Follow the Money: Campaign Finances for 2nd Ward Candidates in Grand Rapids

Both of the 2nd Ward Candidates in Grand Rapids have already submitted their campaign finance reports for the upcoming November 3rd election.

I will list the candidates in alphabetical order, as they appear on the ballot, will include the amount the raised, the amount they spent, the number of contributions, any relevant in kind contributions, contributions from out of state and the largest contributors to each candidate. There is no data from the August Primary campaign finance reports, as the candidates did not submit anything for that quarter.

Bryan Cody

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Bryan Cody has raised $48,419.31 and has spent a total of $46,726.31. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25017.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Cory had 157 separate contributions, with eight in Kind contributions, most notably from Mark Secchia. Apart from running the family business, Mark Secchia is a major Republican contributor and is part of the GOP PAC known as Maintain Our Majority, which engaged in a deceptive mailer campaign in 2024 attempting to attack then candidate Alicia Marie Belchak. There were also two out of state contributors, but both were small contributions. Cody did receive more than 50 contributions that were from people who identified as realtors, maybe because Cody himself is a realtor.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Friends of West MI Business/GR Chamber of Commerce – $12,250
• Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters PAC – $5,000
• Realtors Political Action Committee of Michigan – $5,000
• Josh Smith – The Fulton Group LLC – $1,225
• Sam Cummings – CWD Real Estate – $1,225
• Joan Seechia – $1,225
• Justin Sheldon – $1,225
• Patricia Cross – $1,100
• Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $1,000
• J.C. Huizenga – Huizenga Group – $1,000
• Thomas Sinas – Sinas Dramis Law Firm – $1,000
• Mike VanGessel – CEO and President of Voyage – $1,000
• Mike Murray – Advantage Commercial Real Estate Services – $834
• Mark Ansara – Advantage Commercial Real Estate Services – $833
• Duke Suwyn – Advantage Commercial Real Estate Services – $833
• Mark Murray – Meijer – $500

What stands out in this list are two things. First, there are a number of Grand Rapids Power Structure individuals – Cummings, Seechia, Huizenga, VanGessel and Murray, along with a GR Power Structure organization like the Friends of West MI Business/GR Chamber of Commerce, which has inserted itself in so many Grand Rapids policy issues in recent years.

The second major issue is the fact that there are so many realtors and realtor PACs that have contributed to Cody’s campaign that it would most certainly impact housing and development decisions at the City Commission if he were elected, given that housing is a major issue that is facing Grand Rapids.

Lisa Knight

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Lisa Knight  raised $13,953.95 and has spent a total of $10,787.16. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25056.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Knight received 56 separate contributions, with no In Kind contributions and no out of state contributions.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Tiffany Logan – Law Offices of Benjamin Misko – $1,225
• Kerry Verhulst – Spesh Construction – $1,030.26
• Michael Verhulst – Spesh Construction – $1,025
• Tasha Blackmon – President of Cherry Health – $1,015.38
• Kevin Farhat – Garage Bar & Grill – $1,000
• Billy Manns – $1,000
• Brenda Moore – $1,000
• Lynn Heemstra – $800
• Lisa Knight – $679
• Max Gibbs – $500
• Jeffrey Phillips – $500
• Joe Jones – $500

The two things that stand out with Lisa Knight’s contributions is; 1) Tiffany Logan’s address is listed for Grand Rapids, but the Law Office address is New Orleans; and 2) Michael Verhulst as a member of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, with numerous business ventures and the fact that he sits on 18 Boards, including the GR Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority, ArtPrize and Experience Grand Rapids. People with that kind of economic power and those kind of connections always want to influence public policy.