Local Elections Bring New Faces to City Council, School Board

CEDAR SPRINGS — Voters ushered in new faces on the Cedar Springs Board of Education and City Council, while election results in Sand Lake and Sparta also brought changes in local leadership.

Heidi Armock, Richard Bell, April Patin and Jenna Hess won seats on the Cedar Springs school board. Patin will retain her seat, while Armock, Bell and Hess will join as newcomers.

Longtime board member and incumbent Mistie Bowser fell short of the votes needed to retain her position. Brent Willett also won his uncontested race for a partial-term seat.

With English language arts achievement and district budgets among the leading campaign issues, the election of three newcomers suggests an appetite for a change in direction. The results put fresh voices at the table as the board faces questions about academic performance and financial priorities, all while transitioning to a new school superintendent in January. Returning members to the board will provide continuity.

Change also emerged in the Cedar Springs City Council race, where no candidates appeared on the ballot. Instead, three write-in candidates competed for two seats.

Mark Laws and Brittany Batt narrowly secured those positions, displacing current Mayor Pro Tem Renee Race and filling a seat left open by longtime council member and former Mayor Pamela Conley. Their victories suggest voters are receptive to new faces and ideas in their local government, although the close results reflect a competitive race.

In nearby election news, Sand Lake village board member Justin Van Etten ousted incumbent Village President Dan Hula, receiving more than twice as many votes as the sitting president.

The leadership change follows months of controversy in village government, during which most Village Council members and some Planning Commission members resigned. The election adds another significant transition as the village continues working to rebuild its leadership and trust within the local community.

In Sparta, newcomer Ricky Johnson unseated incumbent Village President Robert Whalen by just 22 votes. The race unfolded amid public controversy over Johnson’s legal history, with records circulated on Facebook drawing scrutiny during the campaign.

Elsewhere in the area, two unopposed candidates secured their positions.

Andrea Roberts won the race for Spencer Township supervisor and will serve a partial term ending in 2028.

In Kent City, Bert Rose retained his seat as village president after running without opposition.

Across the area, the results bring a mix of experience and new perspectives to local government. For the newly elected officials, the work now turns from campaigning to addressing the priorities that brought voters to the polls.

These election results are unofficial and subject to certification by the Kent County Board of Canvassers.