By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
John Gross, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the controversial non-profit involving State Rep. Tom Kunse, Former Speaker Jason Wentworth, former Wentworth staffer David Coker, and Chicago conman Anthony Demasi, is a major donor to both Kunse and Wentworth.
Kunse, Coker, and Wentworth are longtime friends.
A $25 million state grant for a health complex in Clare known as "Clare Health Park" was secured in the 2022 budget by Speaker Wentworth, and soon after, awarded to his former staffer David Coker's non-profit.
State Rep. Tom Kunse who was hand-picked by Wentworth to replace him in the House then pocketed $3.5 million in a real estate deal from the grant.
After winning the project, Coker enlisted Anthony Demasi, who is now serving his 2nd stint in federal prison, to help run things.
The State Of Michigan halted payments on the sketchy ordeal, which is now under investigation by the Attorney General and the Michigan State Police. No decision on possible criminal charges has been announced.
“Coker told Bridge he relinquished control of the nonprofit to a three-person board of directors, chaired by local pharmacy owner John Gross, which then hired another Coker firm, IW Consulting LLC, as project manager to oversee the health campus.
"There's not one guy... that's going to be pulling $500,000 a year off this as (nonprofit) owner or manager or anything else," Coker said. "We have an unpaid board, and that's how it will (remain). This is 100 percent about doing something to improve (health) issues in the area."
Gross eventually resigned as Chairman and the Board completely.
“The application to MDHHS from Complete Health Park lists a project start date last December and an end date of this fall with a project cost of $25,000,000.
It lists Anthony Demasi, (with a Mt. Pleasant address) as the Program Director; Dave Coker (with a Clare address) as Director; and Shannon Taylor (also of Clare) as Financial Officer. Demasi was taken off the project in February, after federal charges for fraud were filed against him.
Another Board Member – John Gross – resigned after concerns about the project were raised, an article in the Detroit News said.”
Gross is a major donor to Kunse and Wentworth, giving $3,000 between the two since 2019:
John Gross, meeting with former Speaker Jason Wentworth:
As for Kunse, whose district includes Osceola and Mecosta Counties, as well as parts of Clare County and Lake County, he is up for re-election in August.
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com
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