Follow the Money: DeVos money dominates campaign funding for numerous Kent County positions
There is a recent political ad, an ad which is promoting five Republican officials, all of which are up for re-election. The ad is paid for by a group named Maintain Our Majority and they have been a lot of in kinds for local Republican candidates in the Kent County area.
The five that are up for re-election are – Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Chris Becker, Peter MacGregor, Michelle LaJoye-Young and Ken Yonker. In four of the 5 races there is a Democrat that is challenging them, but the most that any of them have raised in campaign funds is just a fraction of what the GOP incumbents have raised.
What follows in the amount raised by the five Republican incumbents – most of which comes from the DeVos family, plus I will provide a listing of the top donors through the most recent campaign finance data.
Lisa Posthumus Lyons has raised a total of $132,682.37. Her opponent, Scott Urbanowski has only raised $8,455.94. The top contributors to Lyons are:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Cheri DeVos – $8,325
- Steve Ehmann – $8,325
- Doug DeVos – $8,325
- Maria DeVos – $8,325
- Dick DeVos – $8,325
- Betsy DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel DeVos – $8,325
- Pamela DeVos – $8,325
- Joan Secchia – $4,000
- Mark Murray – $3,100
- Michael Jondernoa – #,000
- Jim Williams – $2,604.10
- John Kennedy – $2,000
- J.C. Huizenga – $1,200
- Tom Bylenga – $1,200
- Dave Dishaw – $1,050
- Jo DeMarco – $1,040.82
- Mike Ellis – $1,000
- Mark Bissell – $1,000
Chris Becker has raised a total of $131,956.39. His opponent, Steve Draft-Peppin, has only raised $600. The top contributors to Becker are:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $20,000
- Cheri DeVos – $8,325
- Steve Ehmann – $8,325
- Doug DeVos – $8,325
- Maria DeVos – $8,325
- Dick DeVos – $8,325
- Betsy DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel DeVos – $8,325
- Pamela DeVos – $8,325
- Joan Secchia – $4,000
- Charlie Secchia – $2,000
- John Kennedy – $2,000
- Jim Williams – $2,000
- David Van Andel – $2,000
- Carol Van Andel – $2,000
- Mike Ellis – $1,000
- Mark Murray – $1,000
- Tom Bylenga – $1,000
- Mark Bissell – $1,000
Michelle LaJoye-Young has raised a total of $131,531.39. She is running unopposed. Her top contributors are:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Cheri DeVos – $8,325
- Steve Ehmann – $8,325
- Doug DeVos – $8,325
- Maria DeVos – $8,325
- Dick DeVos – $8,325
- Betsy DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel DeVos – $8,325
- Pamela DeVos – $8,325
- Joan Secchia – $4,000
- David Van Andel – $2,500
- Carol Van Andel – $2,500
- Charlie Secchia – $2,000
- John Kennedy – $2,000
- Jim Williams – $2,000
- Mike Ellis – $1,000
- Mark Murray – $1,000
- Tom Bylenga – $1,000
- Mark Bissell – $1,000
Peter MacGregor has raised a total of $177,015.51. His opponent, Daniel N’Kombo, has raised no money. The top contributors to MacGregor are:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Cheri DeVos – $8,325
- Steve Ehmann – $8,325
- Doug DeVos – $8,325
- Maria DeVos – $8,325
- Dick DeVos – $8,325
- Betsy DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel DeVos – $8,325
- Pamela DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel Hibma – $8,325
- Heather Lombardini – $8,325
- Joan Secchia – $4,250
- Jim Williams – $2,104.10
- Charlie Secchia – $2,000
- John Kennedy – $2,000
- J.C. Huizenga – $1,200
- Tom Bylenga – $1,200
- David Bilardello – 1,020.82
- Lucas Middleton – $1,000
- Martin Spaulding – $1,000
- Mike Ellis – $1,000
- Mark Bissell – $1,000
Ken Yonker has raised a total of $142,636.35. His opponent, Matthew Morey, has raised no funds. The top contributors to to Yonkers are:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Cheri DeVos – $8,325
- Steve Ehmann – $8,325
- Doug DeVos – $8,325
- Maria DeVos – $8,325
- Dick DeVos – $8,325
- Betsy DeVos – $8,325
- Daniel DeVos – $8,325
- Pamela DeVos – $8,325
- Richard Steigenga – $4,500
- Joan Secchia – $4,000
- Jim Williams – $2,104.10
- Charlie Secchia – $2,000
- John Kennedy – $2,000
- Craig Newhoff – $1,500
- Tom Bylenga – $1,200
- Mike Ellis – $1,000
- Mark Bissell – $1,000
When the Grand Rapids Power Structure buys elections
As anyone can see from the data we have provided here the electoral process is automatically corrupted by the influx of large sums of money by members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. You have 8 members of the DeVos family contributing a total of $330,000 for just 5 Kent County candidates.
