EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that Kleinjans will be sworn in on May 28, the first regular meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after the election results are expected to be certified May 15.

OTTAWA COUNTY — The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners saw a sea change in the second district Tuesday when a sitting Ottawa Impact commissioner was recalled.

Lucy Ebel is a member of Ottawa Impact, which currently has a seven-member majority on the board. The far-right fundamentalist group was formed in 2021 over frustrations with the county and state over COVID-19 mitigation measures.

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On May 7, Democrat Chris Kleinjans brought OI’s majority on the board down to three and will now finish out Ebel’s term, which is through 2024. Kleinjans won with 2,502 votes to Ebel’s 1,665 (60%-40%).

Since taking office in January, Ebel and other Ottawa Impact-linked commissioners have pushed through a series of controversial decisions, resulting in five lawsuits over 14 months against the county. The recall petition was filed in July and the process took more than five months prior to the special May election being called.

Read more: Meet the Democrat running against Lucy Ebel in the May recall election

“I feel good,” Kleinjans told me. “You know, we put in a lot of work to make this event to make this result happen. We talked to a lot of people, we talked a lot of voters. I had a great team of people and volunteers that helped move this thing to the line, and I'm grateful for the result we got.”

The victory also means that the board will have its second Democrat — a first in county history.

Doug Zylstra, currently the only Democrat on the board, said he welcomed Kleinjans, who will resume Ebel’s term as of the May 28 board of commissioners meeting.

“I am very excited to have Chris join us on the board,” Zylstra said. His knowledge and common sense will be of deep value to us and I believe to all county residents who look to the board to provide the high-quality county services that Ottawa County has long been known for.”

Both Kleinjans and Ebel have filed to run for this year’s regular election cycle separate from the special election, meaning both will appear on the primary ballots. That means Ebel will have another chance to win her seat back in November when commissioner seats convert from two-year to four-year terms starting in 2025.

When asked how he feels about the election scheduled for later this year, Kleinjans said he’s just taking one election at a time.

“At this point, my focus is entirely on trying to figure out what being a commissioner entails,” he said. “That's going to be a steep learning curve. But the people of this district put me in this position, and I want to make sure that I put myself in a position to serve them as well as I can. I feel a little more comfortable with my feet under me as far as being a commissioner.”

Before Ebel would get a rematch with Kleinjans, however, she first must go through local political newcomer Jordan Jorritisma in the Republican primary.

Jorritsma, 25, is a graduate of Holland Christian Schools and attended Calvin University in Grand Rapids. He works as the legislative director for Republican State Rep. Curt VanderWall, of Ludington, who represents Michigan's 102nd District.

"I think trust has been lost between the county and county residents. I think they've tried to contort the definition of community and almost pit groups of people against each other," Jorritsma told The Sentinel of the board's current majority. "We have an amazing community here. Ottawa County is exceptional; we should be in the news because we're one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, and we have absolutely amazing economic development going on."

Read more: 'People are really fed up': Conservative joins the race for District 2

When asked if he felt like the recall election was a referendum Ottawa Impact, Kleinjans said he felt like the topic was the backdrop throughout the campaign.

“Having worked on the recall, I feel like every step through the certification through this campaign has had the shadow of Ottawa Impact on it,” he said. “I believe that has been what a lot of these people voted against. I realize that a vote for me was a vote against something — and I'm fine with that.”

Ebel has never responded to this reporter’s requests for comment since taking office in January 2023.

Kleinjans, 55, is a 1986 graduate of Holland High School and a U.S. Navy veteran. He claims deep roots in the Holland area as a descendant of the settlers of Zeeland.

"I am from Holland, born and raised on the south side, went to Holland High School," he previously told The Holland Sentinel.

After returning home and marrying his wife, Sarah, Kleinjans earned degrees in youth services from Grand Rapids Community College, history and education from Grand Valley State University and a master's in public administration from GVSU. The couple has lived in District 2, which includes parts of Park Township and Holland Township, for nearly 30 years. They have two boys — Benjamin, 28, and Jackson, 25.

Kleinjans has a 25-year history working in the nonprofit sector, including the development of educational programming for the Holland Historical Trust and time spent as a community nutrition instructor.

— Contact Sarah Leach at SentinelLeach@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. Subscribe to her content at sentinelleach.substack.com.

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