Follow the Money: Big money donors are backing candidates in the 1st and 3rd Ward Grand Rapids City Commission races

Just as I noted in the mayoral race for Grand Rapids, members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure and numerous political action committees (PACs) are hoping to influence the outcome of the races for Grand Rapids City Commission in the 1st and 3rd Wards.

Money influences in the Grand Rapids First Ward City Commission race

There are four candidates for the seat that Jphn O’Conner will be vacating at the end of 2024. However, there is just one candidate that has raised more than 5 times the amount of money that the other 3 candidates have raised……combined. 

Alicia Marie Belchak has raised a total of $4756 from 57 different contributions.

Melanie Droski has raised $2,800 from just 2 contributors.

Mike Fassbender has raised $3,022.50 of which he donated.

However, 1st Ward candidate Dean Pacific has raised a total of $63,809.20. Not only has he far out raised the other candidates, he has received major contributions from the following organizations and individuals:

• Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association PAC – $12,500
• Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC – $,5000
• Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $2,500 
• John Brann – $1,225 
• Johnny Brann – $1,225
• Christian Meyer – $1,225
• Richelle Krueger – $1,225
• Thomas Krueger – $1,225
• Timothy Schowalter: Pioneer Construction – $1,225
• Sidney Jansma: Wolverine Oil & Gas – $1,225
• Joan Secchia – $1,225
• Mark Murray – $1,225
• Mike VanGessel: CEO Rockford Construction – $1,225
• Kevin Polakovich – $1,225
• Kristin Polakovich – $1,225
• Daniel Meyering: CEO Trillium Investments – $1,225
• Madolyn Bryant – $1,225
• Charlie Secchia: President of SIBSCO – $1,225
• J.C. Huizenga: Huizenga Group – $1,225
• John Kennedy: CEO Autocam Medical – $1,225
• Nancy Kennedy – $1,225
• Mark Bissell: CEO Bissell Inc. – $1,225
• Michael Jandernoa: $1,225
• Blake Krueger – $1,225
• Mary Krueger – $1,225
• Sandra Brann – $1,225
• Thomas Brann – $1,225
• Jim Williams – $1,200
• Janet Pacific – $1,000
• Frederick Pacific – $1,000
• Thomas Bylenga – $1,000
• Realtors Political Action Committee of Michigan – $1,000

Money influences in the Grand Rapids Third Ward City Commission race

There are six candidates running for the Third Ward Grand Rapids City Commission race. As I write this post (July 28th) Al Willis, Joyce Priscilla Gipson and Reggie Howard have not filed a campaign finance report.

Bing Goei has raised a total of $26,300 from just 9 contributors. His top contributors are:

• Bing Goei $25,000
• Aileen Antonio $250
• Senita Lenear $250
• Charissa Huang $200 
• Bruce Neckers $200 

Marshall Kilgore has raised a total of $13,135 from a total of 106 different contributors. Here are some of the top campaign donors:

• Climate Cabinet PAC – $2000
• Tina Kilgore – $1225
• Anthony Welch – $1000
• Kent County Democratic Party – $550
• Bob Johnson – $500

The top fundraising candidate for the seat in the 3rd Ward is John Krajewski. Krajewski has raised a total of $70,982.99. Like Dean Pacific in the 1st Ward race, Krajewski has received campaign money from members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure and numerous PACs. Here is a list of those large donors:

• Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association PAC – $12,500
• Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC – $12,500 
• Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $2500
• Mark Bissell: CEO of Bissell – $1225
• John Brann: Owner of Brann’s – $1225
• Kevin Polakovich – $1,225
• Kristin Polakovich – $1,225
• Joan Secchia – $1,225 
• Sidney Jansma JR: Wolverine Oil & Gas – $1,225
• Mark Murray – $1,225
• Daniel Hibma: Land & Co. – $1,225
• Sidney Jansma – $1,225
• Daniel Meyering: CEO Trillium Investments – $1,225
• Charlie Secchia: President of SIBSCO – $1,225
• Jeremy Scully: JL Rental Group – $1,225
• Lindsay Scully: RE/MAX of Grand Rapids – $1,225
• J.C. Huizenga: Huizenga Group – $1,225
• John Kennedy: CEO Autocam Medical – $1,225
• Nancy Kennedy – $1,225
• Michael Jandernoa: $1,225
• Sandra Brann – $1,225
• Thomas Brann – $1,225
• John Brann – $1,225 
• Johnny Brann – $1,225
• Mary Krueger – $1,225 
• Thomas Bylenga – $1,000 
• Mark Mason: Pacific Source – $1.000
• Dan Bowen: Dempsey Ventures – $1,000
• Charlie Ferro – $1,000

It is interesting that the list of big donors that Krajewski has is very similar to the list for Dean Pacific in the 1st Ward. It is also worth noting that besides the $12,500 from the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association PAC to Pacific and Krajewski, they also received significant financial backing from the Brann family, which started the GRPD apologist group Voice for the Badge Thus, it is instructive to note that the Capitalist Class and the apologists for the GRPD want to influence the outcome of Grand Rapids politics and policy.