Of course, the close associates of the DeVos family, like the Secchia family, John Kennedy, Mark Murray, Mark Bissell and several others are also part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure and are playing their part in determining public policy in this community. Also, in case people were wondering, the TGIF Victory Fund has some of the same funders that are listed above, it’s just another avenue for the Capitalist Class to dictate politics in this community. I know that we were all taught in 8th grade civics class the notion of, “one person, one vote,” but that is not how real electoral politics is played and never has been.
Deceptive mailers in the 1st Ward Grand Rapids City Commission race are making unsubstantiated claims about Alicia Marie Belchak
For some people, saying that a candidate wants to Defund the Police is like calling them a Communist. Grand Rapids has seen such tactics being used to discredit candidates and to plant a seed of doubt about public safety matters.
At a candidate forum a few weeks back, the Community Owns Safety Coalition asked candidates from the 3rd Ward and the two candidates running for Mayor of Grand Rapids questions about reducing the GRPD budget and not one of them would answer the questions.
During the 2022 election cycle, Republicans used the Defund the Police claims against then candidate Hillary Scholten, even though they were completely false. During the same election cycle, a group calling themselves Safe GR made the same false claims about then GR City Commissioner Kurt Reppart, using mailers and billboards to sway public opinion in favor of Andrew Robbins. Robbins also relied on a shit ton of money, primarily from members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure.
In 2024, we are seeing the same type of deceptive mailers, this time targeting Alicia Marie Belchak. As you can see in the mailer shown here above, the group Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR, is suggesting that Belchak 
would not take public safety seriously. If you look at the Belchak’s campaign website, the candidate survey from MLive, the one done by The Rapidian or the Voter Guide done by the Urban Core Collective, none of those candidate surveys suggest that Belchak wants to Defund the Police. In fact, on her own campaign website, candidate Belchak states: “As a mom, I know that strong, safe, vibrant neighborhoods are essential. That means funding public safety….” This statement is accompanied by a photo of Belchak and a GRPD officer sitting in his cruiser.
Who is Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR?
I searched the Kent County Clerk’s campaign finance section and could find nothing on the Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR. However, at the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance page, there is a filing for the group.
The Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR filed in July and October of this year. However, in both cases there were no contributions or expenses listed. Thus, the only information I could find was the people who are listed as the Treasurer and Designated Record Keeper.
The Designated Record Keeper for the Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR is Lisa Payton. Payton works for McAlvey Merchant & Associates, which is a political lobbying and consulting firm that has worked with groups like Grand Action 2.0, The Right Place Inc and the Michael Jandernoa Trust. McAlvey Merchant & Associates also has a Political Action Committee, so they can direct funds to candidates who support their interests.
The name next to the Treasurer is Vaughn Miller, listed as living at 1675 Summerfield St in Kentwood. This address is also listed as the Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR committee. What is interesting is that Vaughn Miller is also the Treasurer for 1st Ward City Commissioner Andrew Robbins, according to the Kent County Clerk’s campaign finance page. However, the address for Vaughn Miller is different than the address on the Secretary of State records.
There is a Vaughn Miller who works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Steelcase. The picture of that Vaughn Miller is the same person as the one with Miller and Andrew Robbins taken two years ago (shown here on the right) just before Robbins won his race against Reppart. Lastly, Andrew Robbins is clearly supporting Alicia Marie Belchak’s opponent, Dean Pacific, based on recent posting from his Facebook page.
Regardless of which Vaughn Miller is involved in the Fund for Safe Clean and Healthy GR, their campaign is a deceptive, misleading and shitting attempt to attack another candidate. On the other hand, Dean Pacific’s campaign is being funded by pro-cop people and members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, people who don’t give a damn about the well being of the working class poor, the unhoused and other marginalized communities.
Follow the Money: Who is funding the Grand Rapids 1st and 3rd Ward City Candidates?
