Matt Fenske served as an Ottawa County Commissioner for 10 years, including as Board Chair in 2022. He chaired several boards, including the Community Mental Health Board, the Agricultural Preservation Board, and the County Insurance Authority. As a Commissioner, Matt demonstrated a deep understanding of county government and a commitment to serving the community with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

Currently, Matt is the Chair of the Tallmadge Township Planning Commission and served as a Township Trustee for four years. He also had a 33-year career with the Kent County 17th Circuit Court, including as Superintendent of the Juvenile Detention Center.

Matt believes in the power of local politics to impact everyday life. He is passionate about holding leaders accountable, restoring collaboration, and ensuring fair representation for all residents. Under his leadership, Ottawa County was respected throughout Michigan for its balance, transparency, and commitment to serving the people.

I am proud to join the Ottawa Integrity Board because I strongly believe that our elected officials work for us, the people of Ottawa County. They have a responsibility to listen to their constituents in a thoughtful and respectful manner. They should assume that voters with different viewpoints are acting in good faith and want the best for our community. Our elected representatives also have a responsibility to make themselves and their views available to voters when they run for office and after they assume that office. Only responding to voters who share their viewpoints or political outlook is not acceptable. Compromise is the best way to accommodate varying opinions and not a dirty word. The Ottawa Integrity Board recommends candidates that live up to these high standards and I am happy to help encourage such candidates.

I have worked as a member of the League of Women Voters of the Holland Area for seven
years. The League is a non-partisan organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. For five years, I was chair of the Voter Services Committee. As chair, I organized local candidate forums and meet & greets so voters could hear for themselves where candidates stood on various issues. This allowed voters the opportunity to make an informed choice when voting. I also participated in town halls where League members outlined recent changes to Michigan voting rights to interested voters.

I retired from the Holland Board of Public Works after fifteen years as an administrative
assistant. Currently, I live in the City of Holland and am active with the Hope Academy of Senior Professionals and our church choir.

I grew up in Fremont. After graduating from MSU with a degree in computer science, I
moved to the Detroit area where I supported the automotive industry.

I am married and have a daughter living in Traverse City and a son living in Grand
Rapids who now have families of their own.

I retired after 44 years in the IT field and in 2019, became involved in politics when a
friend who was a State Senator needed a treasurer mid-term. I volunteer to become the
treasurer and became familiar with the system used to report finances to the State and
the various other databases that were being used as well as the Campaign Finance
manuals.

In 2019, my wife and I had retired, and we had a new grandson, so we decided to move
to West Michigan to be more involved in seeing him grow up. In 2021, I became aware
of the Ottawa Integrity PAC and their efforts to bring good governance to Ottawa
County. They were also in need of a treasurer and since I was familiar with the process
of reporting for both Candidate Committees and Independent PACs, I volunteered to
become their treasurer.

Having been involved in supporting and working for a large
automotive company, I had seen firsthand what the value of diversity and having
different perspectives brings to the table. I also feel that all constituents should be
respected, and that local government should be conducted with transparency, integrity
and accountability making my involvement in the Ottawa Integrity PAC a good fit.

I am a 2021 graduate of Jenison High School, a 2024 graduate of Grand Valley State University with my degree in international relations, and have been admitted to Cooley Law School starting Fall 2025. I plan to continue in my role on the board of Ottawa Integrity and once I have my law degree, I hope to be able to provide a new perspective on the issues that Ottawa County faces in our political climate.

I have lived in Ottawa County for my entire life and have served on the board of Ottawa Integrity since late 2021. In the current climate of our country, integrity is more important than ever. We cannot sit idly by while chaos runs rampant through almost every facet of our government, and by engaging in the local political climate, it is clear that most people agree that a change is necessary. Ottawa Integrity is part of the answer to that, and I am proud to have served on this board for the past few years, and plan to continue for as long as I am able.

Through compromise, communication, mutual respect, and integrity, I believe that our political climate can be a model for other counties in the state and country. I am excited to see how far we can go, and what changes we can make to most benefit the people in our community.

I’ve been proud to call Zeeland home since 1998, and serving this community has been one of the great honors of my life. After several years on the Planning Commission, I was elected to City Council in 2009, where I’ve focused on listening to residents, supporting practical solutions, and helping Zeeland remain a strong and welcoming place to live.

Over the years, I’ve served on a variety of committees that keep our city running smoothly, giving me a grounded understanding of what matters most to local families and businesses.

I chose to join the Ottawa Integrity PAC because I believe our county deserves leaders who put community first. Integrity, transparency, and responsible decision-making are essential to maintaining the quality of life we all value, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support that mission.

I have spent my career serving the West Michigan community by supporting local businesses, families, and organizations through periods of growth and change. With more than 20 years of experience in banking, I have worked closely with individuals and small business owners to help strengthen local economies and promote long-term stability.

My commitment to West Michigan is rooted in a belief that thriving communities depend on access, collaboration, and informed decision-making. I am passionate about expanding opportunities, bridging gaps, and ensuring that community voices, especially those of small business owners, are heard and understood.

Through my work in commercial real estate, I continue to support responsible growth that benefits West Michigan’s neighborhoods and business districts. I bring a practical, community-minded perspective focused on sustainability, transparency, and shared success.

As a board member, I am committed to thoughtful advocacy that supports transparency, economic opportunity, and policies that strengthen West Michigan communities for the long term. I am proud to contribute my experience and local insight in service of the region I call home.

I chose to join the PAC board to be an advocate for constructive dialogue around issues that impact West Michigan communities and to support thoughtful, community-centered advocacy. As a board member, I am committed to civic engagement, economic opportunity, and policies that strengthen the region for the long term.