I wish I could claim I’m a native Hollander, but I missed it by just a few years. My family moved to Holland from Zeeland when I was 3. The things I learned while working for the Holland Museum solidified what being a lifelong resident means to me. No matter where they came from, not many families arrived here on a winning streak. We all struggled for a piece of our American dream. And while we were each striving toward our own definition of success, we gave each other grace and tolerance. I think we’re still all on that same journey, just at different points. And we all still need that grace and tolerance.
My campaign is grounded in this idea of grace, tolerance and helping us toward what we each define as success.
Slide 2
Military Service
I look back on my time in the Navy as the space that widened my outlook, my vision and my mentality. I served with people of every racial, cultural and socioeconomic background. Serving overseas, I learned there were ways of living, doing and thriving that I never saw in Holland. I learned that the world is small if your vision is wide. I learned how to depend on others and to depend on myself, and how being known as a reliable shipmate was something you worked to earn and maintain. I learned that you watch out for your crew, for the people you’re responsible for, and even for the Marines if the other branches are messing with them.
My campaign rests upon reliability, steadiness, and watching out for the people I’m responsible for.
Slide 3
Family
Being a husband and father has been the greatest gift and adventure I could never imagine having, but did. Sarah and I are miles away from the people we were when we met 33 years ago, but I still can’t imagine a day without her in it, and that keeps me striving to be the person she needs. When my boys were young, I never hesitated to stop what I was doing if they wanted to play catch or Star Wars or anything, really, because I knew that that time was going to go so fast. I wanted to capture as much of it as I could. The amazing part is that when I talk to these two amazing men now, I’m sometimes so impressed that I forget I helped raise them.
While we’re striving in the present, this campaign knows that if we work mindfully, we will benefit today — and those too small to know it will benefit in the future.
Slide 3
Community Service
Service has followed me (or maybe I’ve followed service) since I arrived at Great Lakes RTC for boot camp in 1987. From day one we were taught to take care of those around you, help them to succeed, and ease their load if you can, so that when they rise up you can move forward together. Whether it has been educating the public about our area’s history, helping find ways to feed those in need, or making sure our vulnerable populations have access to the services they need, I have always tried, professionally, to ease the burden and care for those around me.
This campaign isn’t about exclusion, but about inclusion and service to everyone in the 2nd District and Ottawa County — so that when we rise up, we all rise up and move forward together.
Slide 3
Non-Profits
By working in a field where the outcome is not measured completely in a monetary sense, I have been rewarded beyond measure. Because you can’t put a price on helping someone create a toolkit of skills to live a better life. And a spreadsheet doesn’t reflect seeing an entire group of students understand our history in a way that affects them right now, today. And a stockholder assessment can’t quantify watching a volunteer board of directors find the confidence and wisdom to better serve their organization’s mission. I work in nonprofits because my ledger is not filled with numbers, but people. My friends, my neighbors.
We are running this race for those who can’t, striving for those who’ve lost hope, and speaking for those who’ve been scared into silence.
Chris has committed his life to service — service to country, service to family, and service to community. He is a US Navy veteran, a husband, father and grandfather, an employee in the nonprofit sector, and a volunteer to those in need.
55 years old
Native of the Holland area, graduated from Holland HS in 1986
Descendant of the settlers of Zeeland, ancestors arrived in Ottawa County in 1847.
Joined the US Navy in 1987. Upon completion of advanced training served onboard several commands that were assigned to the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego. During his time in the Pacific Fleet, Chris completed three deployments, the final one being as a staff member of DESRON 21 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Married to Sarah since 1992, two sons and one grandchild.
Resident of District 2 for nearly 30 years
A.A in Youth Services, B.S. In History, and M.A in Public Administration. Chris’s love of the past led him to develop educational programming around the history of Holland.
25 years working in the nonprofit sector, up to and including his current position as a community nutrition instructor.
Serves as a volunteer with the Ottawa County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Member of the board of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC)
