Joe Moss, a current commissioner in Ottawa County and co-founder of conservative political group Ottawa Impact, is running for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Moss has officially filed for the 89th District, according to the county’s elections website. The district covers portions of counties Ottawa, Muskegon and Kent, including townships Allendale, Blendon, Chester, Polkton, Tallmadge and Wright, as well as Coopersville.
“Michigan is at a critical moment, and the future of our state will be shaped by leaders who have the courage to act — and the record to prove they will,” Moss wrote in a release announcing his candidacy March 24.
Moss currently represents District 5 on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. He was elected in 2022 and re-elected to a four-year term in 2024. He served as board chair in 2023 and 2024.
Moss’ tenure gained national attention after sweeping changes were made to county government. During his first meeting in January 2023, commissioners fired then-administrator John Shay and replaced him with John Gibbs; dismantled the county’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office; hired new legal counsel and changed the county’s motto to “Where Freedom Rings.”
Under his leadership, Ottawa County faced a number of high-profile lawsuits, including from Health Officer Adeline Hambley, Ryan Kimball, Rev. Jared Cramer and, following his termination, Gibbs. Moss was also personally named in a lawsuit concerning former Commissioner Chris Kleinjans and the MSU Extension. All of those lawsuits have since been settled.
“Strong leadership means taking decisive action, standing firm on principle and remaining accountable to the people we serve,” Moss wrote. “It means protecting children, preserving childhood innocence and standing with local communities — so the people, not distant bureaucracies, have a voice in their future. That’s the leadership I’ve brought in Ottawa County, and it’s the leadership I will bring to Lansing.”
According to his website, Moss is pro-life, pro-veterans, pro-parental rights, pro-child innocence, pro-religious freedom, pro-small business, pro-farmland protection, pro-resource security, pro-merit and excellence, pro-law and order, pro-health freedom, pro-election integrity, pro-fiscal transparency, pro-healthcare, pro-Constitution and pro-America.
Moss was raised in Hudsonville and has degrees in accounting and marketing from Cedarville University. During his time on the Ottawa County Board, he’s voted to build and expand the Department of Veteran Affairs and has encouraged deeper discussion on grant acceptance.
According to his announcement, Moss will focus on protecting children and families, defending local communities, reducing taxes, strengthening the economy and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government.
Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, hadn’t yet announced plans to run for a third term as of March 24. Meerman won the seat in 2022 following statewide redistricting with 69% of the vote. He retained the seat in 2024 with 69.3% of the vote.
Patrick Kapenga, a businessman from Coopersville, has also filed to run as a Republican. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot in August is April 21, though write-in candidates may file until July 24.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa Impact co-founder Joe Moss announces bid for 89th District
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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