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Meet an extraordinary-ordinary Michigander committed to the Common Good for West Michigan. Abby Klomparens for State Representative in District 86 includes the Greater Holland area and portions of Allegan County.

In this episode you'll learn how to properly pronounce another Dutch last-name (Klomp-ar-ens), why the election of former President Trump was a catalyst for Abby's political involvement, and why she's challenging Republican incumbent Nancy DeBoer.

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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Washington Post reporter Patrick Marley. Patrick writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest and wrote a series of stories covering how divisive, Trump-style politics came to Ottawa County through Ottawa Impact.

In this episode you'll learn about the Washington Post's series called Democracy in America, how moderate Republicans and some Democrats mobilized against Ottawa Impact and fought back, and how eating BBQ is a form of patriotism.

To learn more about the Washington Post's coverage of Ottawa Impact you can listen to our November 2023 episode called Why is the Washington Post covering the politics of Ottawa County?

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Note: Ottawa Impact lost it's majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after the August 6th primary election. The four that remain through the general election are Joe Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, Kendra Wenzel, and Allison Miedema.

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Over the previous year I've had the privilege of being in conversation with a handful of well established Republicans in Ottawa County to help me understand the state of local politics. The central question that I wanted to answer — and understand from their point of view — was: 

What happened to my Ottawa GOP?

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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Dr. Paul Isely the Associate Dean and Professor of Economics for the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. For nearly a decade Dr. Isley has become somewhat of an economics guru in West Michigan as employers have used his historically accurate economic findings to help guide their business decisions. 

In this episode you'll learn about the cause of recent inflation, the power of consumer spending versus government spending, and how to grow West Michigan's economy. 

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Zylstra. Doug is the incumbent Ottawa County Board Commissioner representing District 3 (Holland) as a Democrat serving in his 3rd, 2-year term.

In this episode you'll learn why it was important for Doug to foster dialogue with the Ottawa Impact Commissioners, what it means to have a record-breaking 2 Democrats on the Board of Commissioners, and if Doug is a "woke" Democrat or not.

Show Notes:

Listen to episodes about What Happened to my Ottawa GOP.

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Chris Crothers. Chris is running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 4 (Zeeland) as a Democrat.

In this final segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll learn how Chris started as a home brewer then started his own brewery, why he's running for County Commissioner, and what it means to be a Common Good Candidate in Ottawa County. 

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Leach. Sarah is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and previously the regional editor for Gannett Media leading The Holland Sentinel and 14 other Michigan papers.

During this second segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll learn about dad-jokes, why Sarah was fired from the Holland Sentinel, the challenges of covering Ottawa Impact, and the crisis of local journalism.

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt the executive director of Vote Common Good. Nick and Doug both went to the US-Mexico border in Arizona and Mexico and talk about their shared experience.

During this segment from our live event in Holland you'll learn about Nick and Doug's first impressions of the border wall from both sides of the wall, why families are seeking asylum and how coming to the US is a last resort, and what can be done in the US to help the immigration crisis.

YouTube link to video of Nick's First Impressions of the Border Wall

YouTube link to video of Doug Interviewing Asylum Seeking Families

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Marcia Mansaray, the Democratic candidate running for State Representative in Michigan’s 85th District. Marcia was the Deputy Health Officer for Ottawa County’s Department of Public Health and emerged as a courageous voice for the community when she pushed back against efforts by Ottawa Impact to undermine and silence the Department of Public Health.

In this episode you'll learn why Marcia no longer identifies with the Republican Party, the burden of making Covid-19 related decisions during the pandemic, why she decided to run for State Representative, and what the Common Good means to her. Oh, and Saturday morning cartoons.

Enjoy!

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To lean more about Marcia's campaign click here.

To hear Marcia's Opinion Piece "A Surprising Thank You to Ottawa Impact" click here.

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus-Lyons and Chief Deputy Clerk Robert Macomber. The two, both Republicans, have been educating voters about Michigan's new election laws and helping them overcome obstacles to election misinformation.

