The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has elected Republican John Teeples, from District 7, as their new chair, marking a shift away from the influence of the Ottawa Impact group. Teeples, a newcomer elected in November, was not supported by Ottawa Impact and replaces Joe Moss, the group's founder, in the role.
After the August primary, Ottawa County's board now has a majority of moderate Republicans, with only four of the 10 newly elected Republicans affiliated with Ottawa Impact. On Thursday's meeting will focus on administrative tasks, including electing a vice-chair and swearing in new members. Public interest has centered on selecting a new chair, with a recent survey showing 66.6% of respondents favoring a Republican leader, and 46% preferring one of the six moderate Republicans, according to WZZM13 and MLive.
Before the organizational meeting, local residents expressed divided opinions. Stuart J., 73, from Spring Lake, said, “He has done enough damage” about Moss, while 71-year-old Jim Lorence from Holland praised Moss’s past leadership. About 25% of respondents favored John Teeples for his “keen legal mind with extensive municipal experience,” while another 25% supported Democratic incumbent Doug Zylstra. Moss and vice chair nominee Josh Brugger bring a more diverse approach to governance. The new board’s first task is hiring a county administrator after the dismissal of two interim administrators and the departure of the final candidate, as reported by WOODTV.
