KENT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSES LOCAL CANDIDATES & READY BY 5 MILLAGE

[GRAND RAPIDS, MI – June 20] – The Kent County Democratic Party is proud to endorse the following eight candidates, who are running for local nonpartisan offices:

  • David LaGrand, Grand Rapids Mayor
  • AliciaMarie Belchak, Grand Rapids City Commissioner, Ward 1
  • Milinda Ysasi, Grand Rapids City Commissioner, Ward 2
  • Marshall Kilgore, Grand Rapids City Commissioner, Ward 3
  • Micah Perkins, Board of Trustees Grand Rapids Community College
  • Robert Kilgo, Wyoming City Council At-Large
  • Charissa Huang, Judge of 17th Circuit Court (Non-incumbent)
  • Peter Kulas-Domingueuz, Judge of Probate Court (Kent, Non-Incumbent) At-Large

The Kent County Democratic Party also enthusiastically endorses the Kent County Ready By Five Early Childhood Millage for renewal as an investment in a strong future for our community. The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage helps children in Kent County enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn and succeed. 

The Kent Dems strongly encourage a “Yes” vote on this millage and for these endorsed local candidates. The Kent County Democratic Party endorses initiatives and candidates in nonpartisan races to help voters decide about candidates and issues they may not know about. 

“We believe these are the best candidates for the office,” said Gary Stark, Endorsement Committee Chair. “They share many of our values. They care about the policies we care about, and they are committed to opening up the political process to better reflect the broad range of people who make up our community.

The Endorsement Committee, consisting of nine people, reviewed all the candidates who filed for nonpartisan races by the April deadline and contacted approximately 50 of whom were thought open to considering a Democratic endorsement. About a dozen responded and completed the Kent Dems questionnaire. 

After considering their responses, interviewing a few in greater depth, and soliciting the opinions of elected Democratic office-holders in the county, the Endorsement Committee made its recommendations last week to the Kent County Democratic County Committee, who by a two-thirds vote, affirmed these recommendations.

“We are thrilled to see such talented, qualified individuals willing to step up to run for office and eager to represent us in Kent County,” said Chair Kim Gates. “It once again highlights the importance of voting not just for the top of the ticket, but all the way down to the local nonpartisan races that impact our everyday lives the most.”

For the full endorsement policy and process of the Kent County Democratic Party, please visit https://kentdems.com/candidates.

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ABOUT KENT COUNTY DEMOCRATS 

For more than three decades, the Kent County Democratic Party has been a grassroots organization centered on advancing progressive goals like quality public education, affordable health care, economic and racial justice, workers’ rights, gender equality, and protecting the environment. We work hard all year, every year, to elect Democrats and move our country forward.

Contact us by email at info@kentdems.com, call (616) 406-1573, or stop by our office at 301 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Our office is currently open Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM through the entire election cycle. www.kentdems.com 

ABOUT READY BY FIVE MILLAGE

The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage helps thousands of children in Kent County enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn and succeed. Kent County voters have the opportunity to renew this critical funding during the Aug. 6, 2024 election. 

The millage is funded by a 0.25 mill property tax that generates about $7 million a year, totaling $37 million since Ready by Five was overwhelmingly supported by Kent County voters in 2018. Visit yesreadyby5.com for more info.