But just as Bridson backed Kepley before, several Democrats have endorsed Artz and/or Morgan — with a few even going with Kepley. The Kent County Black Caucus has endorsed Mayor Kepley and his entire slate. And while Kepley and Tyson are conservative, Artz and Morgan are far more moderate, if not outright Democrats themselves, as I’ll discuss below. If Bridson could support Republicans like Kepley and Amanda Brand (whom Rachel Hood beat for a House seat in 2018), then Democrats can support a person or two on Kepley’s slate. And some Democrats are.

So let’s look at each individual race.

Mayor: Kepley Vs. One Of His Former Supporters

How quickly things have changed.

Just a few years ago, one of Mayor Stephen Kepley’s strongest supporters was Emily Bridson. She attended and promoted a fundraiser for his re-election campaign that was hosted by Steven Law, a conservative operative:

Within a few weeks he rewarded her with a parks and recreation commission appointment. She also spoke highly of Kepley in 2017, even as he faced a challenger endorsed by the Kent County Democratic Party and Labor Council.

Now, Bridson is running against Kepley — and she’s come out swinging at him.

Bridson has rightfully called out Kepley’s lack of leadership on issues like supporting small business; recycling; and public safety. Bridson’s campaign platform also includes expanding Kentwood’s trail network as well as diversifying the city’s boards, committees, and commissions.

Kepley’s platform includes public safety and economic development. He also talks about Kentwood being a “unified community”, citing our diversity. He also had the nerve to say this:

We must continue to focus on these issues and not on national politics that bring divisiveness and separation to our community. This office must remain non-partisan so no one is pushed aside or ostracized because of partisan rhetoric.

This is the same mayor, mind you, who left a seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission vacant for nearly a year in 2015–2016 instead of appointing me (a proud progressive with a history of involvement in the Democratic Party) to that spot. In so doing, Kepley violated a City Charter requirement that committee vacancies be filled within 90 days.

In 2013, he narrowly defeated fellow Republican Sharon Brinks for Mayor, with help from some of the usual suspects of the Republican donor class — people named DeVos, Amash, Frey, and Jandernoa. He has since called for wage and hiring freezes for Rapid workers and appointed Republican Party activists to board and committee positions.

Kepley can count on the support of most Republicans — but also at least a few Democrats. Among his endorsers are his predecessor, former Mayor Richard Clanton; Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss; City Commissioner Maurice Groce; Kent County Commissioner David Bulkowski; and Democratic precinct delegate Michael Loughman. If Bridson is to win, she’ll need to get Democrats to vote who don’t normally vote in odd-year elections — and make sure most of them vote for her instead of the popular incumbent. Luckily for her, many Democratic stakeholders who had been silent in previous Kentwood elections have suddenly come out of the woodwork to back Bridson.

Will Bridson actually bring much change to City Hall? That’s unclear. What’s also unclear is why she has shifted from Kepley backer to Kepley challenger. (I have a hunch or two, but I’ll keep that speculation to myself.) One thing is clear: If Kentwood is to see the change we need, it will be through Bridson.

It is with this hope for change that I will vote for her this fall. But for Kentwood’s sake, Bridson needs to be the truly inclusive Mayor she and her staunchest supporters say she’ll be. My hope is that she will value the opinions of Kentwood residents more than that of people outside of Kentwood — county commissioners from East Grand Rapids, for instance. Then — and only then — can she expect my support for re-election in 2025.

Commissioner-at-Large: Two Great Leaders

Kentwood can’t go wrong with either of our Commissioner-at-Large candidates.

Artz is running for her third full term as a City Commissioner-at-Large after being appointed to fill the seat vacated by Frank Cummings’s death in 2012. She currently manages Celebration Cinema on Kalamazoo Avenue across from the high school. Diversity and business development are among her main priorities as a commissioner. Having seen several Commission meetings, I’ve been impressed by how effectively Artz contributes to discussions, either by asking solid questions or by bringing a perspective that her colleagues might not even think about. Among the Democrats backing Artz are former Mayor Clanton; Commissioner Groce; both of Kentwood’s Kent County Commissioners; and former Kent County Commissioner Betsy Melton.