So far GRIID has done posts about campaign finances for the GRPS Board of Education Candidates and the Grand Rapids Mayoral Race. Today, I want to look at who is funding the 1st and 3rd Ward candidates for the Grand Rapids City Commission.
Alicia Marie Belchak has raised a total of $11,101, compared to her opponent Dean Pacific, who has raised $86,543.66, according to the most recent filings for both candidates. Belchak has received a total of 116 separate contributions, while Pacific has received 153.
Here is the top donors to candidates running for the 1st Ward GR Commissioner seat:
Alicia Marie Belchak:
- Climate Cabinet PAC – $2000
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters – $1000
- Kent County Democratic Party – $550
- Arti Patel – $500
- Tami Vandenberg – $500
Dean Pacific:
- Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association PAC – $12,500
- Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC – $12,250
- Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $2,500
- Realtors PAC of Michigan – $1400
- John Brann – $1225
- 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
- William Brennan – $1000
- Doug Young – $1000
- Rick Baker: CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce – $500
Clearly, Pacific has raised more money with lots of $1000 plus contributors. In addition, there are numerous people who are part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, along with the police union and the GR Chamber of Commerce, all of which want to see Pacific become the next 1st Ward candidate.
In the 3rd ward race, Bing Goei has raised a total of $64,862.66, compared to Marshall Kilgore, who has raised $32,725.37. Bing Goei has received a total of 59 separate campaign contributions, compared to Marshall Kilgore, who received 223.
Here are the top contributors to both of the 3rd Ward candidates:
Bing Goei
- Bing Goei – $41,000
- Jim Williams – $2400
- Marlin Feyen – $1000
- Manoj Mulki – $1000
- Saleem Usmani – $700
Marshall Kilgore
- Climate Cabinet PAC – $35000
- Progressive Women’s Alliance of West MI PAC- $3000
- Grand Rapids Professional Firefighters Local 366 – $3000
- Conservation Voters of Michigan PAC – $1500
- Construction Laborers Local 355 – $1500
- West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Service Trades Local – $1250
- Nick Gumina – $1225
While Kilgores campaign has generated more individual contributors, the Goei campaign has largely been self-funded.
As is the case with the 1st Ward race, will all have to wait and see about the outcome of the election for the two open sets on the Grand Rapids City Commission, but there are clearly substantial gaps between the two candidates with larger war chests and those with smaller war chests.
Cosecha Michigan attends the Livingston County Commission meeting to demand they rescind their anti-Immigrant resolution
Last night, a handful of Movimiento Cosecha Michigan members attended the Livingston County Commission meeting, which adopted a xenophobic anti-immigrant resolution in September.
The Cosecha members decision, while seemingly a simple and risk-free action, was not easy, since the Livingston County Commission meeting was not a space for BIPOC people. All nine of the Livingston County Commissioners were men, 8 of them were white, with one member of Asia descent. The commission chambers were also very small, with maybe another 20 people in attendance, also all white people.
Ironically, one of the county commissioners started the meeting with a prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, specifically the peace prayer. Everything that followed, when it came to the Livingston County Commissioners was anything but peaceful. Before public comments, the commissioners unanimously rejected a letter sent to them by the Washtenaw County Commission, which was critical of their anti-immigrant resolution. One commissioner then suggested that they send their anti-immigrant resolution to county administrators across the state, so they could provide “their side of the story.”
In full disclosure, I not only attended the Cosecha action, I acted as their translator. Unfortunately, the Livingston County Commission Chair would not provide additional time for translation and said that the statute was clear on limiting public comment to 3 minutes.
Nerida Avilés, a member of Movimiento Cosecha Michigan, stated that: “The Sheriff’s office should not inquire about anyone’s immigration status, as enforcing immigration laws is solely the responsibility of federal immigration agents. Civil rights are guaranteed to every person by virtue of being human; they accompany us wherever we go, regardless of immigration status. They are not confined to our countries of origin; they are inherent to each of us from birth until death.”
Gema Lowe, another member of Cosecha Michigan, said: The language used in this partisan resolution is offensive and dehumanizing, labeling undocumented immigrants as “illegals.” When a person violates any law, whether criminal or civil, they are not labeled “illegal.” Immigration law, in fact, is civil law, and being undocumented is not a crime. For instance, if someone here has parked illegally in a non-designated area, they have committed an illegal act but would not be called an “illegal.” Labeling people in this way is derogatory and discriminatory.
