HOLLAND — The last candidate appearing on the ballot for Holland City Council filed his campaign finance report Monday, Nov. 6 — 10 days past deadline, resulting in a report to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
The Ottawa County Clerk’s Office reported the Committee to Elect Ryan Spencer to Dana Nessel on Monday after he failed to file his financial disclosure statement by Oct. 27. His campaign was penalized $25 for each day the report went unfiled.
More:Holland candidates said no OI affiliation. What about their donors?
Later on Monday, Spencer filed the documents, reporting he raised $5,549 for his campaign, which came from 15 donors.
Despite distancing himself from Ottawa Impact, he and several other candidates seeking elected office in Holland took money from supporters of the far-right fundamentalist group.
Ottawa Impact was created by current Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss and Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea after they unsuccessfully challenged the previous board and county health officer over COVID-19 mitigation mandates in 2020 and 2021.
Spencer previously told The Sentinel he has no affiliation with OI and does not endorse the group.
“No is the answer,” Spencer wrote.
However, an analysis of his contributors showed at least three of his 15 donors have previously contributed to the Ottawa Impact or Ottawa Education political action committees in 2022, the most recent donor data available on the county’s campaign finance portal website.
Spencer is the son of Bart Spencer, pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, who made headlines in 2020 when he told his congregation to “get COVID-19 and get it over with.” The senior Spencer hosted several events for the OI-led county board, and has delivered the opening prayer for the board since OI officials took office.
Bart Spencer donated $500 to his son’s campaign.
Other notable contributors included extended members and affiliates of the Prince family, which historically has supported conservative candidates and faith-based causes. Although Elsa Prince donated $5,000 to Ottawa Impact PAC in 2022, she did not directly contribute to any of the Holland candidate campaigns this year.
Craig Wierda, her son-in-law, donated $500 to Spencer’s campaign. Prince’s business manager, Allan Hoekstra — who donated to OI’s Ottawa Education PAC last year — also donated $500 to Spencer. Jim DeBoer, husband of current District 86 State Rep. Nancy DeBoer, contributed $100 to Spencer’s campaign.
It was unknown by publication time if the AG’s Office plans to pursue the filing deadline violation.
Spencer is running against Michael Schultheis for the city’s at-large council seat.
— Sarah Leach is executive editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter@SentinelLeach.
