Moss favorite for interim administrator could be problematic

OTTAWA COUNTY — Ottawa County is on the hunt for its next administrator.

Meanwhile, an interim administrator will be named next week by the Board of Commissioners — and Board Chair Joe Moss' favored candidate has no prior experience in administrative government.

An agenda published Friday includes a point on selecting an interim administrator on Tuesday, March 12. The candidates being considered are not included in the board packet, but Commissioner Doug Zylstra released their names on social media, including:

• Benjamin Wetmore

• Paul Sachs

• Karen Karasinski

• Jon Anderson

Wetmore took over as deputy county administrator in November, while Sachs is the county's director of strategic impact and Karasinski is the county's longtime fiscal services director.

Anderson isn't currently employed with the county and has no prior experience in a similar role.

"Karen and Jon have been highlighted, and Jon Anderson has been recommended by (Moss) as his choice," Zylstra posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. "Having reviewed Mr. Anderson’s qualifications, I do not believe he would be the best fit, and will be encouraging my colleagues to consider appointing Karen Karasinski."

Anderson, of Grand Haven, co-owns Bullet Hole Firearms and Training in Holland, and served 30 years in law enforcement in the Los Angeles area. He filed last month as one of three Republican candidates for sheriff.

More: Holland business owner joins the Republican race for sheriff

Anderson was the third candidate to file, and the third Republican, joining Ottawa County Undersheriff Eric DeBoer and Grand Rapids Police Department Captain Michael Maycroft. The three will face off in a primary election Aug. 6. As of publication, no Democrats have filed to run.

Anderson’s law enforcement career began in 1985, according to his LinkedIn page. He spent 10 years in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Brea Police Department before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

He worked in the RCSD from 1996 until his retirement in 2016. Anderson held a variety of positions, from deputy to captain. Along the way, he spent time as a detective, sergeant and lieutenant.

A job description for interim administrator hasn't been published, but mandatory requirements for candidates in 2021 included:

Subscribe: Receive unlimited digital access to your local news coverage

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in public administration, public policy, planning, business or related field

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible local government leadership

• At least five years as a chief administrative officer or assistant chief administrative officer of a local government of similar size and complexity to Ottawa County

• Experience working with diverse departments, including law enforcement, courts, public health, mental health and park systems

• Strong financial and asset management skills, including significant experience in capital improvements planning

• Knowledgeable in land-use planning, community and economic development, affordable housing and tourism

• Strong, proven leadership and skills in union labor relations, and negotiations of collective-bargaining agreements

Anderson holds an associate degree from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University.

He responded March 1 to The Sentinel's Feb. 6 request for comment after filing to run for sheriff. That story was updated March 11 with his statement, saying he has lived in Michigan for eight years and is a retired sheriff’s commander with 32 years of law enforcement experience.

"I taught community policing at a college out west and at our sheriff’s academy, and I believe in true community policing that brings members of the community together with law enforcement to enhance and maintain our quality of life," he said in the March 1 email.

"I believe in protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens in the county. I have an extensive background in new and innovative technology and policies to assist law enforcement officers in keeping our community safe and free for more proactive patrols and community involvement."

Moss controls the board's Ottawa Impact majority, a group of far-right fundamentalists disgruntled over school mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group fired administrator John Shay unexpectedly in January 2023 and hired former Republican congressional candidate John Gibbs without posting the job.

More: 'The damage they've done': Gibbs will pursue legal action against Ottawa County

The board fired Gibbs last month after Moss published on social media allegations from Wetmore and administrative executive aide Jordan Epperson claiming he engaged in unprofessional conduct. Gibbs has denied the allegations and has indicated he plans to pursue legal action against the county for wrongful termination.

— Sarah Leach is executive editor for The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Moss favorite for interim administrator could be problematic