A Michigan County Divided for The Washington Post
Walter Davis yells “Antifa” as he exits a Board of Commissioners meeting after speaking during public comment at Ottawa County’s administrative offices in West Olive, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Throughout January, I worked on a story that involved tense county board meeting(s) and various portraits to showcase the tension in Ottawa County. The images were a part of the story titled “In a thriving Michigan county, a community goes to war with itself” for The Washington Post.
It is by far the most extensive editorial spread I’ve had in print for The Post. I appreciate how the photo editor, Christine Nguyen, pulled the edit together to both support the article by Greg and Patrick and explore other elements of the area.
You can see the print edition at the bottom of this post.
Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker looks into the board room at Ottawa County’s administrative offices in West Olive, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Photographs of the previous members of the Board of Commissioners hang in the back of the board room at Ottawa County’s administrative offices in West Olive, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Ottawa County Commissioner Rebekah Curran speaks with attendees and passes out cookies before the Board of Commissioners meeting at Ottawa County’s administrative offices in West Olive, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss exits the board room after a meeting held at the Ottawa County’s administrative offices in West Olive, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Farm land is pictured in Grand Haven Township, Michigan on January 10, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Rebekah Curran poses for a portrait in her home in Jenison, Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Curran represents Georgetown Township on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
Kevin Crowe poses for a photograph at his house in Allendale, Michigan on Sunday, January 29, 2023. (Photo by Evan Cobb for The Washington Post)