In this episode you'll learn about the technical term for a cow's udder, Michigan's new election laws, election integrity, if Michigan's Qualified Voter File is bloated and problematic, and debunking the local voting narrative about undocumented immigrants.

Enjoy!

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Josh Brugger “the man running to fill Roger Bergman's shoes in Ottawa County. Brugger is running as a Republican for the District 10 seat on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after several controversial decisions were made by Ottawa Impact. Josh believes that “now is the time for those of us "in the middle" to stand up to politicians on the fringes and declare, "Enough is enough."

In this episode you'll learn that Brugger wants to return Ottawa County to being "boring, reliable and predictable" — and he says that's a good thing, why as a Republican he refuses to align himself with the Ottawa County GOP, and how not to make dead people (and possibly zombies).

Don't forget to RSVP for free for our live podcast event Sunday, June 16 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Park Theatre in Holland!

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Hey Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Matwiejczyk. Sarah is Ottawa County’s Chief Assistant Prosecutor and is running for Ottawa County Prosecutor as a Republican.

In this episode you'll learn how to pronounce Sarah's last name (Ma-toy-sic!), her opinion on what's happened with the Ottawa GOP, what it means to be a "vetted" Republican juxtaposed against Ottawa Impact, and why she want's to represent all people - no matter political affiliation - as Ottawa County's Prosecutor.

Enjoy!

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Phil Kuyers the former Ottawa County Commissioner who was first elected to the commission in 2000 and served as board chair for three years. Phil, a Republican, is running again for the District 9 seat (Grand Haven Twp.), which he represented for more than two decades before losing to Ottawa Impact Republican Roger Belknap in 2022 who is also running for re-election in the August 6th primary election. 

In this episode you'll learn about the stupidity of Ottawa Impact, what happened to the Ottawa GOP, why County Commissioner seats should be non-partisan, and learning leadership by making mistakes.

Enjoy!

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with David Gushee the author of a new book called Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies. The Rev. Prof. Dr. David Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University and is one of America's leading Christian ethicists.

In this episode you'll learn why Christians should support democracy, why so many are open to authoritarian and reactionary political trends that threaten democracy, and why responsible Christians need to recommit to democracy that fit with the convictions of Christian ethics. Oh, and how Nick and David grew up loving the game of baseball.

Enjoy!

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Hey, West Michigan!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Becky Patrick of Allendale Twp. Becky is running to defeat Ottawa Commissioner / Vice-Chairperson and co-founder of Ottawa Impact, Sylvia Rhodea, in District 8 during the August 6th primary.

In this episode you'll learn why Becky was one one of the most civically engaged citizens in Ottawa County in 2023, why she wants a return to reason, fiscal responsibility and good governance to the Ottawa County BOC, and why she has committed to being a Common Good Candidate in West Michigan.

Enjoy.
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To learn more about Becky's campaign click here.

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Hey, West Michigan!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with lifelong resident of Ottawa County Reverend Luis Cypher, a minister of Satan and co-head of the Satanic Temple of West Michigan. Reverend Cypher gave the invocation at the April 23rd Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting.

In this episode we learn that the Satanic Temple of West Michigan does not worship Satan (nor promote evil), how Ottawa County Commissioner Rebekah Curran protested the invocation, and how evangelical Christians turned public comment into a bully pulpit for converting people to Christianity.

Enjoy!
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Satanic Temple gives invocation at Ottawa County Board meeting, video

Christians coordinate a protest during the invocation, video

Satanic Temple website

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Hey, West Michigan!

Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Jordan Jorritsma the Republican candidate running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 2 (Holland). Jordan is running to defeat Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in the August primary election if she wins her May 7th Recall Election.

In this episode we'll lean into our theme of What Happened to my Ottawa GOP?, why Jordan signed on as a co-plaintiff for a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and why he's running against Ottawa Impact. Oh, and male pattern baldness.

Enjoy!

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Hey, West Michigan!

Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt, Executive Director of Vote Common Good. 

