GRAND HAVEN, MI – A group of Northwest Ottawa County citizens have joined forces to Encourage responsible government and oppose the radical right-wing group Ottawa Impact. The group of volunteers, called the Ottawa North Tri-Cities Action Committee (ONTRAC), has formally organized as an independent political action committee. Its primary goals are to safeguard democratic processes, communicate factual information on issues relevant to local residents, promote responsible voting and recommend local candidates.
ONTRAC plans to monitor Northwest Ottawa County units of government for the influence of’extremist groups or individuals, then promote peaceful, responsible citizen action to counteract
it. Although the group is in its early stages, ONTRAC has already compiled a database of hundreds of like-minded District 10 residents and hosted a meeting that attracted more than 70
supporters.
“We have watched and listened as our county commissioners dismantled the good governance our community is known for,” said John North, a local resident and ONTRAC Steering Committee
member. “We joined their meetings and spoke of our concerns, but they did not listen. “Instead their ideology is spreading into our municipalities and cities, our libraries and schools.
Now we are joining together to plan and act to restore ethical conduct, transparency, fiscal responsibility and inclusion. We will be ready at the ballot box.”
Ottawa Impact, created in 2021 and fueled by outrage over the county and state response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, raised more than $250,000 and won a majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners in 2022. Current commissioners are serving two-year terms that expire at the end of 2024. If they’re re-elected then, they’re in until 2028 because a new state law doubled the length of county board terms.
After Ottawa Impact’s county board takeover, District 10 residents joined many others throughout the county to oppose the group. About a dozen of those concerned citizens, most of whom did not know each other previously, first gathered in July 2023. They recognized that Ottawa Impact and like-minded individuals and organizations are also attempting to influence government on a more “micro” level – specifically cities, townships, school boards and library governing boards.
For that reason, ONTRAC will focus not just on county government, but on District 10 communities. The district includes the cities of Grand Haven and Ferrysburg, the Village of Spring Lake and five of six precincts in Spring Lake Township. ONTRAC welcomes people of all political parties and persuasions who oppose Ottawa Impact and similar groups and are concerned about their exclusionary and anti-democratic influence on local communities. ONTRAC hopes to provide a place where independents, Democrats and disaffected Republicans can work together for better governance.
ONTRAC joins many like-minded groups that have formed in Ottawa County but is the only one focused on the Tri-Cities area. Much of the organization’s work will be accomplished through
seven Action Committees, each with specific tasks: membership, monitoring, fundraising, elections, public relations/social media, education/civic engagement and social activities.
ONTRAC is led by its Steering Committee, all of whom are District 10 residents. They are:
RyanCotton, Jim Dana, Daryl Fischer, Monique Hanson, Susan Klooster, Jerry Morlock, John North,
Karen Obits, Bethany Rickwald and Cindy Spielmaker.
For more information or to volunteer or donate, please email ONTRAC.D10@gmail.com or visit
https://www.facebook.com/ONTRACAdvocates
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