Erwin’s perspective would also be a value add to the City Commission. A social worker at Wellspring Lutheran Services, she works every day on issues relating to equity, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Her priorities include equity; small business support; housing; and safety. She ran for Kentwood Public School Board last year. Her loss was one of the few disappointments from last year’s election; she was the only one who mounted much of a campaign, but all four incumbents were re-elected in what can be seen as a sign of residents’ support for our schools. (If there was an open seat, I have little doubt she would’ve won.) Equity PAC and the Kent County Democratic Party are among her endorsers.

I wouldn’t fault you for whomever you support. Both are really, really outstanding people. It’s almost a shame they’re running against each other, since one of them will lose. Kentwood residents would be well-served by whomever wins.

Ward 1: We’re Getting More Diversity Either Way

As a resident of Ward 1 myself, I feel like we’re the ‘forgotten ward.’

While city leaders talk about investment in the eastern part of the city — along 28th or Broadmoor, for example — the area near 52nd and Eastern (the heart of Ward 1) has gotten little attention since Family Fare moved out in 2009. The city hosted a series of planning meetings and design charrettes with LINC UP in 2010, but nothing has come out of that.

So it’s important to me that whichever candidate wins this open seat is focused on truly advocating for the 1st Ward and its residents.

Morgan is the COO of a construction company and an assistant pastor. Mayor Kepley has appointed him to three of Kentwood’s committees. He wants to tap into Kentwood’s diversity and make sure that people’s views are lifted up in the city’s decision-making process. He is concerned about what he sees as the rise of partisan politics at City Hall. Morgan is, without a doubt, sincere in his beliefs and his commitment to Kentwood.

But Thompson is the one who has really impressed me. She owns a publishing company, hosts a radio show, and volunteers in schools and at her church. Her detailed platform includes ensuring an equitable response to COVID-19; connecting residents to different opportunities; and improving parks and trails. In this race between two Black candidates (a first in Kentwood history), Thompson has the support of a large number of Black community activists and leaders. When I met with her recently, I was impressed by how much she cared about making a difference and lifting up residents. Thompson can truly bring a fresh perspective that will complement the experience of the current commissioners — and I believe she’s ready to ensure that our ward is no longer forgotten.

Ward 2: The Public Administration Geek Vs. The Complainer

In no other Kentwood race is the difference between the candidates as clear as in the 2nd Ward.

After running as a Republican for Kent County Commission three times (including challenging a Republican incumbent during the tea party wave of 2010), Tyson is now running for a nonpartisan seat rather than face an increasingly Democratic Kentwood electorate with the word “Republican” under her name. A business owner, Tyson leads Michigan’s chapter of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, a conservative organization. She has also been active in the Republican Party at the state and local level, including serving as an officer of the Kent County Republican Party. As mentioned above, Kepley has rewarded Tyson for her Republican involvement by naming her to the board of the city’s Economic Development Corporation. On vote411.org, Tyson listed the “School of Hard Knocks” as part of her educational experience. Much of her messaging has revolved around talking about “selfish leadership” and “politics as usual”. Her platform, meanwhile, is high on feel-good rhetoric but lacking in specifics.

VanderMolen, on the other hand, is a nonprofit executive who has been active in various community activities. A Certified Public Manager through Saginaw Valley State, VanderMolen serves on the advisory board for Kent County Community Action. He has also volunteered with a parent-teacher organization and a neighborhood association. His platform is far more detailed and less ‘puffy’ than Tyson’s and includes ensuring an equitable recovery from COVID-19; collaboration; and lifting up marginalized voices.

To get to the fall election, Tyson and VanderMolen beat incumbent Commissioner Thomas McKelvey in the primary. McKelvey has been an active participant in City Commission debates and discussions since being elected unopposed in 2017. Despite that, Kepley backed Tyson over McKelvey for reasons that are unclear. (Once again, I decline to speculate publicly.)

VanderMolen is the clear choice in this race. It’s not even close. A commissioner who is willing to do the work is preferable to someone who complains about other people or “politics as usual.”

So there you have it — my take on Kentwood’s municipal races.

Obviously I’m more enthusiastic about some candidates than I am about others, but the reality is that four of these candidates are going to win. So I’ll be voting for the 40th time in my life — and no matter who wins, I will keep bringing a “folding chair” (unless Bridson gives me a seat at the table). If you live in Kentwood, I hope you’ll do the same.