No OI signs have been popping up in Grand Haven and around the county, but not very many people even know what they mean. OI stands for Ottawa Impact. Ottawa Impact was formed during COVID as a citizen response to government overreach. During the 2022 election cycle, leaders of Ottawa Impact formed several political actions committees (PAC) that were used to sponsor local candidates. Among them were nine candidates running to be Ottawa County commissioners.
Sylvia Rhodea
Joe Moss
Gretchen Cosby
Allison Miedema
Roger Belknap
Lucy Ebel
Jacob Bonnema
Rebecka Curran
Jenni Shephard-Kelly
Out of the nine county commissioner candidates, all except one, Jenni Shephard-Kelly in the City of Grand Haven, won their races. Since being sworn in, six of these commissioners have followed through on their campaign promises which included:
Promote and protect liberty
Govern with the least force
Promote due process
Defend the moral responsibility of parents
Honor all people equally
Use common sense
These elected officials have made decisions in the best interests of the PEOPLE of Ottawa County as opposed to decisions that tend to result in the growth of government. Since the election, it has become evident that Jacob Bonnema does not stand for the values of faith, family, and freedom, which was the foundation of the Ottawa Impact campaign. In fact, Bonnema has been censured by the Ottawa County Republican Party and by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. Since being sworn in, Rebekah Curran has also voted inconsistently with her campaign promises.
Despite standing strong with foundational Constitutional values, Ottawa Impact has been framed as extreme by the main stream media, and especially the Holland Sentinel. Numerous articles have appeared referring to Ottawa Impact as “an extremist organization,” and calling the supporters “far-right.” According to the Simply American article 75 articles and counting – the barrage is real:
“In 13 articles, the following false statements were repeated almost word for word:”
‘Ottawa Impact is an upstart far-right political group born from the clashes over the county’s COVID-19 mitigation mandates in 2020. Its founders, Moss and Rhodea, were unsuccessful in suing the previous board of commissioners and the county’s former health officer.’ “
(1:09:29) Joan Baily, an Ottawa County resident, noted the shifting political designation of “extreme” during public comment at the July 26, 2023 Ottawa County Board of Commissioner meeting.
“I’ve been a moderate my whole life. I used to be a Democrat when I was young, and the Democratic Party was more normal, but they have become so unhinged that I just can’t align with it anymore. I’m really tired of the media, calling people like me, that support Ottawa Impact, extreme. I am not extreme. I’m a moderate, so that narrative just gets blown out of the water. There is a lot of people like me who have also left the Democratic Party because of the lunacy of it. It’s ridiculous.
Look at this recall for Lucy, which is unbelievable. [] It’s against the people who elected Lucy. Furthermore, if you want to be in recall season, what about Commissioners Zylstra and Bergman who both voted against the child resolution to protect kids. Both of them also voted against this whole YAS ordeal, and Mr. Bergman specifically said ‘wow, we usually have these questions answered in private before the meeting.’ I couldn’t believe it! Talk about a lack of transparency. I mean honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
It has become common for local leftist political activists to label anyone who doesn’t agree with them as stooges for Ottawa Impact, and to even blame unbecoming and potential criminal behavior on Ottawa Impact. For example, antisemitic flyers left on door steps were quickly labeled as OI propaganda, but door bell cameras helped police figure out it was actually a man from Flint who left the flyers.
In addition, Ben Genser, running for mayor of Grand Haven, has been called Ottawa Impact, yet he has no affiliation with OI. One candidate who was sponsored by Ottawa Impact, Lucy Ebel, has become the target of a recall. The reason for the recall is that Ms. Ebel voted “for a motion to correct the previous Board of Commissioner’s December 13, 2022 Resolution,” as stated in the recall petition paperwork. She is being recalled for making a correction — not because she did anything illegal, immoral or unethical. She is being recalled because the activist left does not like the way she voted.
(26:20) During an interview on the Homes Politicast, Grand Haven mayoral candidate Bob Monetza was asked how things have changed with the county since the new commissioners took over. Other than noting the DEI office being defunded, he struggled to answer the question.
Here are the governing principles and the Contract with Ottawa that each Ottawa Impact county commissioner candidate signed back in 2022:
I ask you, what is objectionable to these principles and the contract? What is wrong with wanting a government that is limited in its power? What is wrong with parents’ rights? What is wrong with following the Constitution? I thought these were no-brainer ideals that everyone learned in high school government class. Lately, it seems a very vocal portion of the citizenry wants, even demands, to be blindly led by an all-powerful, unaccountable, big nanny government. Well, sorry, but Ottawa Impact is resetting county government back to its proper role, and a resounding majority of Ottawa County citizens VOTED for it.
It’s ironic that the same people who claim to believe in inclusivity, fly rainbow flags, place ‘Love is Love’ signs in their yards, and insist Ottawa is a county “where you belong,” seem to be the same people putting up signs that seek to ban Ottawa Impact.
