Township Trustee Dave Barry speaks about why the board should choose him to be the next township supervisor. Barry, a former Zeeland Public Schools superintendent, was elected as a trustee in 2024. (at right) - Township Trustee Kerri Bosma explains why she is interested in serving as the next township supervisor. Bosma has been on the board for five years, and ran for supervisor in 2024, losing by 131 votes in the primary to now-former Supervisor Tom Oonk.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board entered the new year without a successor in place to former Supervisor Tom Oonk.
The board was expected Tuesday night to choose a new supervisor to replace Oonk, whose resignation took effect Dec. 31. The outcome of that meeting was not available at the time the Zeeland Record went to press. A full story will be in the Jan. 15 edition of the Record.
Oonk had served for 21 years on the Township Board, the last five as supervisor.
Board members deadlocked at 3-3 at a special meeting Dec. 30 between two current trustees – Kerri Bosma and Dave Barry – who expressed interest in replacing Oonk. Two separate votes were taken, with Oonk not voting.
Bosma, a realtor for City2Shore Real Estate, has been on the Township Board for five years and ran against Oonk in the 2024 election. She was defeated by 131 votes, 1,303-1,172, in the Republican primary, and had to run as a write-in in the November election that year to keep her seat as a trustee.
Barry, a leadership coach and former superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools, was elected as a trustee in the 2024 election. He is a former adjunct professor at Western Michigan University and Grace Christian University, and formerly owned Christian Brothers Automotive in Holland Township, according to his LinkedIn page.
In stating her case for the position, Bosma spoke of the ongoing growth of Zeeland Township, but also the growth of municipalities surrounding the township that is likely to affect its future growth and how the township should address those challenges.
“We have growth from Zeeland city coming at us, we have growth from Holland Charter Township coming at us, and we also have the growth of Hudsonville coming at us,” Bosma said. “How do we have the proper growth, how do we build our foundation of what has built success here, and what does it take to continue that into the future?”
As the board’s representative on the township Planning Commission, Bosma has been in the center of discussions on the proposed township solar ordinance.
In his statement, Barry spoke of his skill set as grounds for why he should be the next supervisor.
“I would hope that the board considers skills and capacity and leadership to do the roles and responsibilities in this position,” he said. “This isn’t something that I’m campaigning for. I don’t canvass people to come to the board to show … support for the position. I think it boils down to the board’s decision and looking for the skill set for the township supervisor and who’s able to continue to engage the full board.”
During public comment prior to the board’s discussion and vote on filling the position, several residents spoke out in support of Bosma.
“She has made sure there should be transparency for all township residents,” Diane DeVries said. “Making sure we have documents on demand available to all residents by fighting for transparency, (and) pushing for audio and video recordings. Her commitment to open government, and informed decision-making and public trust, I greatly appreciate this.”
Christi Meppelink said she met with both Bosma and Barry to ask them about their long-term intentions. She also spoke of the support Bosma had in the 2024 election.
“Her community had strong confidence in her ability to be the supervisor from the last election. We would be doing the community a disservice if we did not appoint her as the supervisor at this time,” Meppelink said.
Bosma voted for herself and was supported by Treasurer Melissa Veldheer and Trustee Scott Beute. Barry voted for himself, and was joined by now-former Clerk Kate Kraak and Trustee Jeff Salisbury.
Kraak’s resignation as clerk after 10 years in that office took effect Dec. 31, leaving only five board members that would have re-voted Tuesday night, likely meaning Bosma would be chosen to be the new supervisor.
Under state law, the township has 45 days from the time Oonk’s resignation took effect to find a new supervisor. That person would then run for that position in this year’s election, then could run again in 2028.
Meanwhile, the township is continuing to accept applications for the vacant clerk’s position. As of the Dec. 30 special meeting, the township had not received any applications for the opening, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The appointed clerk would serve through November of this year, and can run for a two-year term this year and again in 2028 for a four-year term. The clerk’s primary role will be to serve as a voting member of the Township Board, administer oaths of office, serve as a signatory on checks issued by the township and maintain minutes of Township Board meetings. The clerk would also serve in a support role to township staff for such statutory duties as administering elections, records management, maintaining the township’s general ledger, payroll and accounts payable, according to a posting on the township website.
