Ottawa County administrator candidates drop out for a second time
Tremblay Interview
After another lengthy search process, Ottawa County remains without a permanent county administrator. This is the second time county administrator candidates have withdrawn themselves from consideration near the end of the process. The first time was in December 2024 when the final two candidates withdrew just before the final interviews.
On June 4, 2025, in a meeting filled with disagreement, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (OCBOC) followed the recommendation of the executive search firm Double Haul, and voted to invite five candidates from a pool of thirty-nine to interview for the county administrator position. Although three of the five candidates accepted interview offers, two of them decided to drop out, leaving one remaining candidate. Apparently, Col. Michael Tremblay was already en route to Ottawa County when the last candidate dropped out, and he wanted to proceed with the process. Tremblay was interviewed on June 12, 2025.
Before even interviewing Tremblay, the board decided that they would re-open the selection process. Likewise, Tremblay was open and honest with the board, explaining that he was actively looking at other positions, implying that he may not be available for much longer.
Col. Tremblay, a native of Michigan, has held many leadership roles throughout his military career. During his interview he made it clear he would take direction from the board of commissioners, listen to experts, and remain politically neutral.
For me, the most interesting part of the interview was between the 51-59 minute marks when he talked about his leadership experience during COVID. Until June 2021, he served as the garrison commander at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. He said that where he was, people continued to eat in restaurants, play golf, and to engage in normal activities, while people in America seemed to be losing their minds. In late 2019, approximately 100 people in his garrison became sick with an unknown illness. After investigation, it was determined all had recently been in China. From that point on, a two-week quarantine was implemented for anyone coming into his garrison from the outside.
Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea asked Tremblay about how he saw the relationship between quarantine and civil liberties. He answered by describing the quarantine accommodations: quarantined individuals were kept in apartments that had exercise weights, a refrigerator, hot plate, television, and were delivered three meals per day. In other words, Tremblay felt their quarantine conditions were not overly oppressive, and the loss in personal liberties was a worthy trade-off.
At one point during the interview Commissioner Josh Brugger (1:23:00) asked “who is your we?” referring to Col. Tremblay’s family and home life. As an Ottawa county resident, this question concerns me as I believe it could be interpreted as a means of discrimination.
Commissioner Joe Moss (1:43:20) confronted Tremblay, asking him about a statement he had written saying Ottawa County should have “internal equity audits.” Tremblay said he didn’t recall writing that.
During COVID, Ottawa County residents experienced government overreach and infringement on their individual civil liberties. Residents who questioned authority were dismissed by leadership who relied solely on the recommendations of credentialed experts. Few people in power dared to question or push back against what they perceived as bad policy from a higher authority. I doubt Col. Michael Tremblay will become the next Ottawa County Administrator given the chain of events that has taken place within the candidate selection process. I think he is likely to accept other employment before the Ottawa County search process is complete. However, should Col. Tremblay become the Ottawa County administrator, I believe he will unquestionably strive to implement the vision of the board. Much like our previous county leaders during COVID, I believe he is inclined to execute a higher authority’s vision with little consideration as to its overreach or ethicality.