Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As I reflect on the past two years, it has been an honor and a humbling journey to serve as your county commissioner. I have been encouraged by conversations with so many of you, and by your commitment to the heritage and freedoms that make our county such a beautiful place to live!
THE PEOPLE’S CONVENTION 2024—TURNING POINT ACTION
In June, I was invited to attend alongside Ottawa Impact Co-founders, Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea, as they spoke at The People’s Convention in Detroit, a high energy event for a new generation of conservative leaders from all 50 states. The event was hosted by Turning Point Action and Charlie Kirk. Over 8000 people who love God and want to save America converged in Detroit. The event featured important voices, including Ben Carson, Governor Kristi Noem, Candace Owens, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump, and many more.
We were able to share the amazing work of parents here in Ottawa County who are defending their piece of America. I was encouraged that we are inspiring others to courageously stand for the future of their children and America, while working in sync with prominent leaders across our nation. The session was standing room only, and they had to turn people away at the door.
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RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM
I am excited for the opportunity to run for a second term to continue the work that you elected me to do. The next election is August 6, 2024. Please mark your calendar! I am writing to share why it is so important to vote in August, and I hope you will take the time to read this to the end.
As state and national leaders fail to preserve and protect the rights of the people, local government has never been more important. While Michigan is controlled by Governor Whitmer and the Democrat Party, in Ottawa County we have a special opportunity to have local government based on conservative principles. We are cultivating a vibrant community Where Freedom Rings and families thrive!
In 2022, I ran for office after we experienced government overreach into parental rights and individual freedoms during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of us were also concerned with the county’s partnership with divisive DEI organizations which were aligned with the Democrat Party, the Biden administration, and declining cities like Portland. Living in one of Michigan’s most conservative counties, this should not be.
PRIORITIZING FREEDOM AND FAMILY
When the new Board took office in 2023, we committed to protect individual freedoms, parental rights, and American values. We closed the divisive DEI Department—focusing on merit and excellence instead of progressive ideology and identity characteristics—and changed the county vision statement to Where Freedom Rings.
We also hired a new county administrator and county attorney, as those who previously held those positions had made it clear they would not work cooperatively with the new conservative Board. Additionally, the attorney had informed the Board he intended to retire once his replacement could be found. The Board hired a team of constitutional attorneys who prioritize freedom and improved the county’s processes and procedures, which was greatly needed.
Over the past 18 months, the new Board has worked hard to protect the heritage of Ottawa County. Careful discernment has been used when approving grants, paying attention to any harmful strings attached.
The Board also passed numerous resolutions, setting important policy direction and priorities for the county. These resolutions included: the Constitutional County Resolution, Resolution to Protect Childhood Innocence, Adoption Day Resolution, Heroes of Freedom Resolution, Resolution on Childhood Vaccine Waivers for School and Childcare, Resolution to Promote Life, and Autism Awareness Month Resolution.
Ottawa County had a clean audit for FY2023, with no budgetary overages. The county’s bond rating was evaluated in early 2024, and the county maintained its AAA bond rating. Ottawa County is in excellent financial health, with over $200 million in assets.
The new Board adopted a FY2024 budget with one of the smallest increases in recent history, at 3.59%. Within the same budget, the Board expanded the Department of Veterans Affairs to better reach and serve veterans, increased law enforcement pay to improve retention, and passed a $14.3M Health Department budget—the second highest in recent history—rejecting some Covid grants as the emergency was over. The Capital Improvement Plan included approval of funding for body cameras and prioritized ADA compliance across county buildings.
I welcome you to listen to the 2024 State of the County Address, which outlines the many positive accomplishments of county staff and the Board, and is available on my blog at allisonmiedema.com/watch.
Comprehensive priorities for the future of Ottawa County are outlined in the Pro America Policy Agenda of the new Contract with Ottawa, which is also available on my website. I am excited to continue the work to cultivate Ottawa County to be a place Where Freedom Rings and families thrive!
DEMOCRAT LAWFARE AND ACTIVIST MEDIA
The courageous actions of the new Board attracted the attention of Democrat activists and media, resulting in Democrat activist lawfare and over 300 hit pieces written against the conservative Board by local, state, and national media groups. The former Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party sued us (and lost twice). Board members were maligned and called far-right, extremists, fundamentalists, and Christian Nationalists—the latest labels for Hillary’s “deplorables.” These were attempts to intimidate the Board and erase people’s confidence in the everyday Americans they elected in 2022.
When Republicans act with courage and keep their promises, it’s natural for the Left to be alarmed.
Ottawa County is the tip of the spear. Ottawa is critical to Michigan, and Michigan is pivotal to our nation. The radicalized Democrat Party knows this, and infiltrated beautiful Ottawa County under prior Boards.
2024 ELECTION—DEMOCRAT PARTY CHAOS
In 2022, the Democrats lost their foothold in Ottawa County. They are now actively working to install Democrats and weak Republicans they can control, and creating chaos in order to do so.
In addition to the Democrats, the weak Republicans who previously controlled the Republican Party in Ottawa County were also upset by the everyday Americans who were elected to protect freedom and family. Many of these power brokers are now actively and publicly working with Democrats—under the brand of Conservative Ottawa—to unseat the courageous Republican commissioners elected in 2022.
Not only are weak Republicans running against the new Board in the Republican primary, but in some districts there are Democrats literally running as Republicans as well. Democrat voters are publicly being encouraged to cross over and vote in the Republican primary in an effort to manipulate the Republican primary outcome.
Numerous groups and alliances have sprung up with the intention of confusing and overriding the will of Republican voters in 2024. These groups and their candidates are committed to the “common good” (a socialist value), “good governance” (a get-along, do-nothing, UniParty model), and restoring DEI to the county bureaucracy (a part of the Democrat agenda).
REPUBLICAN PARTY AND RIGHT TO LIFE ENDORSEMENTS
Due to the Democrat efforts to manipulate the Republican primary, the Ottawa County Republican Party chose to endorse courageous Republicans in the primary who will actively uphold the Party platform—not weak or fake Republicans. You can see the endorsements at ottawagop.org.
I am thankful to have the confidence and exclusive endorsement of the Ottawa County Republican Party in the 2024 election!
In addition, Right to Life has exclusively endorsed me in this race. I remain passionate about protecting the innocence of children and the sanctity of all life. In the Board’s recent Resolution to Promote Life, the Board encouraged individuals and communities to promote life, protect the unborn, provide resources for expectant mothers, and support organizations which assist mothers and fathers with life-affirming decisions.