Brenda, from Washtenaw County, pointed out that she is a small business owner in the cleaning industry and provided statistics on immigrants and their annual contributions to the state of Michigan gathered in 2022:
- Number of Immigrants in Michigan: 687,734
- Taxes paid to the state annually: $8.1 billion
- Number of immigrant entrepreneurs: 46,221
- Annual purchasing power of immigrants in Michigan: $23.1 billion
Raven asked the attendees if they identified as Christians and quoted Matthew 5: “I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me,” and Matthew 7: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” She then mentioned the name of each commissioner, pointing out that the fruits of their actions are foul and rancid.
There was a second opportunity for public comment, but the commissioners again denied additional time for translation, plus the second public comment opportunity was reduced from 3 minute to 2 minutes. Many of the commissioners also defended their anti-immigrant resolution, attempting to push the “they need to come into this country legally” mantra. This ignores the fact that the US has a longstanding practice of allowing anyone, regardless of status, to apply for asylum. In addition, the commissioner’s comments made it clear that they have no clue about the harsh realities of those who end up coming to the US through the southern border, fleeing economic hardship, political repression and forced displacement due to the growing number of climate disasters.
None of the comments from the Livingston County Commissioners were surprising, especially after I had some time to look at their Facebook pages, which clearly demonstrate their far right allegiances, which led them to adopting a racist, anti-immigrant resolution.
In the collection of images below, there is Commissioner Nakagiri in the upper left image, holding a sign during a Trump rally that says, Mass Deportation Now! Commissioner Nakagiri also posted on his Facebook page for August 21st, that his wife was “the new Political Coordinator for the Trump Campaign in Livingston County Michigan.” The upper right image that says, I stand with President Trump, was taken from Commissioner Sample’s Facebook page. The image on the bottom is from Commissioner Deaton, where he is sporting a Make America Great Again baseball cap.
Grand Rapids will decide who is to be the next mayor of the 2nd largest city in the state. GRIID has been writing about the two candidates, David LaGrand and Senita Lenear, since they both entered the race for the Mayor of Grand Rapids.
LaGrand announced his candidacy in the summer of 2023, and had already submitted campaign finance data during the late July reporting deadline. GRIID wrote about LaGrand’s campaign at the time and who was funding it. I also reported on LaGrand’s campaign finances in November, shortly after another quarterly campaign finance deadline.
Senita Lenear announced her campaign late last year, so there was no campaign finance records until late January of this year, which I also reported on, along with the campaign finance data for LaGrand. I also wrote about both of these candidates meeting with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce last April, to share their vision with the pro-development/pro-Capitalism organization.
Lastly, I wrote about both Lenear and LaGrand’s campaign finance data just before the August Primary, which eliminated the other two Mayoral candidates. What follows is data from the most recent campaign finance data, which people can access from the Kent County Clerk’s page.
I am basing the information from David LaGrand’s campaign with both the post-primary data that was filed with the Kent County Clerk on September 5th and the most recent filing from October 25th. The same goes for Senita Lenear, who also filed a pos-primary campaign finance report on August 13 and the most recent filing that was received on October 25th.
David LaGrand has raised to date $190,360.41 and spent $187,911.87. Senita Lenear has raised $39,092.80 and spent $30,596.38. LaGrand has received 664 separate contributions since last Spring and Lenear has received 259 for all of 2024. Here are the top contributors to each candidate:
Senita Lenear
- Christopher Sain – $2,500
- Brian Ellis – $2,000
- Nina Thompson – $1,750
- Nicole Thompson – $1,130
- Bing Goei – $1050
David LaGrand
- Michigan Laborers Political League PAC – $10,000
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters PAC – $10,000
- Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $8,500
- Climate Cabinet PAC – $8,000
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters PAC – $7585.25
- UAW Michigan Voluntary PAC – $5000
Just from the top 5 contributors to each Mayoral candidate, you can see the amount difference. Another significant aspect of LaGrand’s campaign contributions is that all 5 of these PACs consistently endorse Democrats, even though this is a non-partisan race. David LaGrand clearing is tapping into the Democratic Party’s political machine for funding.
