Always follow the money: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Campaign Finance records show who the Business Community wants to win elections in the Grand Rapids Area in November

The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, like all Chambers of Commerce, has a long history of supporting political candidates that will represent their interests and the interests of their members, known as the Capitalist Class.

In preparation for the November 8th Election, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has made campaign contributions to several candidates running for seats at the State, County and City of Grand Rapids level.

Here are a list of candidates the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has made campaign contritions to who are running for State seats:

• Mark Huizenga running for the 30th District State Senate seat has received $1300.
• Lynn Afendoulis running for the 81st District State Representative seat has received $300.
• Mike Milanowski running for the 84th District State Representative seat has received $1100.

Here are a list of candidates the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has made campaign contritions to who are running for Kent County Commission seats:

• Ben Greene running for the 1st District Kent County Commission seat has received $2650. 
• Dave Hildenbrand running for the 5th District Kent County Commission seat has received $2500. 
• Emily Post Brieve running for the 10th District Kent County Commission seat has received $2000. 
• Dan Burrill running for the 8th District Kent County Commission seat has received $1000. 
• Stan Stek running for the 6th District Kent County Commission seat has received $1000. 

Here are a list of candidates the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has made campaign contritions to who are running for Grand Rapids City Commission seats:

• Andrew Robbins running for the 1st Ward Grand Rapids City Commission seat has received $10,500.
• Kenneth Hoskins running for the 3rd Ward Grand Rapids City Commission seat has received $10,500.

Both Hoskins and Robbins received $5000 in June and an additional $5500 in August from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

It is instructive that the more local political races received the larger number, beginning with the Grand Rapids City Commission races, followed by the Kent County Commission races, then those running for State office in this area.

It is also worth noting that the two candidates running for Grand Rapids City Commission seats – Andrew Robbins (1st Ward) and Kenneth Hoskins (3rd Ward) are seen as the candidates that would best represent the interest of the GR Chamber, which centers around business development, tax breaks/subsidies for developers, providing incentives for businesses to relocate to Grand Rapids, creating a Talent pool for business, and making sure that the City is politically and socially stable for these interests – which means lots of police presence to deal with the unhoused, undesirables and social movements that are making demands of the Grand Rapids City Officials.

(All of the above data is based upon information taken from the Michigan Secretary of State site for Campaign Finances. Go to this link to get information on the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, also known as the Friends of West Michigan Business. https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/000912)