Applicants must be residents of Zeeland Charter Township. Interested parties are asked to submit a completed Board and Commission application and, if desired, a resume to the attention of Eggleston at the Township Hall or by email at
josh.eggleston@zeelandtwp.org.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Township Board entered the new year without a successor in place to former Supervisor Tom Oonk.
The board was expected Tuesday night to choose a new supervisor to replace Oonk, whose resignation took effect Dec. 31. The outcome of that meeting was not available at the time the Zeeland Record went to press. A full story will be in the Jan. 15 edition of the Record.
Oonk had served for 21 years on the Township Board, the last five as supervisor.
Board members deadlocked at 3-3 at a special meeting Dec. 30 between two current trustees – Kerri Bosma and Dave Barry – who expressed interest in replacing Oonk. Two separate votes were taken, with Oonk not voting.
Bosma, a realtor for City2Shore Real Estate, has been on the Township Board for five years and ran against Oonk in the 2024 election. She was defeated by 131 votes, 1,303-1,172, in the Republican primary, and had to run as a write-in in the November election that year to keep her seat as a trustee.
Barry, a leadership coach and former superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools, was elected as a trustee in the 2024 election. He is a former adjunct professor at Western Michigan University and Grace Christian University, and formerly owned Christian Brothers Automotive in Holland Township, according to his LinkedIn page.
In stating her case for the position, Bosma spoke of the ongoing growth of Zeeland Township, but also the growth of municipalities surrounding the township that is likely to affect its future growth and how the township should address those challenges.
“We have growth from Zeeland city coming at us, we have growth from Holland Charter Township coming at us, and we also have the growth of Hudsonville coming at us,” Bosma said. “How do we have the proper growth, how do we build our foundation of what has built success here, and what does it take to continue that into the future?”
As the board’s representative on the township Planning Commission, Bosma has been in the center of discussions on the proposed township solar ordinance.
In his statement, Barry spoke of his skill set as grounds for why he should be the next supervisor.
“I would hope that the board considers skills and capacity and leadership to do the roles and responsibilities in this position,” he said. “This isn’t something that I’m campaigning for. I don’t canvass people to come to the board to show … support for the position. I think it boils down to the board’s decision and looking for the skill set for the township supervisor and who’s able to continue to engage the full board.”
During public comment prior to the board’s discussion and vote on filling the position, several residents spoke out in support of Bosma.
“She has made sure there should be transparency for all township residents,” Diane DeVries said. “Making sure we have documents on demand available to all residents by fighting for transparency, (and) pushing for audio and video recordings. Her commitment to open government, and informed decision-making and public trust, I greatly appreciate this.”
Christi Meppelink said she met with both Bosma and Barry to ask them about their long-term intentions. She also spoke of the support Bosma had in the 2024 election.
“Her community had strong confidence in her ability to be the supervisor from the last election. We would be doing the community a disservice if we did not appoint her as the supervisor at this time,” Meppelink said.
Bosma voted for herself and was supported by Treasurer Melissa Veldheer and Trustee Scott Beute. Barry voted for himself, and was joined by now-former Clerk Kate Kraak and Trustee Jeff Salisbury.
Kraak’s resignation as clerk after 10 years in that office took effect Dec. 31, leaving only five board members that would have re-voted Tuesday night, likely meaning Bosma would be chosen to be the new supervisor.
Under state law, the township has 45 days from the time Oonk’s resignation took effect to find a new supervisor. That person would then run for that position in this year’s election, then could run again in 2028.
Meanwhile, the township is continuing to accept applications for the vacant clerk’s position. As of the Dec. 30 special meeting, the township had not received any applications for the opening, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The appointed clerk would serve through November of this year, and can run for a two-year term this year and again in 2028 for a four-year term. The clerk’s primary role will be to serve as a voting member of the Township Board, administer oaths of office, serve as a signatory on checks issued by the township and maintain minutes of Township Board meetings. The clerk would also serve in a support role to township staff for such statutory duties as administering elections, records management, maintaining the township’s general ledger, payroll and accounts payable, according to a posting on the township website.
Applicants must be residents of Zeeland Charter Township. Interested parties are asked to submit a completed Board and Commission application and, if desired, a resume to the attention of Eggleston at the Township Hall or by email at
josh.eggleston@zeelandtwp.org.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
