Buying Elections: 2024 DeVos family campaign contributions to key Kent County elected positions

The deadline for election campaign finances were due this past Wednesday, January 31st. As it has been a practice of GRIID for several years now, we plan on post several articles in the coming days specific to the most recent round of campaign finances that are for the 2024 Elections.

Kent County elected positions will be part of the 2024 Elections, with County Commission races and other more administrative positions. Since there have been so few announcements by candidates to challenge Kent County Commissioners, there wasn’t much campaign finance activity. However, the four main administration positions that people get to vote on – County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Prosecutor and the Kent County Sheriff – all had significant campaign contributions reported for this most recent filing deadline. 

To access the Kent County Campaign Finance records click on Campaign Finance Report, then you will have to do a search by candidate.

Kent County Clerk – Lisa Posthumus Lyons

Lisa Posthumus Lyons is the current Kent County Clerk and her campaign finances for the most recent filing can be found here.   Lyons has raised $97,954.37 since October and she has spent $3,043.47. The total number of contributors was 117, although the bulk of the total amount raised are from just a few large donors.

Largest Contributions 

• TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
• Cheri DeVos – $8,325
• Steve Ehmann – $8,325
• Doug DeVos – $8,325
• Maria DeVos – $8,325
• Dick DeVos – $8,325
• Betsy DeVos – $8,325
• Daniel DeVos – $8,325
• Pamela DeVos – $8,325
• Joan Secchia – $4,000
• Mark Murray – $3,100
• Jim Williams – $2,604.10
• John Kennedy – $2,000
• J.C. Huizenga – $1,200
• Tom Bylenga – $1,200
• Dave Dishaw – $1,050
• Jo DeMarco – $1,040.82
• Mike Ellis – $1,000
• Mark Bissell – $1,000

The total amount of contributions from the lop 16 donors equals $92,794. This means that the remaining 101 contributors gave only gave $5,160 collectively, which is around 5% of what Lyons raised in campaign contributions

Kent County Treasurer – Peter MacGregor

Peter MacGregor is the current Kent County Treasurer and his campaign finances for the most recent filing can be found here. MacGregor has raised $121,893.39 since October and he has spent $4,098.69. The total number of contributors was 149, although the bulk of the total amount raised are from just a few large donors.

 Largest Contributions

• TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
• Cheri DeVos – $8,325
• Steve Ehmann – $8,325
• Doug DeVos – $8,325
• Maria DeVos – $8,325
• Dick DeVos – $8,325
• Betsy DeVos – $8,325
• Daniel DeVos – $8,325
• Pamela DeVos – $8,325
• Daniel Hibma – $8,325
• Heather Lombardini – $8,325
• Joan Secchia – $4,250
• Jim Williams – $2,104.10
• Charlie Secchia – $2,000
• John Kennedy – $2,000
• J.C. Huizenga – $1,200
• Tom Bylenga – $1,200
• David Bilardello – 1,020.82
• Lucas Middleton – $1,000
• Martin Spaulding – $1,000
• Mike Ellis – $1,000
• Mark Bissell – $1,000

The total amount of contributions from the lop 22 donors equals $111,024. This means that the remaining 133 contributors gave only gave $10,869 collectively, which is less than 10% of what MacGregor raised in campaign contributions. 

Kent County Prosecutor – Chris Becker

Chris Becker is the current Kent County Prosecutor and his campaign finances for the most recent filing can be found here. Becker has raised $104,578.39 since October and he has spent $1,182.55. The total number of contributors was 105, although the bulk of the total amount raised are from just a few large donors.

Largest Contributions

• TGIF Victory Fund – $20,000
• Cheri DeVos – $8,325
• Steve Ehmann – $8,325
• Doug DeVos – $8,325
• Maria DeVos – $8,325
• Dick DeVos – $8,325
• Betsy DeVos – $8,325
• Daniel DeVos – $8,325
• Pamela DeVos – $8,325
• Joan Secchia – $4,000
• Charlie Secchia – $2,000
• John Kennedy – $2,000
• Jim Williams – $2,000
• Mike Ellis – $1,000
• Mark Murray – $1,000
• Tom Bylenga – $1,000
• Mark Bissell – $1,000

The total amount of contributions from the lop 18 donors equals $100,000. This means that the remaining 87 contributors gave only gave $4,578 collectively, which is around 4% of what Becker raised in campaign contributions. 

Kent County Sheriff – Michelle LaJoye-Young

Michelle LaJoye-Young is the current Kent County Sheriff and her campaign finances for the most recent filing can be found here.  LaJoye-Young has raised $94,478.39 since October and she has spent $1,355.97. The total number of contributors was 103, although the bulk of the total amount raised are from just a few large donors.

Largest Contributions

• TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
• Cheri DeVos – $8,325
• Steve Ehmann – $8,325
• Doug DeVos – $8,325
• Maria DeVos – $8,325
• Dick DeVos – $8,325
• Betsy DeVos – $8,325
• Daniel DeVos – $8,325
• Pamela DeVos – $8,325
• Joan Secchia – $4,000
• Charlie Secchia – $2,000
• John Kennedy – $2,000
• Jim Williams – $2,000
• Mike Ellis – $1,000
• Mark Murray – $1,000
• Tom Bylenga – $1,000
• Mark Bissell – $1,000

The total amount of contributions from the lop 17 donors equals $90,000. This means that the remaining 86 contributors gave only gave $4,478.39 collectively, which is less than 5% of what Becker raised in campaign contributions. 

When the Grand Rapids Power Structure buys elections

As anyone can see from the data we have provided here the electoral process is automatically corrupted by the influx of large sums of money by members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. You have 8 members of the DeVos family contributing a total of $264,000 for just 4 Kent County elections, plus we still have 9 months till election day.

Of course, the close associates of the DeVos family, like the Secchia family, John Kennedy, Mark Murray, Mark Bissell and several others are also part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure and are playing their part in determining public policy in this community. Also, in case people were wondering, the TGIF Victory Fund has some of the same funders that are listed above, it’s just another avenue for the Capitalist Class to dictate politics in this community. I know that we were all taught in 8th grade civics class the notion of, “one person, one vote,” but that is not how real electoral politics is played and never has been.