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Contact: Lori Latham
PH: (616) 401-1743 (mobile)
EM: lori.latham@kentcountymi.gov
Kent County Board of Commissioners Sworn In,
Leadership Selected
Eight New Commissioners Join the Board
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Jan. 3, 2023) — The 2023-2024 Kent County Board of Commissioners was sworn into office this morning by Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons during its annual organizational meeting.
As a result of redistricting, the Board of Commissioners was enlarged from nineteen to twenty-one Commissioners. Eight new commissioners, Jennifer Merchant - District 3; Katie DeBoer - District 4; Dave Hildenbrand - District 5; Lisa Oliver-King - District 15; Tony Baker - District 17; Kris Pachla - District 19; Ivan Diaz - District 20; and Walter Bujak - District 21, joined 13 incumbents on the Board. The full Board of Commissioners and the areas they represent are:
- Ben Greene, Republican, District 1
- Tom Antor, Republican, District 2
- Jennifer Merchant, Republican, District 3
- Katie DeBoer, Republican, District 4
- Dave Hildenbrand, Republican, District 5
- Stan Stek, Republican, District 6
- Stan Ponstein, Republican, District 7
- Dan Burrill, Republican, District 8
- Matt Kallman, Republican, District 9
- Emily Brieve, Republican, District 10
- Lindsey Thiel, Republican, District 11
- Monica Sparks, Democrat, District 12
- Michelle McCloud, Democrat, District 13
- Carol Hennessy, Democrat, District 14
- Lisa Oliver-King, Democrat, District 15
- Melissa LaGrand, Democrat, District 16
- Tony Baker, Democrat, District 17
- Stephen Wooden, Democrat, District 18
- Kris Pachla, Democrat, District 19
- Ivan Diaz, Democrat, District 20
- Walter Bujak, Republican, District 21
Leadership Positions Selected
After the Oath of Office was administered, the Board elected and selected several leadership positions for the 2023-2024 term.
Commissioner Stan Stek (District 6) was elected as Chair of the Board for a second term. Stek was first elected to the Commission in 2014 and is an Attorney at Law at Miller Canfield.
“I am and honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as Board Chair for a second term,” said Board Chair Stek. “I’m proud to serve alongside so many passionate individuals who are dedicated to making a difference for our residents, the community, and the region.”
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Commissioner Emily Brieve (District 10) was elected as Vice-Chair of the Board for a second term and will serve as Chair of the Finance and Physical Resources Committee. Brieve has represented the 10th District since 2015 and works for her family’s small business, FastoolNow.com.
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Commissioner Stephen Wooden (District 18) was elected as Minority Vice-Chair for a second term and will serve as Vice-Chair of Finance and Physical Resources Committee. Wooden has represented the 18th District since 2019 and is a Housing & Community Development Associate for Dwelling Place.
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Commissioner Dan Burrill (District 8) was selected to serve as Chair of the Legislative and Human Resources Committee. First elected to the Board in 2021, Burrill is an Associate Broker at Five Star Real Estate, small business owner, and a licensed builder.
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Commissioner Lindsey Thiel (District 11) was selected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Legislative and Human Resources Committee. Thiel was first elected to the Board in 2021 but has served on the Board since 2020. She is a Planning Assistant for Grand Rapids Township.
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“Over the next few months, we will work to unite our diverse and expanded Board to further leverage Kent County’s assets for sustained growth and innovative service to our residents,” said Stek. “I look forward to leading this Board to advance policies that support economic prosperity and safe and healthy communities.”
Board Appointments
The Board also approved appointments for various county committees, commissions, and boards. The County received more than 536 applications for 65 vacancies. Click here for a list of chair appointments. A full list of appointments can be found here.
“We thank everyone who applied to serve on one of the county’s committees, commissions or boards,” concluded Stek. “These appointments are critical for moving Kent County forward and having strong leadership and membership on these boards will allow us to provide the best service possible to our residents.”
Commission Meetings
Commission meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, unless otherwise noticed. All meetings are held at the County Administration Building, 3rd Floor, 300 Monroe Avenue N.W. in Grand Rapids and streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
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