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Bipartisan event introduces local candidates to community

Mariano Avila

About 80 people attended a bipartisan meet-the-candidates event at Wealthy Theatre on Monday night.

Each candidate had about two minutes to introduce themselves, their platform summary and a memorable slogan.

The various offices they’re running for range from state representative to county commission.

Kent County Black Caucus Chairman Bryan Blakely is one of the organizers of the bipartisan event.

"The goal of this event was to educate people more on the candidates. Who's running for what office?"

The candidates’ experience was also varied, with a mix of incumbents, sitting judges, construction workers and even teachers.

One contested seat in particular has a peculiar pairing.

"My name is Logan Arkema, I am 18 years old and I am running for the Kent County Commission’s 7th district which encompasses all of Grandville and northwest Wyoming."

Just in case you’re doubting your ears, he did say he’s 18.

And his platform?

"Making sure that more people get involved in local government by using the communications tools that most people use today, to ensure that they’re aware of what’s happening in the county government. And they can make sure their voices are heard."

Arkema is running against incumbent Republican Stan Ponstein, a veteran of local politics, who interestingly enough won his very first campaign for office at 19 years of age.

Here’s Ponstein:

"Since I was elected on the first day, I represent people. And I try to communicate with the county - the biggest issue is people navigating the system."

Aside from unconventional contests, one memorable campaign slogan was 'Let’s bring sexiness back to the city commission'.

The specifics of that agenda were, well, left to the imagination.

Mariano Avila is WGVU's inclusion reporter. He has made a career of bringing voices from the margins to those who need to hear them. Over the course of his career, Mariano has written for major papers in English and Spanish, published in magazines, worked in broadcast, and produced short films, commercials, and nonprofit campaigns. He also briefly served at a foreign consulate, organized for international human rights efforts and has done considerable work connecting marginalized people to religious, educational, and nonprofit institutions through the power of story.
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