Other notable contributors to LaGrand, with $1000 or more are:
- West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Service Trade Local – $3,000
- Kent County Democratic Party – $2,625
- Teamsters Local 406 PAC – $2,500
- Sam Cummings: CWD Real Estate Investment – $2,450
- Jeff Shutz – $2,450
- Johnny Brann Jr.: Branns – $2,450
- Kevin Toler: Hill Island Financial – $2,450
- Joseph Trudeau – $2,450
- Robert VanStright – $2,400
- Gary De Kock – $2,353.45
- Scott Bowen: Lawyer – $2,250
- Alicia Pestka – $2,200
- John Hunting – $2,000
- Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce – $2,000
- Steve Pestka: President H & H Management & Development Co. – $1,900
- Thomas Schultz – $1,750
- Donald Taylor – $1,715.80
- Ron DeWaard: Lawyer – $1,516.45
- Andrew DeBoer – $1,500
- Jon Rooks – $1,450
- Marlin Feyen – $1,250
- Gaetan Gerville-Reache: Lawyer – $1,250
- Rental Property Owners Association PAC – $1,000
- Michigan Realtors PAC – $1,000
- Aaron Yonker – $1,000
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 252 PAC – $1,000
- John Brann – $1,000
- Tami Vandenberg: business owner – $1,000
- Stacy Van Dyken: Lawyer – $1,000
- Steve Heacock: Executive Grand Rapids Whitewater – $1,000
- Bradley Thomas: CEO of Progressive AE – $1,000
- Michael Jandernoa: Executive at Perrigo – $1,000
- James Nelson – $1,000
- Chris Guis: Staffing Solutions Inc. – $1,000
In all, David LaGrand received $1,000 or more in contributions from 40 different people or organizations. As noted previously, some are connected to the Democratic Party machine, but it is also troubling that LaGrand took money from the GR Chamber of Commerce, the Rental Property Owners Association and the Michigan Realtors PAC. This entities are all against housing justice, especially for people who rent. Then there is money from the Brann family, which has zealously supported the GRPD. Lastly, there are other members of the GR Power Structure, like Michael Jandernoa and Sam Cummings, both of which support the kind of politics that will make them more money, as opposed to policies that benefit working class and BIPOC communities.
Of course, people have to actually vote next week, but it seems pretty clear that those who run this city would rather have LaGrand than Lenear.
What Rep. Hillary Scholten and Gerald R. Ford really have in common, which is omitted from a recent Scholten political ad
There is a fairly recent Hillary Scholten ad, which uses imagery from previous ads, where she touts how much public federal money she has brought back to the district.
However, the main thing about this political ad is that the audio is an excerpt from a Gerald R. Ford speech. Rep. Hillary Scholten has aligned herself with the person of Gerald R Ford since she first started to campaign in 2020 for the 3rd Congressional District.
What I believe Rep. Scholten is attempting to do by aligning herself with the former Grand Rapids politician, is to tap into what many might perceive as a more honest time in politics. In addition, Scholten wants to compare herself to Ford, since he is often viewed with a folksy sort of disposition, a man who “saved the country” by pardoning Richard Nixon.
Campaign optics aside, there is one major commonality between Rep. Scholten and former President Gerald R Ford. The most common theme with these two Grand Rapids politicians is that they both supported genocide.
In late 1975, Ford and his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger flew to Indonesia to meet with the Indonesian President Suharto. Here is what we know happened, based upon declassified documents from the National Security Archives.
Much has been written about what took place in the meeting between Ford, Henry Kissinger, and Indonesian President Suharto on December 5th and 6th in 1975, but it wasn’t until December of 2001 when the National Security Archives finally obtained declassified documentation of what took place. What we now know is that Ford and Kissinger not only knew of the Indonesian plans to invade East Timor, but that they offered diplomatic and military support for the invasion, which became a multi-year and bloody genocidal campaign. In fact, the US role in the murderous campaign by the Indonesia military against the East Timorese people was one of the proportionately worst genocides of the 20th Century.
Additional documents from the National Security Archives demonstrate that Ford and Kissinger Gave Green Light to Indonesia’s Invasion of East Timor. In a Press Release from the National Security Archives, they provide an instructive summary based on evidence from the declassified documents:
- When Suharto told Ford and Kissinger that he was about to order an invasion, the response was only to caution that “it would be better it it were done after we returned” (the invasion began the next day).
- Kissinger told Suharto that the use of U.S.-supplied arms in the invasion—equipment that under U.S. law could not be used for offensive military operations—“could create problems,” but indicated that they might be able to “construe” the invasion as self-defense.
