Since being elected, Ottawa County Commissioner Jacob Bonnema has repeatedly violated guidelines which establish appropriate conduct set forth by the Accountability Committee of the Ottawa County Republican Party. These guidelines were established to ensure elected officials act in accordance with their campaign promises and the conservative principles respected by the voters of Ottawa County. The guidelines clearly communicate voter expectations to their elected officials. Accountability guidelines direct Republican elected officials to:
Refrain from repeating ad nauseum options detrimental to the Republican Party.
Avoid encouraging attacks of opposing political activists.
Encourage ideals of the Republican Party.
Enact the Republican platform with voice and vote.
Refrain from unbecoming behaviors such as misconduct, absenteeism, bribery, lying, disloyalty, and working against the Ottawa County Republican Party.
For approximately the past four months, members of the Accountability Committee have been communicating with Commissioner Bonnema through email, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings, expressing their concern with his lack of adherence to these guidelines, as well as his continued inaction to meet these guidelines.
During the June 20, 2023, Ottawa County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting, Jacob Bonnema was censured. The executive committee’s Resolution for Censure for behavior unbecoming of a public servant and violating Republican values cited several specific documented examples of actions taken by Bonnema.
Among the ways Bonnema has not followed accountability committee guidelines include not following his campaign promises by expressing interest in creating a pandemic panel, voting in lock-step with the only Ottawa County Democrat, and defaming Republicans in progressive newspapers. In addition, Commissioner Bonnema initiated an exchange with Administrator Gibbs in front of the press and then proceeded to file a frivolous harassment claim regarding the incident. The claim resulted in an investigation which determined Bonnema’s claim was baseless.
After a thorough discussion, the Ottawa County Republican Party voted to censure Bonnema and remove his party voting rights for the next six meetings. Be sure to read the entire resolution for yourself on the Ottawa County GOP website.