🚨BREAKING: Is State House Candidate Todd Smalenberg Lying To Voters About Where He Really Lives?🚨

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Todd Smalenberg's status as a patriotic Veteran isn't up for debate---but a bombshell West Michigan Politics investigation into whether or not he's telling the truth to voters about where he actually lives in order to run for State Representative is a whole different story.

Todd Smalenberg

Smalenberg, a Conservative activist in Northern Michigan, claims he is living at an address in Hillman Township. That's in the 106th State House District, putting him in a primary against State Rep. Cam Cavitt.

State Rep. Cam Cavitt

However, strong evidence indicates Smalenberg actually lives ~40 minutes south at the home he recently built in Mio, meaning he should be running in the nearby 105th State House District primary against State Rep. Ken Borton.

Looking to ask Smalenberg about the controversy, I first visited his campaign committee's street address in Hillman---a 480 square foot, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom rustic shack that doesn't seem to have been occupied by anyone in many weeks---or more likely, MONTHS. The Norman Bates taxidermy collection has more signs of life than this place.

As of Tuesday June 4th, the grass was considerably longer than neighboring homes, old clumps of leaves and sticks scattered near the door looked like they've been there since at least last fall, and a broom was tipped over on the ground by a couple of faded, dirty chairs. The only thing visible inside when I looked in to see if the place was abandoned was a vacuum cleaner.

The address Smalenberg is registered to vote at---and says is where he lives---is on nearby Aulwes Street.

A visit there indicates the property is an empty lot that Smalenberg has placed a camper trailer on.

According to Hillman Township officials, it's not legal to live in a camper without a permit---and there is no record of Smalenberg ever applying for one.

Tax records indicate his Mio property was claimed as Smalenberg's Primary Residence Exemption and Veteran's Exemption for the 2023 tax year.

According to nominating petitions for 1st Congressional District candidate Josh Saul, Smalenberg used the Hillman address while his wife Lynne used the Mio address. Lynne is still registered there today, and cannot vote for her husband in August. 

 

In Facebook posts, Smalenberg chronicled the construction of his Mio dream home on the Au Sable River throughout 2021 and 2022.

Smalenberg was not available in Mio when I dropped by, but just 1 stall of his garage appeared to be larger than his entire Hillman camper.

This is a developing story....

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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