Buying Elections: 2024 Grand Rapids Mayoral Race

The deadline for election campaign finances were due on 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.

Today, I want to look at the two announced candidates so far, David LaGrand and Senita Lenear. To access the Kent County Campaign Finance records click on Campaign Finance Report, then you will have to do a search by candidate name.

Grand Rapids Mayoral Candidate – David LaGrand

GRIID has already posted two articles about campaign finances for David LaGrand, with the first post in July and the second post in November of 2023. 

In the most recent campaign finance cycle David LaGrand has raised $17,891.59, bringing the total to $49,715.24. During this current campaign finances cycle, 87 people/groups have contributed to LaGrand’s campaign. Here is the link for the campaign contributions and what follows is a list of some of the largest donors.

Largest Contributions

• Grand Rapids Fire Fighters Union PAC – $2,500
• Johnny Brann Jr. – $1,000
• Joan Secchia – $1,000
• Jessie Douglas – $516.45
• Ron DeWaard – $516.45
• David Dorner – $500
• Brandon Kanitz – $500
• Jeff Schutz – $500
• Robert Vanstright – $500
• Emily Loeks – $500
• Steve Pestka – $400
• Gary De Kock – $300
• Kenneth Heffner – $300
• David Diephouse – $258.32
• Gerald Lykins – $258.32 
• Hal Ostrow – $258.32
• Harvey Koning – $258.32
• Case Hoogendorn – $250
• Thomas Hoeksema Sr. – $250
• Matthew Heun – $250
• Jessica Lowery – $250
• John Helmholdt – $250
• Mary Jackson – $250
• Grace Bradford – $250
• Roger Rice – $250
• Lori Keen – $250
• Carol Rottman – $250
• Emily Brink – $250
• David Leonard $250
• Hardy Lee – $250

Of the 30 top contributors to LaGrand’s campaign, they collectively donated $13,315 out of the $17,891.59. This means that the other 57 contributors gave a total of $4,576, which is about 25% of the total. These disparities are nothing like the 4 Kent County elected positions I wrote about yesterday, but there are definitely some of the same players and those that are purchasing electoral influence. 

Besides the campaign finance date for LaGrand, his website has not changed in recent months, especially the section that lists “priorities.” Also, his Facebook page continues to lack any real substance or responses to critical issues facing the City of Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Mayoral Candidate – Senita Lenear

GRIID has only posted 1 previous article about Senita Lenear’s mayoral campaign, since she announced months after LaGrand. In that post, I did provide an overview of Lenear’s track record as a City Commissioner.

In the most recent campaign finance cycle Senita Lenear has raised only $3,737.78, which is the total for the campaign to date. During this current campaign finances cycle, 20 people have contributed to Lenear’s campaign. Here is the link for the campaign contributions and what follows is a list of some of the largest donors.

Largest Contributions

• Milinda Ysasi – $500
• David Sarnacki – $500
• Mary Alice Williams – $500
• Janay Brower  – $400

Lenear’s campaign website provides some of her stances while she was a City Commissioner, although there is not a great deal of emphasis on priorities and what she would fight for as Mayor.  Lenear’s Facebook page doesn’t have any new content posted, with the last content from November when she announced.

As of this writing, there is no indication that either mayoral candidate will challenge the status quo in Grand Rapids, especially when it comes to the Grand Rapids Power Structure. GRIID will continue to follow the campaign money as we get closer to the election, as well as providing some analysis of where these candidates stand on critical issues in this city.