Follow the Money: Campaign Finances for GRPS School Board Candidates

There are 15 GRPS School Board candidates on the ballot for the November 3rd election and this article will present their campaign finance information for the candidates vying for a 4 year term. There is also one candidate that is running for a seat that will end in 2028.

I will list the candidates in alphabetical order, as they appear on the ballot, will include the amount they 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.

Antoinette Chapman

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Antoinette Chapman has raised $9085.72 and has spent a total of $6,508.40. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25614.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Antoinette had 62 separate contributions, with eight in Kind contributions, 6 coming from Antoinette Chapman and 2 coming from business owner Tami Vandenberg. There were also two out of state contributors, one of which was one of the larger contributions totally $515.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Tami Vandenberg – $1,030
• Kelly Clark – $1,000
• Catherine Kothari – $515
• Amy Ruis – $515
• Aaron Jonker – $515
• Joe Jones – $515
• JD Chapman Jr. – $280.25
• Lisa Ayotte – $257.50
• Cheryl Chambliss –  $257.50
• Katherine Daniels – $257.50
• Elizabeth Ransford – $206

Tommy Doles

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Tommy Doles has raised $11,336.40 and has spent a total of $8,512.15. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/26068.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Tommy had 44 separate contributions, with  two in Kind contributions, both from the candidate. There were also 11 out of state contributors, with the largest being for $500.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Susan Doles – $2,100
• David Niewiek – owner Paris Motors – $2,100
• Donald Goris – owner Campaign Resource Group – $1,030
• Jerry Niewiek – $1,030
• James Doles – $500
• John Kennedy – CEO Autocam Medical – $500
• Micah Rynders – $329.60
• Ken Hoffman – $300

Of the 44 contributions just these 8 larger contributions combined account for about $8,000 of the $11,336 raised by Doles. The other important thing to mention is that there are two larger contributors worth mentioning. John Kennedy, the CEO of Autocam Medical, is a member of the Grand Rapids Power Structure.  Then there is Donald Goris, owner of Campaign Resource Group, who contributed $1,030. The Campaign Resource Group refers to itself as “Michigan’s leading fundraising consulting firm”, and has had clients such as former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, former Congressional Representative Pete Hoekstra, Terri Lynn Land and John James when he ran for the US Senate.

William Dykstra – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Amaad Hardy

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Amaad Hardy has raised $7,225 and has spent a total of $3,066.40. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25584.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Amaad had 126 separate contributions, with three in Kind contributions, all of which were from current GRPS School Board member Richard Williams. There were also 3 out of state contributors, but all of them were small.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Michael Naess – CEO of Holland Symphony – $500
• Alexander Thibodeau – $500
• Hijji Hill – $300
• Andrew Cascini – $250
• Tom Duisterhof – owner Gordon Water Systems – $250
• Paul Flynn – Auto Executive Gentex – $250
• Carrie Wilson – CEO of Freedom Construction – $250
• Tony Baker – $215
• Alton Hardy – $150
• Andrea Hollingsworth – $150
• Stephanie Brown – $120
• Andy Johnson – VP Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce – $100

While this list of contributions is smaller than other candidates, Amaad Hardy does have several business executives contributing to his campaign.

Robert Hovenkamp

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Robert Hovenkamp has raised $4,135 and has spent a total of $2,773.27. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25276.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Robert had 143 separate contributions, with three in Kind contributions, all of which were from Hovenkamp or his wife. There were also 9 out of state contributors, with the largest being $500.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Amir Farohki – Head of The Galloway School (private) – $500
• Robert Hovekamp – $400
• Kent County Democratic Party – $300
• Mark Suchyta – $250
• Anish Banerjee – $200
• Eoghan Miller – $200
• Steve Pestka – $200

There are three issues I want to raised regarding Hovenkamp’s campaign finances. First, he received $300 from the Kent County Democratic Party for a non-partisan seat. Taking funds for non-partisan races is problematic in my opinion, regardless of which political party it is. Second, four of the seven top contributors are from out of state, which is also problematic and allows for influencing local elections from people or entities that have no stake in the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Lastly, the largest donor, Amir Farohki, runs a private school. This also seems problematic considering GRPS is a public school.

Carlos Kulas-Dominguez

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Kulas-Dominguez has raised $1,093 and has spent a total of $1,583.29. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25652.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Carlos had 11 separate contributions, with four in Kind contributions, all of which were from Kulas-Dominguez. There was also 1 out of state contributor.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Kent County Democratic Party – $300
• Brian Griffith – $250
• Patricia Griswold – $250
• Sheila Schindler – $100

The only issue I have with this list is that the candidate took money, which was his largest amount raised, from the Kent County Democratic Party for a non-partisan race. One of the reasons it is problematic is that it provides candidates who receive the money another institutional network that will tell people to vote for said candidate, which most candidates in non-partisan races don’t have access to.

Lisa Lint – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Ismalis Nuñez – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Diana Riley – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Jose Rodriguez

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Jose Rodriguez has raised $3,993 and has spent a total of $3,643.94. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25521.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Jose had 70 separate contributions, no In Kind contributions, and no out of state contributions.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Eleanor Moreno – $383
• Kent County Democratic Party – $300
• McAlvey Merchant PAC – $250
• Susan Haines – $200
• Kurt Reppart – $200
• Amber Kilpatrick – $150
• Abbie Groff-Blaszak – $100
• Tony Baker – $100
• Jesse Emdin-Hill – $100
• Dan Hesse – $100
• William McCormick – $100
• Amarena Nelson – $100
• Kristopher Pachla – $100

The only issue I have with this list is that the candidate took money, which was the second largest amount raised, from the Kent County Democratic Party for a non-partisan race. Rodriquez did receive contributions from current GRPS Board members Moreno and KIlpatrick, plus former GRPS Board member Baker. There is also one PAC contribution from McAlvey Merchant PAC, which is a lobbying firm based in Lansing, which according to GRPS documents does lobbying for the school district.

Torino Scott – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Aarie Wade – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Diana Wallace – nothing filed as of 6am October 28

Kimberley Williams

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Kimberley Williams has raised $1,588 and has spent a total of $1,377.80. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/26124.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Kimberley had 22 separate contributions, one In Kind contribution from herself, and no out of state contributions.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Mary O’Neill – $500
• Carl Erickson – $250
• Larry Donston – $100
• Brad Shumpert – $100
• Belethea McConer – $100
• Kathy Lewis – $100

There are no real issues with campaign finances with Kimberley Williams, but it is worth noting that she received a contribution from former GRPS School Board member Kathy Lewis.

Erika VanDyke

Erika VanDyke is running for a seat on the GRPS School Board that ends on 12/31/2028, and no one else filed to run for that open seat.

According to campaign finance data from the Kent County Clerk’s office, Erika VanDyke has raised $10,544.63 and has spent a total of $7,638.58. https://campaignfinance.us/docs.kent.mi/25305.PDF

For the most recent campaign finance report Erika had 142 separate contributions, with 8 different In Kind contributions, and no out of state contributions.

Here is a list of the larger contributions:

• Debbie VanDyke – $927.19
• Brandy Arnold – $515.56
• Salvador Lopez – $266.54
• Jesse Emdin-Hill – $231.31
• Leslie Schoen – Steelcase Foundation – $206.28

I did not find any issues or concerns with Erika VanDyke’s campaign finance information.