The conversations were mostly civil during Thursday’s League of Women Voters’ forum for those running for mayor and City Council in Grand Haven.
But there were some veiled — and not so veiled — comments that various candidates made toward each other that showed the contentious nature of the upcoming elections.
Mayoral candidates Bob Monetza and Andrea Hendrick were joined at Central Park Place by City Council candidates Mike Fritz and Ryan Cummins — both incumbents — along with challengers Steve Skodack and DeAnna Lieffers.
The first few questions the candidates addressed dealt with short-term rentals, paid parking and future uses for Harbor Island. Things began to heat up when the moderator asked candidates whether or not they support the proposed charter amendment to restructure the Board of Light & Power into a city department.
Two candidates, Hendrick and Cummins, have long been outspoken proponents of the plan.
“We’re so lucky to have municipal power, but the current system is broken,” said Hendrick, who is currently an elected member of the BLP’s Board of Directors. “Outside of a massive PR push from the board, I don’t think many people look at the BLP as a beacon of transparency. … I want to see the BLP staff coordinate with other departments in the city, and work together to make a more sustainable Grand Haven.”
Cummins echoed statements he made about the BLP during a recent City Council meeting, expressing concerns over the BLP violating environmental laws and refusing to partner with the city to investigate PFAS chemicals on Harbor Island.
“I fully support having a local electric utility, and I fully support front-line workers who bring energy to our homes and businesses each day,” Cummins said. “From my perspective, none of that will change under this proposed amendment. Employees that are there now are transitioning to a new department. We’re still going to have a local electric utility that provides great electrical service.
“From my perspective, what’s going to change, really, is the governance,” he added.
Monetza, Fritz, Lieffers and Skodack hold vastly different outlooks on the proposed charter amendment.
“I’m opposed to this amendment — I’ve been pretty outspoken about that,” said Monetza, a former Grand Haven mayor. “We should look at the reasons for doing this and the potential outcomes, the potential remedies. … Whether the system run by City Council and the city manager compared to run by a board focused solely on that task, with a manager hired by that board responsible to that task, not subject to all the political pressures. It’s clear the system we have is better able to run an electric utility.”
Skodack agreed.
“When I read through the CCC (Charter Change Coalition) documentation, it seems like what the overall aspect is … they want to eliminate a publicly elected board, and that doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. “All the issues that they’re pointing to seem temporary in nature. … I’ve never seen a point and time when you throw more government at something to make it more efficient. I think there’s more potential downside than upside to this change.”
The next question asked candidates if they’re associated with the far-right Ottawa Impact group that recently took control of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. Each candidate answered an emphatic “no.”
“I’m not affiliated in any way, and I don’t know anyone who’s affiliated,” Lieffers said. She then lashed out at some social media posts on the Board of Light & Power Charter Change Coalition that have hinted that those against the charter change are associated with Ottawa Impact.
“It’s a complete lie saying we’re all affiliated because we’re against the charter change,” Lieffers said. “That’s part of the dishonesty and lies and broken relationships we’re seeing.”
Skodack said he sees some activities by current Grand Haven City Council members that remind him of what Ottawa Impact has done on the county level.
Fritz said he never takes contributions for his campaign from individuals, let alone political action groups.
“I”m ashamed with what’s going on in Ottawa County,” he said.
The entire forum can be viewed on the League of Women Voters of the Grand Haven Area’s Facebook page.
