Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land’s claim that she is a
small business owner, not part of the lucrative Land & Co. real estate conglomerate
run by her husband, clashes with five Grand Rapids city inspectors’ reports
from 2011-12 obtained by The Macomb Daily.
small business owner, not part of the lucrative Land & Co. real estate conglomerate
run by her husband, clashes with five Grand Rapids city inspectors’ reports
from 2011-12 obtained by The Macomb Daily.
Each of the documents indicates the Southview Apartments
complex that Land claims she owns and operates is, in fact, in the hands of the
“registered owner” — her husband, Dan Hibma, and Land & Co. That
contradicts Land’s narrative in recent weeks that she has no ties to the family
business and should not be portrayed as one of the wealthiest Senate candidates
in the nation.
complex that Land claims she owns and operates is, in fact, in the hands of the
“registered owner” — her husband, Dan Hibma, and Land & Co. That
contradicts Land’s narrative in recent weeks that she has no ties to the family
business and should not be portrayed as one of the wealthiest Senate candidates
in the nation.
The Grand Rapids city reports show that inspectors were communicating
with Land & Co. as they addressed a series of tenant complaints about cockroaches,
mice and bed bugs at the apartment complex from September 2011 to July 2012.
with Land & Co. as they addressed a series of tenant complaints about cockroaches,
mice and bed bugs at the apartment complex from September 2011 to July 2012.
In two of the reports, filed in 2011 and again nearly a year later,
tenants said the cockroach infestation was still a problem. And Hibma and Land
& Co. were still listed as the owners of the College Avenue complex.
tenants said the cockroach infestation was still a problem. And Hibma and Land
& Co. were still listed as the owners of the College Avenue complex.
In her Senate race as the Republican nominee facing off
with Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, Land has tried to distance herself from
Land & Co., especially the firm’s decision to close down and demolish the Grand
Rapids area mobile home park run by the Land family, including Terri Lynn.
with Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, Land has tried to distance herself from
Land & Co., especially the firm’s decision to close down and demolish the Grand
Rapids area mobile home park run by the Land family, including Terri Lynn.
After the tenants were ousted, the company’s attempt to
attract a commercial development to the property failed. Land, who initially
featured her role at the quaint trailer park as a young woman, insisted she
played no prominent role in the family business once the full story became
known.
attract a commercial development to the property failed. Land, who initially
featured her role at the quaint trailer park as a young woman, insisted she
played no prominent role in the family business once the full story became
known.
When it was later revealed in subsequent news reports
that the candidate poured nearly $3 million of her own money into her Senate campaign
while reporting an annual salary of about $60,000, Land said the campaign cash came
from a joint checking account with her husband that she had forgotten to list
on her financial disclosure report.
that the candidate poured nearly $3 million of her own money into her Senate campaign
while reporting an annual salary of about $60,000, Land said the campaign cash came
from a joint checking account with her husband that she had forgotten to list
on her financial disclosure report.
State documents indicate that Land formed a company
called Greenlight Management in 2011 to take over the Southview Apartments
complex from a group of family members. But the Greenlight Management website
directs those interested in renting at Southview to an online site for Land
& Co. Southview also lists its street address as the same office as Oakview
Apartments, which is also owned by Land & Co.
called Greenlight Management in 2011 to take over the Southview Apartments
complex from a group of family members. But the Greenlight Management website
directs those interested in renting at Southview to an online site for Land
& Co. Southview also lists its street address as the same office as Oakview
Apartments, which is also owned by Land & Co.
Yet, in her bid to exude populist appeal, the candidate
has continued to portray herself as a small business owner whose only activity is
running Southview along with her son.
has continued to portray herself as a small business owner whose only activity is
running Southview along with her son.
–MORE TO COME–
