JACOB BONNEMA, REPUBLICAN, ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR OTTAWA COUNTY COMMISSION
Zeeland, Mich., January 25, 2024 — Jacob Bonnema, Republican member of the Ottawa County Commission, representing the 4th District, today announced his campaign for re-election to the Board of Commissioners. Bonnema has served Ottawa County and residents of the 4th District for the past 18 months.
Bonnema has been thrust into the national spotlight as the sole member to breakaway from the controversial Ottawa Impact Political Action Committee. As a conservative leader, Bonnema has fought tirelessly for government transparency and accountability, to reduce the size of government, protect the rule of law, honor all people equally and use common sense in deliberations.
“I’m just a football dad who was frustrated and upset at the path our former commissioners led us toward. Unfortunately, most of those who replaced their predecessors on commission have fumbled the opportunity they were given,” said Bonnema. “I am running be the voice of reason on this commission, to stay steadfast to the contract I signed for my constituents, which defends their liberty first, and not the interests for administrators and bureaucrats.”
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is comprised of 11 members, who will now be elected every four years from districts of equal population. Commissioners are responsible for hiring and evaluating the county administrator, and overseeing the vision of county departments and county-funded programming.
“County Commissioners have two jobs, to hire an effective administrator and to approve a budget, and the majority on commission failed to do either of those things well,” added Bonnema. “I am asking the people of Zeeland, Holland Township and the surrounding community for their support to prioritize good governance, professional leadership and fiscal responsibility.”
During the past 18 months, the county administrators budget has ballooned by hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for severances and new staff members. The county’s legal budget has been depleted by the transfer of funds to Kallman Law Group, to support legal battles, caused by Ottawa Impact aligned commissioners.
“The Ottawa Impact majority on County Commission has squandered our tax dollars, which will never come back to residents of Ottawa County,” added Bonnema. “My campaign, and my next term, will extend this fight to bring good, conservative, fiscal responsibility back to Ottawa County.”
Bonnema is an elite producer in the financial sector, an experienced insurance representative and has served on various boards for the county, as well as others that support and develop the US Military, sports leagues, and inner-city development. He has served on community and not-for-profit boards for more than 25 years.
A resident of historic Downtown Zeeland, Jacob attends Family Church in Zeeland. He is an Eagle Scout and active in the Republican Party. Professionally, he served as president and CEO at Desert River Games, and Co-Owner of Chuck Norris’s World Combat League.
Bonnema and his wife, Kelly, have five adult children. Jacob’s oldest daughter is adopted from Ethiopia, married with two children. His oldest son and daughter-in-law are full time missionaries based in Livingston, Zambia. He has two sons currently attending Western Michigan University. Among them, one is currently caption of the WMU Broncos football team and completing his masters in finance, and another on a full-ride scholarship and recently married during summer 2023. Jacob’s youngest daughter is a 2023 graduate of Zeeland East High School and currently also a missionary in Africa.
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