KENTWOOD, Mich (WZZM) - Twin sisters are looking to shake up Kent County politics by taking two seats on the Kent County Board of Commissioners.
But the twist is, the women are running on different platforms for different political parties.
Monica Sparks is running as a Democrat in the 12th District Kent County Commission seat serving parts of Wyoming and Kentwood. She is running in the primary election with three other candidates, Keith Courtade, Katy Steele Barone and Scott Urbanowski. The winner will face Republican Jill Martinez.
Sparks' twin Jessica Ann Tyson is running in the 13th District and will face off with incumbent Democrat Betsy Melton in the general election in November.
Both sisters love each other and have a significant shared past through many difficulties. But they don't agree in politics and are toeing the party line during this election season.
"She's not endorsing me on my campaign and I am not endorsing her on her campaign," Sparks said. "We are loyal to our parties but we are willing to work together and I think that's where we have to be to get anything done. She's not a Democrat and we need a blue wave."
"The reason I am not going to endorse her is because we picked a wonderful candidate (Martinez) and that's the candidate I am standing by," Tyson said. "My sister came to the game late and to the wrong side."
As for President Donald Trump, as you might expect, the sisters have very different views.
"I personally am a Trump supporter and that gets me in trouble daily," Tyson said. "But look at the things the President has done."
"I don't think he has been presidential," Sparks said. "I know he hasn't been presidential."
There was agreement on one issue and that was the question of raising taxes to fix roads. Both agreed they wouldn't do it, choosing to save money or put attention on something else.
During a 30-minute interview, the sisters playfully jabbed each other. Tyson said if she wins, she would likely be in the majority on the normally Republican-dominated Kent County Board of Commissioners.
"I would not want to run against (Sparks)," Tyson said. "We come from the same egg and I respect her and I respect her views and there are days we have very spirited conversations that sound like arguments and they make me see things a little different."
Sparks says she supported her sister in a previous election but not this time around.
"This time I have to make a decision for me and stand by my values and what I believe to be right," Sparks said. "We all have to find a way to work together to find common ground to help others and work from there."
Both encouraged people to just simply go vote, for any candidate or party.
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