DEBOER WINS RE-ELECTION — In a close race with Councilman Peters, she came out on top and already has a plan well established for her second term. (WHTC)
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, Mayor Nancy DeBoer won her first re-election as the Mayor of Holland. Along with precise and calculated goals for the Holland community, DeBoer plans to continue encouraging opportunities for young people in Holland and Hope College students despite her alma mater, Calvin College.
In a brief interview, DeBoer said that if she could give her collegiate aged self a piece of advice, her words would be, “Trust God. Take time to care about others. Learn to balance your life. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Enjoy this unusual season of your life.”
She graduated from Calvin in 1976 with an English major and Music minor. Prior to her political career, she taught in Randolph, Illinois and South Holland, Wisconsin.
DeBoer explained that she plans to use the Holland Youth Advisory Council (HYAC) and the internship opportunities for Hope students in various government departments to boost service and involvement within the demographic. The HYAC has a vision of promoting youth perspective and acts with the following mission: “In partnership with other community leaders, we will develop the leadership skills of ourselves and others; provide advice regarding youth issues; serve our community; and promote youth participation and civic involvement.”
Looking at the greater community, DeBoer has goals in every area of municipal government. She is planning to finish the fundraising for the exterior lots of the Civic Center, navigating the search for a new City Manager and creating better traffic efficiency in downtown Holland. In addition, DeBoer plans to soon work on managing the public “charrette,” or a discussion in which community members try to resolve conflict and map solutions within a project, about the James De Young Power Plant that will soon be vacated by the Holland Board of Public Works (BPW).
The future of the 16-acre lot is unknown, but DeBoer emphasized that the decision will be public and that “We have the opportunity for generational changes for Holland!” With the new Holland Energy Park, there is no need for the coal burning plant. She went on to explain that, “not even selling capacity for power production was profitable enough to keep it open.”
DeBoer won her re-election in one of the slimmest margins in Holland history with only a 136 vote over her opponent, Councilman Jay Peters. In her words; “I’m just very grateful for the people that voted for me. I’m definitely committed to work for the people who didn’t.” Peters will also continue to lead the community as Second Ward Councilman.
Both candidates will move forward as the devoted public servants they came into the running as.
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