Welcome!
We’re Organize Ottawa, a county-wide, multi-party, all-volunteer initiative working to restore competent leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a sense of belonging in Ottawa County. We formed in 2023 in response to the extreme actions of Ottawa Impact (OI).
What is Ottawa Impact (OI)?
A far-right political action group whose candidates won the majority influence on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners in 2022. Their extreme actions have made national headlines.
How did we get here?
OI took advantage of low voter turnout in the 2022 primary to unseat responsible, experienced commissioners across Ottawa County. This year, OI is working to defeat respected, responsible Republicans for sheriff, prosecutor, treasurer, and more.
Counting the Cost of Ottawa Impact
$42,000,000 in new spending
from 2022 to 2024.
More than $300,000 in severance
Given to administrators they fired
Irresponsible hiring & management
Hiring people with no experience and mismanaging existing teams (over 30 quit in the course of one year).
Negative press
And an eroding reputation at both the local and national levels.
More than $730,000 in legal fees
Almost three times the previous administration
5 lawsuits against the county
Over the course of 14 months.
Chaotic leadership and lack of transparency
Hours-long public meetings and closed-door decisions about making and deciding public policies.
2:1 Do not approve
Per a poll by MLive, Ottawa County residents disapprove of OI by a margin of 2:1.
We can’t afford more chaos.
What can be done?
In 2022, only 1/3 of county voters voted in the primary. We must show up this year! We’re asking you to vote for Republicans committed to good governance, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. We’ve outlined the steps below to make it as easy as possible.
Organize Ottawa Voter Guide
County-Wide Candidates
Organize Ottawa endorses these county-wide candidates in the November 5th General Election:
Sheriff: Eric DeBoer
Prosecutor: Sarah Matwiejczyk
Treasurer: Cheryl Clark
Clerk: Justin Roebuck
Water Resources: Joe Bush
County Commission and Township Candidates
District organizations are working on their recommendations for the November 5 general election. As they're available, we will add them to the links below.
Not sure what your district is? We’ll help you, email: Info@OrganizeOttawa.com
Get Involved
Get engaged with your district’s organizing efforts!
Email us and we’ll make that happen.
Attend Meetings
of the Board of Commissioners and Committees as well as your city council, township board, village council, school board, and library board.
Write to your commissioner
Make a public comment
at meetings on a topic of concern to you.
Sign Up
to receive Organize Ottawa emails (if you aren’t already) to get connected with efforts to restore good governance in your district and across the county.
Communicate
within your service groups, churches, neighborhood and more.
Run for Office
Consider running yourself in the next election. Or consider who you know who might run for office.
Share our website
with a friend. Encourage them to connect. The faster and farther we get connected, the better.
Write a letter to the editor
of your local newspaper (300 words or less).
Subscribe
and follow your local papers, radio, and TV outlets.
Donate
There’s so much at stake. Let’s not leave anything on the table. Now is the time. Please help us reach as many voters as possible with a donation at any level today. Thank you for considering.