- On 12 August 1975, a few days after a coup attempt in East Timor, Kissinger observed that an Indonesian takeover would take place “sooner or later”.
- Six months into the occupation of East Timor, Kissinger acknowledged to senior State Department officials that U.S. military aid had been used “illegally” and hinted at his own doubts about the invasion: Washington had “not very willingly” resumed normal relations with Jakarta.
Since Rep. Hillary Scholten became a member of Congress in 2023, she has consistently defended US policy and US relations with Israel. In July of 2023, Rep. Scholten and the majority of Congress voted to adopt a resolution stating that Israel was not a racist state and it did not have an Apartheid system. In August of 2023, Rep. Scholten went to Israel on an AIPAC funded tour, which I wrote about, where Scholten gushed about standing where Jesus supposedly gave his Sermon on the Mount.
More importantly, Rep. Scholten has supported every Congressional decision since October 7, 2023, voting with the Biden administration for general US military, weaponry and special appropriations. According to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs:
U.S. spending on Israel’s military operations and related U.S operations in the region total at least $22.76 billion and counting. This estimate is conservative; while it includes approved security assistance funding since October 7, 2023, supplemental funding for regional operations, and an estimated additional cost of operations, it does not include any other economic costs.
This means that Rep. Scholten has voted to send $22.76 billion to Israel, where Israel is currently engaged in a genocidal campaign against the Palestinians. This makes the most sense, considering that Ford himself provided military and diplomatic support for Indonesia’s genocidal campaign against the East Timorese. Rep. Scholten and former President Gerald Ford do have one thing in common, they both supported genocide while being in Washington.
In the above images used, the picture of Rep. Scholten is taken from an AIPAC video while she was in Israel, which you can watch here. The image of Gerald R Ford is from his meeting with Indonesian President Suharto, which is from the National Security Archives link here.
Follow the Money: See where the money is coming from for those running for the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education
According to the Kent County Clerk’s office, there are seven people running to fill four seats for the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education. Those seven candidates are: Amber Kilpatrick, Arick Davis, Norma Lopez, Tonya Williams, Eleanor Moreno, Ismalis Nuñez, Jordoun Eatman and Richard Williamson.
As of Sunday, October 27, when I wrote this article, 5 of the seven candidates had submitted their campaign finance data. Norma Lopez filed for a waiver in August, since they did not expect to raise funds, and Tonya Williams received a letter from the Clerk’s office for failure to submit campaign finance data.
Here is the campaign finance data for the other 5 school board candidates, list in order of the amount raised.
- Richard Williamson – $15,765.29
- Arick Davis – $9,816.71
- Amber Kilpatrick – $7,462.00
- Ismalis Nunez – $7,063.00
- Eleanor Moreno – $2,925.00
- Jordoun Eatman – $2,495.00
Where is the money coming from?
When filing campaign finances, candidates must list the person who contributed, the amount and the date of the contribution. If an individual or a PAC gives more then once it is listed as an addition contribution. Amber Kilpatrick received 139 different contributions, Arick Davis 70, Eleanor Moreno 30, Ismalis Nuñez 87, Jordoun Eatman 15, and Richard Williamson received 192 contributions. Next I want to look at some of the larger contributions to each of the 5 candidates, along with other notable contributions.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Amber Kilpatrick’s campaign: Progressive Women’s Alliance of West MI PAC $250, Grace Johnson $250, George Heartwell $200, MEA PAC $200, and Alexander Zidarevich $200. There was nothing else notable about the contributions to Amber Kilpatrick’s campaign.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Arick Davis’s campaign: Carl Erikson $2082.88, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce $1000, Tony Baker $520.87, Aaron Jonker $500, and Mark Laman $260.90. Carl Erikson is the founder of Atomic Object. Tony Baker is a former GRPS School Board member. Besides the $1000 Davis received from the GR Chamber of Commerce, he received contributions from 2 of their more public staff members, Omar Cuevas and Josh Lunger.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Eleanor Moreno’s campaign: Marta Johnson $900, Maria Moreno-Reyes $320, Progressive Women’s Alliance of West MI PAC $250, MEA PAC $200, and the Michigan Education Defense Fund $100. The only noteworthy contribution is from the Michigan Education Defense Fund, which was started by Jeff Winston. According to records from the Michigan Secretary of State, the Michigan Education Defense Fund has only begun funding in 2024.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Ismalis Nuñez’s campaign: Josh & Henry Inc. $750, Noel Maloof $500, Progressive Women’s Alliance of West MI PAC $250, Ashley Crawford $250, and Jessica Cruz $250. The only thing worth noting for contributions to Nunez’s campaign is that there are several from people who live out of state.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Jordoun Eatman’s campaign: Marta Johnson/Climate Cabinet $900, Brandy McCallum Martin $500, LaTarro Traylor $250, Anedra Eatman $200, and Michelle Singleton $100. There was nothing noteworthy about the contributions to Eatman’s campaign.
