As the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners (OCBOC) attempted to hire a new administrator to lead the county, the final two candidates both withdrew themselves from consideration. First candidate James Freed, current City Manager of Port Huron, withdrew his application two weeks before the final interviews were scheduled to take place, explaining that, after reflecting, he and his wife realized that they want to raise their two little girls in Port Huron. Next, James Lower, current city manager of Sparta, withdrew his application stating:
“members of the incoming board majority began reaching out to me, both directly and indirectly, to express that I would not be given a fair opportunity to succeed in this role. They explained that, regardless of my qualifications or efforts, they were committed to terminating or otherwise forcing out whoever is hired. This would be the case even if it resulted in significant costs to taxpayers through severance payments, search fees, and renewed turmoil. While I was assured this was “not personal,” it would undoubtedly impact my family and career.”
During the November 25, 2024, Ottawa County Executive Transition Committee meeting, commissioners read a prepared statement and the letters from the two candidates who are withdrawing their applications.
The commissioners stated, “After James Freed withdrew his candidacy on Thursday of last week, Jim Lower became publicly known as the final candidate to be considered for permanent county administrator. Jim Lower shared with us that once this happened, he began receiving intimidating phone calls from John Teeples and Jacob Bonnema.”
John Teeples, incoming Ottawa County Board of Commissioner from District 7 is scheduled to begin serving in January 2025, and denies this claim. While he acknowledges that he spoke with Lower, he claims Lower reached out to him. At the OCBOC meeting which took place the day after the Executive Transition Committee meeting, John Teeples gave public comment explaining what happened. Because public comments are limited to three minutes Teeples was cut-off and unable to complete his statement during the first opportunity for public comment. Therefore, he spoke again at the end of the meeting to finish his statement.
(33:05) John Teeples, “Mr. Chairman, yesterday you publicly blamed me for intimidating Lower into withdrawing his candidacy for next county administrator, and said that I had acted unethically. I find it interesting, that throughout my almost 40-year career, as a lawyer and public servant, no one has ever, ever called me a liar or unethical until I decided to run for office. Then it’s by people like yourselves, who do not know me, that I’ve never worked for, that jump to conclusions without facts.
Let me set the record straight. I never reached out to, nor called Jim Lower, and had no intentions of ever doing so. In fact, he called me last Friday night around 8:30 pm as part of his due diligence as to whether or not to accept the job. I never asked anyone to talk with him, and did not direct him to anyone else. He essentially wanted to know if his job was secure once the new commission was sworn into office in January. I told him that I could not speak for the other commissioner elects, but I personally did not feel it would be fair to him, or to his family, to fire him, simply because he had accepted the job under these circumstances, and that I surely did not and would not hold it against him for doing so. I also expressed my belief that the other commissioner elects would likewise treat him fairly, because I told him, they are good people.
However, I also told him that I would expect that there would be a new recruitment and search committee forming next May or so, with community participation like that which existed when John Shay was identified and hired in 2022. Mr. Lower knew that, as a matter of law, the best this board could offer him is a job for a maximum of 12 months, ending December 31, 2025. The county would otherwise expect to have a permanent administrator starting January 2026 if not sooner.
[] He said, that he was hoping that if he did a good job, the new commission would not go through another search process for the next administrator. I told him I would not support that plan. He wanted assurances I simply could not give. (1:03:10) “I never did anything to contact Mr. Lower, but he called me for employment assurances I simply could not give. We never discussed his credentials or qualifications, and he never asked me and I did not offer any opinion as to whether or not he should accept the job under the circumstances, but I did recognize him for being aware of, and raising a red flag of uncertainty for his considerations.
Mr. Chair, you blame me and others for you no longer having a candidate for county administrator, but we are not to blame.”
Over the past two years, Ottawa County has been led by two administrators (John Shay and John Gibbs) and two interim administrators (Jon Anderson and Ben Wetmore). Former County Administrator John Shay was released from duty by the incoming BOC in January 2023 due to his leadership during the COVID pandemic. Former County Administrator John Gibbs was placed on administrative leave in February 2024 and later relieved of his duties. According to local reports, “Deputy Administrator Benjamin Wetmore and Administrative Aide Jordan Epperson made allegations that Gibbs acted inappropriately and neglected his job duties.” Gibbs contested the allegations and filed a lawsuit against the county which is still ongoing. Jon Anderson was appointed Interim County Administrator in March 2024 and served until he submitted his resignation in October. Ben Wetmore began serving as Interim Administrator on October 16, 2024, when he was voted in (6-5) by the OCBOC.
With respect to hiring a permanent county administrator, it is possible that both Ottawa Impact commissioners and John Teeples are telling the truth. Lower said he was reached out to both “directly and indirectly.” What does indirectly mean? Who else reached out to him and was this entity truthful with him? It is possible that Lower told the commissioners that Teeples contacted him, but his withdrawal statement did not name anyone specifically. Perhaps Lower was wary that he may be entering an unbecoming political situation and determined it was in his best interest not to get involved.
What is clear is that the Ottawa County Administrator is a powerful position, and political games are being played surrounding the fulfillment of the position. While it is unclear just who is behind the chaos and what the motives are, it is not fair to the citizens of Ottawa County.