The Ottawa County Commissioners are generous, trusting, likable, community members that want everyone to get along. They want the best for everyone, which is likely why they agreed to create and fund the DEI Office. Unfortunately, they did not take the time to understand the goals of the DEI Office, nor did they understand the ramifications for their actions.
Greg Dejong has been an Ottawa County Commissioner since 2010 and Matt Fenske is in his 10th two-year term. Ottawa County joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) in 2015, yet both of these commissioners who voted for the creation of the DEI Office and were in office when Ottawa County joined GARE had difficulty answering questions regarding GARE.
Ottawa County Commissioners assume that people opposed to the DEI Office are opposed to interacting with people who are different from themselves. The county spends in the neighborhood of $200,000/year on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office, yet when asked about success of DEI, the commissioners talk about how Latinos now feel welcome at county parks rather than any real metrics that show progress. Most people opposed to the DEI Office see it as a waste of tax payer dollars, and as an office using tax payer dollars to push a dangerous political ideology.
This 8 minute video featuring Ottawa County Commissioners Matt Fenske and Greg Dejong is a collection of clips from interviews they did with the Homes Politicast on June 16, 2022 and June 27, 2022.
Ottawa County Commissioners Matt Fenske and Greg Dejong Discuss Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
You can watch the complete interviews below.
Full Interview: Interview with Matt Fenske Ottawa County Commissioner and Board Chair, June 16, 2022
Full Interview: Mr. Greg Dejong of Ottawa County MI. Interview, June 27, 2022