New quarterly campaign finance data shows who the Chamber of Commerce is bankrolling for elections in the Grand Rapids area

In the previous campaign finance deadline, GRIID posted a story entitled, Follow the Money: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce campaign contributions buys political allegiance from both parties in Kent County. The article provides a list of local candidates who received funds from the GR Chamber, also known as Friends of West Michigan Business, which as the headline reflects, are both Democrats and Republicans.

As of today, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC has posted the most recent quarterly campaign finance information, which can be found on the Secretary of State’s campaign finance database.

There are 22 separate contributions from the GR Chamber of Commerce, with two of those going to something other than candidates. Thus, there were 20 different candidates who received campaign contributions from the GR Chamber of Commerce PAC, which we will list here in order of highest amount to the lowest. We also include which seat each of the candidates are running for.

• John Krajewski, Grand Rapids 3rd Ward – $12,500
• Dean Pacific, Grand Rapids 1st Ward – $5,000
• Steve Frisbie (R), 44th District State House – $5,000
• Gina Johnsen (R), 78th District State House – $2,500
• Robin Halsted (R), 10th District Kent County Commissioner – $2,000
• Stan Stek (R), 6th District Kent County Commissioner – $2,000
• Dan Burrill (R), 8th District Kent County Commissioner – $2,000
• David LaGrand, Mayor of Grand Rapids – $1,000
• Steve Faber (D), 18th District Kent County Commissioner – $1,000
• Lindsey Thiel (R), 11th District Kent County Commissioner – $1,000
• Tony Baker (D), 17th District Kent County Commissioner – $500
• Elizabeth Morse (R), 2nd District Kent County Commissioner – $500
• Kris Pachla (D), 19th  District Kent County Commissioner – $500
• VanderWall Majority Fund – $500
• Milinda Ysasi, Grand Rapids 2nd Ward – $500
• Carol Glanville (D), 84th District State House – $250
• Angela Rigas (R), 79th District State House – $250
• Nancy DeBoer (R), 86th  District State House – $250
• Stephen Wooden D), 81st District State House – $250
• Thomas Albert (R), 18th District State Senate – $150

Notice that the Chamber is bankrolling both Republicans and Democrats, just like they did back in April. There are a few non-partisan races in Grand Rapids, but the GR Chamber of Commerce is making sure they will be able to get the candidates who care more about businesses and business as usual, than they do about working class, BIPOC and other marginalized communities. Not that anybody is asking, but I would not vote for any candidate that takes money from the likes of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.