10/18/08 Dillon Receives Support of Broad Spectrum of Organizations
In the past few weeks Brandon Dillon has received the support of a broad array of business, labor, public safety and environmental organizations. In partisan races it is unusual for candidates to capture the support of all of these groups. To date, Dillon has been endorsed by:

Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
United Auto Workers
Grand Rapids Police Officers Association
Grand Rapids Firefighters Local 366
Kent County Law Enforcement Association
League of Conservation Voters
Clean Water Action
Citizens for Kent County Farmland and Open Space Preservation


7/6/08 Report from the Campaign Trail
Having knocked on over 2,000 doors since the end of May, it is clear that the people I have spoken with are very concerned about the state of the economy, rising fuel and food prices and the overall quality of life in Grand Rapids.  While unfortunately a County Commissioner cannot have a direct impact on the price of gas or the problems we face at the state and national level,  I have focused on trying to do insure that Kent County does not contribute to the financial burdens that many families and individuals are facing.

There is no reason that Kent County should be adding extra costs to taxpayers during these difficult economic times. We have the largest budget surplus in the state and an efficient, dedicated workforce. I will continue to oppose increased fees for our parks and recreational areas and am committed to returning taxpayer dollars to the city of Grand Rapids. I appreciate all of the input I have received thus far and look forward to speaking with thousands more residents before November.

5/19/08 Dillon Files for Re-election, Receives Public Safety Endorsements
Commissioner Dillon officially filed for re-election recently and is eager to begin campaigning door to door this summer and fall. After announcing his intention to run for the seat he won in 2006, Brandon received the support of the Grand Rapids Police Officers Association, the Kent County Law Enforcement Association and the Grand Rapids Firefighters Local 366.

12/27/07 Kent County Board to Consider Fee Increases for Parks, John Ball Zoo
The Kent County Board of Commissioners is slated to consider two packages of large fee increases at area parks and at John Ball Park Zoo in its first meeting of 2008 on January 3rd. For the Zoo, an increase of $1.50 for children and adults is being sought, as well as a $2.00 increase for seniors. The total amount requested represents a nearly 35% increase over current admission fees. For seniors the increase is nearly 45%. The County is also proposing a more modest increase in rentals for campgrounds, picnic areas and shelter houses.

Commissioner Dillon plans to vote against these proposals.


9/21/07 Democrats Want Policy on Public Health Alerts
Democrats on the Kent County  Commission have requested that the County begin developing a policy on the "duty to warn" the public about public health threats. The recent death of Scott Miller from Legionella in contaminated water supplies at St. Mary's Hospital has forced questions about how and when the public should be alerted to potential health risks in Kent County. Democrats believe that the Public Health Department must have a set policy in place to decide when which health risks rise to the level of public disclosure and that comprehensive information is released as quickly as possible when it does.

"When we do not quickly disclose potential health threats to the public we are not only potentially putting lives at risk, we are inviting criticism that the County is keeping secrets," said Commissioner Brandon Dillon. "We need to be up front and open in this process and take some of the guesswork out of these decisions."

8/9/07 County Begins Discussions on 911 Consolidation
The County Commission received a report from the Kent County Dispatch Authority regarding a proposal to consolidate 911 service in Kent County into 2 dispatch centers. The proposal would likely require a surcharge of up to 4% on all land line telephones in the County. If recent state legislation is passed the costs may be spread to cellular phones and internet calls. Commissioner Dillon has questioned the fairness of this proposal because Grand Rapids residents would be asked to in essence pay twice for the same service. Currently Grand Rapids city taxes pay for 911 service in the city. An additional telephone surcharge would subsidize service for residents in areas of the County that do not currently pay for local 911. This proposal may come before the Board in the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact Commissioner Dillon at 774-5987 with your thoughts on this issue.

7/9/07 Grand Rapids Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty
29 year old Grand Rapids Police Officer Robert "Bobby" Kozminski was shot and killed Sunday morning responding to a domestic disturbance call at 1233 Emerald NE.  Please remember Officer Kozminski's family, as well as all of the men and women in unifom who work to make our community safe every day, in your thoughts and prayers.

5/27/07 Memorial Day 2007
Please take time this Memorial Day weekend to remember all of those brave servicemen and women who have selflessly given their lives for our country. In this time of war, we should especially remember those who have died and those that are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The annual Kent County Memorial Day Parade takes place Wednesday, May 30 in downtown Grand Rapids.

4/20/07 Small Restaurant Owners Speak Out Against Unfair Fee Hikes
At the April 12, 2007 County Commission meeting local small business owners spoke out against triple digit increases in restaurant inspection fees. Last year the County Board changed the way fees are calculated, moving from a sliding scale based on the size of the restaurant to a flat fee for all food service establishments in the County. In one case the fees for a seasonal ice cream parlor went from under $100 to $427, while large restaurants like the 1913 Room actually saw their fees decrease. Other commissioners have expressed concern over this policy and Commissioner Dillon, who was not on the Board at the time of the change, is hopeful that the Commission can rectify this situation soon.

2/10/07 Commissioner Dillon votes against Millennieum Park Admission Fees
On Thursday February 8, the County Commission voted to approve another summer of admission fees to the beach at Millennium Park. Despite the fact that the first summer of fees in 2006 caused a steep decline in visitors to the park, the Commission voted 12-4 to keep charging people this summer. Commissioner Dillon voted against the fees.