According to the campaign finance records, here are the top 5 contributions to Richard Williamson’s campaign: Teresa Barcy $1200, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce $1000, Michigan Laborers Political League $1000, McAlvey Merchant PAC $500, and Linda DeKock $500. There are several contributors to Williamson’s campaign who list their employment with the Democratic Party. This makes sense, as Williamson himself is currently the Deputy Finance Director for the Michigan Senate Democrats. There were also contributions from two individuals, one who works for The WinMatt Group and the other for 270 Strategies. Both of these groups are involved in electoral campaigns, PR and consulting work.
Then there is the McAlvey Merchant PAC. According to Transparency USA, the McAlvey Merchant PAC directs funds to both Democrats and Republicans. The top contributor to this PAC is Rusty Merchant, who co-founded McAlvey Merchant & Associates, plus he used to be the Vice President of Government Affairs for the GR Chamber of Commerce and was Chief of Staff for Andrew Raczkowski, a Republican State Representative. The second largest contributor to the McAlvey Merchant PAC is Michael Jandernoa. Jandernoa is part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure.
Palestine Solidarity Information, Analysis, Local Actions and Events for the week of October 27th
It has been a little more than 1 year since the Israeli government began their most recent assault on Gaza and the West Bank. The retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, has escalated to what the international community has called genocide, therefore, GRIID will be providing weekly links to information and analysis that we think can better inform us of what is happening, along with the role that the US government is playing. We will also provide information on local events and actions that people can get involved in. All of this information is to provide people with the capacity of what Noam Chomsky refers to as, intellectual self-defense.
Information
Israeli extermination plan underway in northern Gaza
The West’s Support For Israel’s Genocide Is Destroying The World As We Know It
How the Media Whitewashes Israel’s Rampage
Biden Stands Aside as Netanyahu Incinerates Gaza, Now Lebanon
Voices Against ‘Extermination Campaign’ in Gaza Call Out to the World: ‘This Has to Stop!’
‘Conquer, Kick Out, Resettle’: Israel’s Far-Right Gathers to Plan Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza
WHO IS BEHIND THE GENOCIDAL “GENERAL’S PLAN” TO ANNEX NORTHERN GAZA?
Israel has Taken Human Shields to a Whole New Criminal Level
Universities Raze Jewish Students’ Gaza Solidarity Sukkahs
Analysis & History
Understanding the Religious Extremism That Motivates Israeli Expansion in the West Bank
Israel’s Biblical Wars of ‘Self Defense’: The Myth of the ‘Seven War Fronts’
Image used in this post is from https://www.boughtbyzionism.org/
Follow the Money: Michigan Realtors PAC, influence peddling, the cost of housing and housing policy
As anyone who has lived in Michigan over the past 20 years knows, the housing market has skyrocketed.
Too many people are being priced out of the ability to even buy a home, and rental costs are also out of reach to thousands of families and individuals. While housing costs have gone up, income and wages for most have stagnated or have not increased anywhere near the increase in housing.
None of this matters to the Real Estate industry, which is why the Realtors PAC of Michigan continues to make significant amounts of campaign contributions to both Republicans and Democrats across the state.
