Common Good Conversations

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Josh Brugger “the man running to fill Roger Bergman's shoes in Ottawa County. Brugger is running as a Republican for the District 10 seat on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after several controversial decisions were made by Ottawa Impact. Josh believes that “now is the time for those of us "in the middle" to stand up to politicians on the fringes and declare, "Enough is enough."

In this episode you'll learn that Brugger wants to return Ottawa County to being "boring, reliable and predictable" — and he says that's a good thing, why as a Republican he refuses to align himself with the Ottawa County GOP, and how not to make dead people (and possibly zombies).

Don't forget to RSVP for free for our live podcast event Sunday, June 16 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Park Theatre in Holland!

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Hey Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Matwiejczyk. Sarah is Ottawa County’s Chief Assistant Prosecutor and is running for Ottawa County Prosecutor as a Republican.

In this episode you'll learn how to pronounce Sarah's last name (Ma-toy-sic!), her opinion on what's happened with the Ottawa GOP, what it means to be a "vetted" Republican juxtaposed against Ottawa Impact, and why she want's to represent all people - no matter political affiliation - as Ottawa County's Prosecutor.

Enjoy!

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Phil Kuyers the former Ottawa County Commissioner who was first elected to the commission in 2000 and served as board chair for three years. Phil, a Republican, is running again for the District 9 seat (Grand Haven Twp.), which he represented for more than two decades before losing to Ottawa Impact Republican Roger Belknap in 2022 who is also running for re-election in the August 6th primary election. 

In this episode you'll learn about the stupidity of Ottawa Impact, what happened to the Ottawa GOP, why County Commissioner seats should be non-partisan, and learning leadership by making mistakes.

Enjoy!

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with David Gushee the author of a new book called Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies. The Rev. Prof. Dr. David Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University and is one of America's leading Christian ethicists.

In this episode you'll learn why Christians should support democracy, why so many are open to authoritarian and reactionary political trends that threaten democracy, and why responsible Christians need to recommit to democracy that fit with the convictions of Christian ethics. Oh, and how Nick and David grew up loving the game of baseball.

Enjoy!

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Hey, West Michigan!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Becky Patrick of Allendale Twp. Becky is running to defeat Ottawa Commissioner / Vice-Chairperson and co-founder of Ottawa Impact, Sylvia Rhodea, in District 8 during the August 6th primary.

In this episode you'll learn why Becky was one one of the most civically engaged citizens in Ottawa County in 2023, why she wants a return to reason, fiscal responsibility and good governance to the Ottawa County BOC, and why she has committed to being a Common Good Candidate in West Michigan.

Enjoy.
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To learn more about Becky's campaign click here.

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Hey, West Michigan!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with lifelong resident of Ottawa County Reverend Luis Cypher, a minister of Satan and co-head of the Satanic Temple of West Michigan. Reverend Cypher gave the invocation at the April 23rd Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting.

In this episode we learn that the Satanic Temple of West Michigan does not worship Satan (nor promote evil), how Ottawa County Commissioner Rebekah Curran protested the invocation, and how evangelical Christians turned public comment into a bully pulpit for converting people to Christianity.

Enjoy!
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Satanic Temple gives invocation at Ottawa County Board meeting, video

Christians coordinate a protest during the invocation, video

Satanic Temple website

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Hey, West Michigan!

Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Jordan Jorritsma the Republican candidate running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 2 (Holland). Jordan is running to defeat Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in the August primary election if she wins her May 7th Recall Election.

In this episode we'll lean into our theme of What Happened to my Ottawa GOP?, why Jordan signed on as a co-plaintiff for a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and why he's running against Ottawa Impact. Oh, and male pattern baldness.

Enjoy!

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Hey, West Michigan!

Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt, Executive Director of Vote Common Good. 

In 2021 Doug traveled 3,000 miles along the U.S./Mexico border with his bicycle and experienced first-hand that the border was not as dangerous nor chaotic as its made out to be. Wanting people to experience this for themselves he is encouraging people to join him at border towns on foot and talk with the people who actually live there.

In this episode you’ll learn what it’s really like along the U.S./Mexico border, what surprised Doug the most about the border towns, and how human experience can change our ideas of what we think we already know.  

Enjoy!

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"On May 7, voters in District 2  will have the opportunity to vote in the special recall election for their county commissioner. I am running against Ottawa Impact-affiliated commissioner Lucy Ebel. Recently, Commissioner Ebel distributed literature within the district containing several false claims and misrepresentations." - read by Common Good Candidate, Chris Kleinjans

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville. Mark is running to defeat Commissioner Board Chair and leader of Ottawa Impact Joe Moss in District 5 during the August 6th primary. And if you know anything about Ottawa County politics the primary election is where more often than not local elections are decided.
 
In this episode you'll learn about the finer things in life such as bourbon, cigars, and crunchy peanut butter. You'll also learn about what's going on with the Ottawa GOP, what it means to be a Republican running against Ottawa Impact, and why Mark decided to become a Common Good Candidate.

Enjoy.

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