A group of about 30 protesters gathered Wednesday morning at the Governmental Center in downtown Traverse City ahead of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners meeting. They were calling for the resignation of Board Chair Rob Hentschel.
A little over a week ago, UpNorthLive reported that Hentschel was under investigation for a sexual assault allegation after a 38-year-old woman went to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City on October 6 for a forensic exam. The woman claimed Hentschel tried to have sex with her after she told him to stop multiple times.
IPR tried contacting Hentschel for comment for this report, but didn’t hear back. In a previous statement, he denied the allegation, saying, “The implications of the report you were provided are false.”
Around 8:45 am, Hentschel arrived and walked across the parking lot. He glanced at the protesters, but didn't stop, and quickly slipped into the building.
“Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!” called out the protestors.
One of the protesters, Dee Zuidersma, held a sign that said, “Resign NOW, Rob Hentschel!”
Despite the protest being kicked off by the recent allegation against Hentschel, protester John DeSpelder said he was there because of a pattern of concerning behavior at the county level.
“This is a pattern, and it's not just a pattern of Mr. Hentschel,” said DeSpelder. “It's a pattern of the leadership.”
DeSpelder was referencing the recent behavior of Vice Chair Brad Jewett, who was charged with soliciting a prostitute earlier this year. And in 2021, former Vice Chair Ron Clous held a rifle in his hands during a board meeting over Zoom.
“It reflects badly on the Board of Commissioners,” DeSpelder said. “We've had enough.”
Around 9:00 am, the meeting started, and most of the protestors filed in to take their seats. When public comment began, a handful called for Hentschel to immediately resign.
“This behavior hampers the board from doing its work,” said Carlton Ketchum. “It undermines efforts to attract businesses, recruit employees and welcome visitors.”
Hentschel didn’t address any of the comments during the meeting. He was first elected to the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners in 2010, and just won a narrow re-election bid in November against Trenton Lee.
In a statement, Lee said that while all Americans are entitled to due process, he believes Hentschel should resign “out of respect for county staff and residents.”
The investigation has been turned over to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
