Grand Rapids Is Booming—And Walter Bujak Says That’s What Good Government Looks Like

Kent County Commissioner Walter Bujak wants the rest of the country to know a little secret: Grand Rapids is thriving—and it didn’t happen by accident. In a new episode of The Good Government Show with Dave Martin, Bujak highlights a wave of bold, community-focused investments that are reshaping the region—from riverfront trails to a brand-new soccer stadium. “We look at it as an investment in our future,” Bujak said. “We’re building a place where people want to live, work, and raise their families.”

The city’s recent projects read like a blueprint for 21st-century placemaking: the Aquashore Amphitheater, the Amway-backed soccer stadium, a $50 million upgrade to the Grand Rapids Public Museum, a growing John Ball Zoo, and new trail connections across Kent County. Even better? The funding is fiscally sound. “We went to the voters with a modest increase in the hotel-motel tax,” Bujak explained. “They said yes. They wanted the amphitheater. They wanted the stadium. And now they’re getting them.”

Bujak, a self-described fiscal conservative and software engineer turned public servant, says what’s happening in Kent County is proof that smart, responsive government can still win hearts—and balance sheets. “We’ve maintained a triple-A bond rating and we get audited every year,” he said. “We ask tough questions, we double-verify everything, and we listen to our constituents.”

From his roots as a township trustee to his environmental advocacy along the Thornapple River, Bujak sees leadership as local, collaborative, and people-first. “Good government is good politics,” he told the show. “It’s about sitting down with folks—even when you disagree—and making decisions that serve the public. That’s what we do in Kent County.” Listen to the full episode of The Good Government Show at GoodGovernmentShow.com or wherever you get your podcasts.