HIGHLIGHTS + OTTAWA COUNTY
Special Meeting highlights—Interviewing commissioner candidates for District 6
Published December 9, 2023
Written by Adams
Photography by Simply American
On November 16, 2023, Commissioner Kyle Terpstra resigned from the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. According to Michigan Law 46.412 and Board Rule 2.6, the office shall be filled by appointment within 30 days by the Board.
In the name of transparency, the Board held public interviews of five candidates at a Special Meeting on Friday, December 8, 2023.
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Special Meeting
Friday, December 8, 2023
Interview Procedure
Before interviews started, the Board made a motion to approve the Interview Procedure that would be used for interviewing the five commissioner applicants for District 6.
Interview Procedure:
• At the request of the Board Chairperson, the applicant will be seated at the board room table
• The Board Chairperson will introduce the applicant by name
• Commissioners will introduce themselves by name and district
• The Board Chairperson will ask a prepared set of ten questions to the applicant
• The Board Chairperson will thank and excuse the applicant
The motion passed. Commissioners Roger Bergman, Jacob Bonnema and Doug Zylstra were absent from the Special Meeting.
Applicants And Questions
Eleven people were considered for the District 6 seat. That list was narrowed down by a Board vote at a Special Meeting held on December 5, 2023.
The applicants voted to move forward to the interview process were:
• Joel Buck
• Shawn Haff
• Lynn Janson
• Joseph Parnell McCarter
• Kendra Wenzel
Questions asked of the applicants:
1. Tell us about yourself and why you decided to apply?
2. What qualifications, skillsets, or life experiences would make you the right person for this role?
3. There are many decisions and votes that take place each week. How will you go about making decisions? And, tell us about your internal compass.
4. Given the opportunity to receive a $1 million grant, how would you spend it and why?
5. How much time do you expect to be able to give this role?
6. Can you describe a time where you had to consider different opinions and make a decision?
7. What are the best things about the United States?
8. What are the best things about Ottawa County?
9. Where would you live if you could not live in Ottawa County?
10. What else would you like to share that you have not been asked?
Chair Joe Moss explained that each applicant received five of the ten prepared questions before the interview.
Each applicant had 35 minutes to answer questions. Everyone finished within the allotted time. Chair Moss thanked each applicant for applying and participating in a public interview.
The Interviews
Candidate 1: Joel Buck
Candidate 2: Shawn Haff
Candidate 3: Lynn Janson
Candidate 4: Joseph Parnell McCarter
Candidate 5: Kendra Wenzel
What’s Next
The commissioners now will contemplate what they have heard and contact applicants on their own if they have further questions.
On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the Board will vote to decide who will fill the vacant commissioner seat.
A step into the public square should not be taken lightly. With five candidates to consider, the Board has a big decision to make on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, as they choose the candidate they believe to be the best suited to serve the constituents of District 6.
Meeting
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
Special Meeting
December 8, 2023
Location
Ottawa County Administration Building
12220 Fillmore Street
West Olive, MI 49460
