Letter: ‘Political pressure’ impacts commissioner’s day job [Video]

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Ottawa County’s newest commissioner is off his day job.

Chris Kleinjans’ attorney says MSU Extension in Ottawa County has put him on unpaid leave claiming the move followed political pressure from other Ottawa County Commissioners.

UPDATE: Kleinjans confirmed the firing Tuesday morning

Chris Kleinjans is a Democrat recently elected to represent Ottawa County’s 2nd district during a special election.

He also worked as a Community Nutrition Instructor at Ottawa County MSU Extension before being placed on leave.

Last week, Kleinjans’ Attorney, Sarah Howard, sent a letter to MSU Extension’s head of human resources requesting a litigation hold.

In the letter, she says she and Kleinjans disagree with the decision to place him on leave after he won his commission seat.

Ltr to MSU Extension – 6-13-2024 by WXMI on Scribd

Howard cites a conversation Kleinjans learned about between Ottawa County Chairperson and Ottawa Impact (OI) Founder Joe Moss, Commissioner, fellow OI member Allison Meidema, and MSU Extension District 5 …