In Ottawa County, Michigan, a slate of newly-elected officials on the Board of Commissioners enacted sweeping changes in regional governance.
At their first meeting earlier this year, the board voted to implement a series of drastic changes that included firing the city manager, dissolving a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, and changing the county's motto from "Where You Belong" to "Where Freedom Rings."
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The contract, worth at least $580,000 was awarded to Kallman Legal Group, a firm known for opposing pandemic emergency orders and abortion legalization. Leaders at the firm are also related to the business partner of the Ottawa County board chair.
The new members voted in their latest meeting on Tuesday to approve a no-bid contract for the county's legal representation. The firm they chose — Kallman Legal Group — is led by David Kallman. He's uncle to Joel Kallman, who is board chair Joe Moss's business partner.
Michigan Radio's Dustin Dwyer has been covering the story, and he joined us on today's Stateside podcast to talk about how residents in the county are responding to the changes.
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