OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — The newly elected Ottawa County Board of Commissioners fired County Administrator John Shay and announced the hiring of John Gibbs for the job during the organizational meeting Tuesday.
Commissioners added several new agenda items during the meeting, including the firing and hiring of the county administrator.
County Commissioner Sylvia Rhodea brought forth the motion to fire Shay and hire Gibbs for the position.
Only nine of the 11 commissioners were in attendance for the vote, which passed by a margin of six to three. Here is how the county commissioners voted:
- Gretchen Cosby (R) District 1 - Yes vote
- Lucy Ebel (R) District 2 - Yes vote
- Doug Zylstra (D) District 3 - No vote
- Jacob D. Bonnema (R) District 4 - Not present
- Joe Moss (R) District 5 - Yes vote
- Kyle Terpstra (R) District 6 - Not present
- Rebekah A. Curran (R) District 7 - No vote
- Sylvia Rhodea (R) District 8 - Yes vote
- Roger Belknap (R) District 9 - Yes vote
- Roger A. Bergman (R) District 10 - No vote
- Allison Miedema (R) District 11 - Yes vote
President Donald Trump-backed John Gibbs ran for Michigan's 3rd Congressional seat.
Gibbs unseated sitting Republican Peter Meijer in the primary election, and ultimately lost to Democratic opponent Hillary Scholten in the midterms.
Gibbs was offered time to speak during the meeting, but he declined to talk at length.
"First of all, congratulations to all of you on the board for your wonderful election. It shows that the people are still in charge. The Founding Fathers looking down right now and very proud of what's happening right now. So just make sure you know that and this is a wonderful moment. Thank you to everyone for your prayers for the board and for Ottawa County. Those are being answered as we speak, will continue to be answered. We have to remember that those of us in government are accountable to the people and accountable to elected officials. That means that even though I am the administrator, I'm not in charge, the board is in charge because you elected them and I'm accountable to them. I gotta be accountable to elected officials," John Gibbs said after being hired as the County Administrator.
The county administrator oversees day-to-day board initiatives, manages the county's financial health and supervises general operations.
County commissioners also adopted a new slogan: 'where freedom rings,' which will replace the previous slogan 'where you belong.'
In a vote, commissioners also fired Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley, MBA, REHS, and dissolved the office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Ottawa County Democratic Party Chair Tim Smith released a statement Wednesday about the changes:
"Yesterday the Ottawa County newly elected County Commissioners moved quickly to show that the county and county government will no longer be a place for a growing community to feel welcome. Instead, it will be one based on lies and one that is not living within reality.
The agenda items yesterday were not addressing the concerns of the entire community but of only a few. For example, after the swearing-in ceremonies, the board's agenda included removing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department sending a clear message that 'everyone' is not welcome here. Haphazardly added to the agenda items during the meeting was firing dedicated employees of the county and changing the county motto from "where you belong" to "where freedom rings”. To add to their opening questionable action items they hired John Gibbs as the county administrator, who 42.9% of the county voted against and elected Hillary Scholten to the U.S. 3rd Congressional seat in the November election instead. Is yesterday's action in hiring the losing side for the race for congress a 'swipe' at the winning side?
Although most of the Ottawa County Democratic Party members were hopeful for a smooth transition, with yesterday being the first day of the new commission to use as an indicator, it is clear that did not happen. Having so many drastic changes early on is terribly disappointing and yes, unfortunately, expected."
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