Kendra Wenzel Appointed District 6 County Commissioner
Kendra Wenzel was appointed as the new Ottawa County District 6 commissioner on December 12, 2023. Former District 6 Commissioner Kyle Terpstra turned in his resignation on November 16, 2023, due to changes in his family situation. Wenzel has been an active volunteer for the Ottawa County Republican Party and is currently an elected precinct delegate.
On Tuesday December 5, 2023, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to determine which applicants to the vacant commissioner position would receive interviews. Candidate resumes can be viewed in the December 5, 2023, meeting packet. The following eleven candidates were considered:
Joel Buck
Kelly Coll
George Edwin Pio
Shawn Haff
Caden Hembrough
Lynn Janson
Joseph Parnell McCarter
Daniel Scripsema
David Van Kley
Roger Vanderklock
Kendra Wenzel
From the initial list of eleven candidates, five were selected to be interviewed on Friday December 8, 2023. All five candidates seemed to hold America, the Constitution, and our country’s founding principles in high regard, and all appeared to be conscientious citizens intent on serving the residents of Ottawa County. Click on their individual names below to view their interviews.
As most of you know, there has been a spotlight on Ottawa County since six Ottawa Impact supported commissioners began taking a close look at county financing, programs, and contracts. False narratives have been spun by individuals opposed to the new commissioners and these stories have been widely disseminated by main stream media. During the process of appointing a replacement commissioner, there was yet another attempt to paint the Ottawa Impact supported commissioners in a negative light.
It was just before the interviews were conducted that another round of turmoil was manufactured by Commissioner Jacob Bonnema when he posted on social media that Chairman Moss denied “commissioners the opportunity to submit questions,” and “It is concerning that the public was only allowed to witness what Chairman Moss deemed appropriate for them to see.” It is ironic that a sitting commissioner so immensely concerned about the manner of the proceedings could not even show up to the interviews.
Commissioner Allison Miedema addressed the latest misinformation spread by Commissioner Bonnema during the December 12, 2023, meeting and Commissioner Bonnema was once again not present. (4:22:40), “I wish Commissioner Bonnema was here at the moment as I thought he would be. I want to first tell you [Commissioner Moss] it’s not okay for the treatment and lies that continue to be said about you. Specifically, the lies that were told about you by Commissioner Bonnema to the media and on his county commissioner Facebook page about the interview process. You sent out a copy of all proposed interview questions the day before the county commissioner interviews took place. Prior to the interviews, did commissioner Bonnema ever reach out to you to provide any feedback on the interview process or the questions to be asked?”
Commissioner Moss responded, “No.”
Commissioner Miedema continued, “So last week Friday, prior to the interviews taking place, each of us as commissioners had an opportunity to be present, and to weigh in on our thoughts for the process, along with the questions. Three county commissioners were not present, and that included Commissioner Bonnema. I only bring up his absence because of the lies and slander he has spread. One commissioner shared a question about the interview process; Commissioner Curran, and Commissioner Moss explained his reasons why he would recommend not asking additional questions to certain interviewees. Commissioner Curran responded with, ‘that’s fair.’ With no other concerns or feedback, we voted on the process as a board and that process passed unanimously. If a board member had concerns with the proposed interviews, proper process would be to attend the meeting, challenge the chair, which would then go to the vice-chair and a vote would take place. Mr. Chair, I personally appreciate the work you prepared in having a fair and consistent interview process for all five candidates. Every candidate was treated the same; with respect, the same set of questions and was properly thanked. [] I cannot sit quietly and allow lies or slander to go unexposed.”
Once Commissioner Allison Miedema was finished explaining what really happened before the interview process, she gave the following reason for voting for Wenzel, (4:24:00) “Kendra is already a voted in precinct delegate representing district 6, and has already gained the support of many citizens of that district.”
(4:29:00) Commissioner Roger Bellknap gave his reason for voting for Wenzel, “It requires a very high level of time commitment. Really, that time commitment, the one thing for me that separated the applicant Kendra Wenzel over the others was her response that she can dedicate 40+ hours per week to serve. [] Kendra does have a track record of service and working as a precinct delegate, [] and connecting with people.”
Vice-chair Rhodea added, “Kendra has already put tremendous investment into our community. She has worked really hard for the GOP and personally supporting members of our community.”
Kendra Wenzel stated her reason for getting involved and applying for the commissioner position on her resume. “Witnessing our state gradually depart from its Constitutional foundations, my motivation stems from a goal to encourage greater community engagement and instill a renewed sense of civic duty, encouraging others to step into leadership roles and actively participate in shaping the future of our county.”