In 2021 Doug traveled 3,000 miles along the U.S./Mexico border with his bicycle and experienced first-hand that the border was not as dangerous nor chaotic as its made out to be. Wanting people to experience this for themselves he is encouraging people to join him at border towns on foot and talk with the people who actually live there.

In this episode you’ll learn what it’s really like along the U.S./Mexico border, what surprised Doug the most about the border towns, and how human experience can change our ideas of what we think we already know.  

Enjoy!

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"On May 7, voters in District 2  will have the opportunity to vote in the special recall election for their county commissioner. I am running against Ottawa Impact-affiliated commissioner Lucy Ebel. Recently, Commissioner Ebel distributed literature within the district containing several false claims and misrepresentations." - read by Common Good Candidate, Chris Kleinjans

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville. Mark is running to defeat Commissioner Board Chair and leader of Ottawa Impact Joe Moss in District 5 during the August 6th primary. And if you know anything about Ottawa County politics the primary election is where more often than not local elections are decided.
 
In this episode you'll learn about the finer things in life such as bourbon, cigars, and crunchy peanut butter. You'll also learn about what's going on with the Ottawa GOP, what it means to be a Republican running against Ottawa Impact, and why Mark decided to become a Common Good Candidate.

Enjoy.

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Check out this clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. Chris Kleinjans is a Democrat running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel during a special Recall Election occurring on Tuesday, May 7. Chris is also a Common Good Candidate.

- Learn more about our Common Good Candidate platform

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Check out this 20-minute clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. 

Mayor Mark Northrup discusses why Joe Moss' leadership with Ottawa Impact has led to a train wreck in Ottawa County.

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Hey Everybody!

Get ready for an episode packed with laughs and learning...

Nick and Shawn had a great time with a live audience where they laughed about their father in-law wanting to try nasal irrigation, debating the correct way to pronounce the grocery store name "Meijer", and Nick testing for a red belt in karate.  Kia!

Nick and Shawn also learned about Democratic and Republican points of view while being in conversation with two candidates running for Ottawa County Commissioner against Ottawa Impact:

• Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville (District 5, Republican) running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Joe Moss in the August  6th Primary Election spoke passionately about why Joe Moss should not run for re-election, why Ottawa Impact is a "train wreak", and about not being a RINO or MAGA. 
• Chris Kleinjans (District 2, Democrat) running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in a recall election on May 7th spoke about the funding complexities of Ottawa Food, findings from a MLive poll about Ottawa Impact, and why he chose to become a Common Good Candidate. 

Finally, Mark and Chris answered tough questions from the audience where they gave their opinions about parental rights, vaccines, paying litigation fees, and transparency.

You're gonna want to settle in for this episode. So grab a drink, listen with a friend, and enjoy!

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*This is a shortened promo from our previous promo episode
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A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick and Shawn started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wanting to lean into that experience they decided to start a podcast. Common Good Conversations is a weekly opportunity for Nick and Shawn to talk about the politics and faith of West Michigan by being curious, nuanced, grace-filled, and humorous; perhaps they’ll learn something along the way. 

• Special Guest, Christian Kleinjans for Ottawa County Commissioner
• Live Music, Daniel Dietrich
• Alcoholic beverages and pizza available for purchase

Sunday, March 24 from 6 to 8 PM at Park Theatre.
Let us know you're coming!

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*A live event recorded at Port 393 in Holland on March 10.
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How can we move from a politics of fear to a politics of faith? A discussion with local panelists

• Dr. Fred Johnson, Professor of Political Science, Hope College
• Sarah Leach, Editor of the Holland Sentinel
• Christy Berghoef, Communication Consultant
• Rev. Dr. Jared Cramer, Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church

Moderator

• Stan Green, Leadership Consultant

Co-Sponsoring Organizations

• Vote Common Good-West Michigan
• Still Processing

Co-Sponsoring Churches

• Holland UCC, Douglas Congregational, Hope Church Justice and Reconciliation Ministry, First United Methodist Church of Holland, St. John's Episcopal Church (Grand Haven)

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