According to the most recent campaign contribution data from the State of Michigan, and the July campaign finance data, the Realtors PAC of Michigan has made contributions to hundreds of different candidates. Here are some of the larger contributions Realtors PAC of Michigan has made within the past 6 months:
- National RPAC – $34,650.00
- House Republican Campaign Committee – $32,875.00
- Michigan House Democratic Fund – $22,875.00
- Andrew Fink for MI Supreme Court – $20,000.00
- Kyra Harris Bolden for – MI Supreme Court – $20,000.00
- Senate Republican Campaign Committee – $15,000.00
- Transformational Leadership Fund – $10,000.00
- Greater Kalamazoo Assoc. of Realtors – $5,748.63
- MI Forward Fund – $5,500.00
There are also a fair amount of contributions to candidates from Kent County and Grand Rapids, particularly those who are on the August 6th Primary Ballot:
- Fitzgerald for Michigan PAC – $3,500.00
- Committee to Elect Kristian Grant – $3,000.00
- Lindsey Thiel for Kent County Commissioner – $2,000.00
- Dan Burrill or Kent County Commissioner – $1750.00
- Friends of Bryan Posthumus – $1,500.00
- Friends of Phil Skaggs – $1,500.00
- Robin Halsted for Kent County Commissioner – $1,500.00
- Committee to Elect Gina Johnsen – $1,500.00
- Dean Pacific 1st Ward Grand Rapids City Commissioner – $1,400.00
- Friends of John Fitzgerald – $1,250.00
- Huizenga for MI Leadership – $1,000.00
- Friends of Stephen Wooden – $1,000.00
- David LaGrand for Mayor of Grand Rapids – $1,000.00
- Committee to Elect Angela Rigas – $750.00
- Ben Greene for Kent County Commissioner – $750.00
- Citizens for Stan Ponstein – $750.00
- Monica Sparks for Kent County Commissioner – $750.00
- Stan Stek for Kent County Commissioner – $750.00
- Katie DeBoer for Kent County Commissioner – $550.00
- Brinks Majority Fund – $500.00
- Roger Victory for State Senate – $500.00
- Lisa Posthumus Lyons for Kent County Clerk – $500.00
- Peter MacGregor for Kent County Treasurer – $500.00
- Bing Goei for 3rd Ward GR City Commission – $400.00
- Carol Hennessey for Kent County Commission – $250.00
- Dave Hildenbrand for State Senate – $250.00
- Elizabeth Morse for Kent County Commission – $250.00
- Michelle McCloud for Kent County Commission – $250.00
- Robert Womack for Kent County Commission – $250.00
- Melissa LaGrand for Kent County Commission – $250.00
It is rather instructive to see how many local State Legislators, Kent County and Grand Rapids candidates received funds from the Realtors PAC. You can bet that the Realtors PAC of Michigan wants to make sure that candidates from Grand Rapids and Kent County don’t make social housing or even truly affordable housing a reality. Always follow the money!
State of Michigan gives oil company a $100 Million tax exemption, even though the same company made $21.3 Billion in profits last year
On Tuesday, MLive ran a story headlined, Chevron turning manure into energy at dairy farms throughout Michigan.
The article stated early on in the story:
“A joint venture between Chevron and Brightmark RNG, a waste solutions company, has invested in five anaerobic digesters to convert animal waste into renewable fuels at dairy farms in Greenville, Hartford, Morenci, Orleans and Coopersville.”
Converting animal waste into fuel is not necessarily a bad idea, but why would the State of Michigan provides such a large tax exemption to one of the largest oil companies on the planet? The MLive article states:
“The Michigan Strategic Fund gave Chevron approval for the bond authorization during its Oct. 22 board meeting. This makes bonds issued by a private financial institution tax-exempt through the state.”
The Michigan Strategic Fund is a state entity that was created by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and its board is made up of mostly business people. The MLive article goes on to say:
“Bank of America will be the underwriter for the bond, according to a project memo.”
The fact that Bank of America is underwriting the bond is not surprising, since Bank of America is third on the list of banks that are funding the climate crisis, according to a report by the Indigenous Environmental Network, entitled, Banking on Climate Chaos: Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2024.
What is equally as infuriating is the fact that the Michigan Strategic Fund provided Chevron with a $100 Million tax exemption for this project. To put this into context, Chevron made a profit of $21.3 billion in 2023, which was down from the previous year.
These profits by Chevron and other oil companies also happened in the hottest recorded year since scientists began tracking it.
On top of all of this, Chevron spends a great deal of money to buy political influence at the federal level, according to Open Secrets. This influence peddling has exponentially increased in recent years, as is reflected in the graphic below, which is also from opensecrets.org.
While I am grateful that MLive reported on this matter, they failed to ask the fundamental questions that I am raising about Chevron’s profits, their role in perpetuating the Climate Crisis and how the company influences public policy. We need more from the news media so that the people in Michigan can not only be better informed, but can take action, especially when it comes to providing massive tax breaks to corporations that have more money than some countries and are part of the global oil cartel.
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 