Michigan County’s Legal Fight with Local Health Director Draws in National and State Opponents

A Michigan county’s battle against a burgeoning health department bureaucracy and its director has national implication.

Ottawa Impact activists pause to pray before going out to campaign on Aug. 1, 2022 in Allendale Twp., Mich. Courtesy of Ottawa Impact

Two bureaucratic heavy hitters in the public health domain have joined forces with an embattled local health department director to help keep her in the job.

Their adversary is the newly elected socially and fiscally conservative Republican majority of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.