At Clutch Justice, we don’t just want resumes; we want the stories, the grit, and the worldview behind the people doing the work. That’s why this Q&A with Kevin Travis goes beyond titles and bullet points. From standing up for his grandfather’s farm in Oshtemo, to unearthing misconduct through FOIA requests, to balancing township leadership with life on a small farm, Travis has built a reputation for tackling problems head-on and refusing to look away when power goes unchecked.
In this conversation, future Judicial Candidate Kevin Travis shares what drives him, how diverse experiences have shaped his leadership, and why his vision for public service is rooted in both accountability and legacy.
Q: In 2–3 sentences, tell me what you want the world to know about Kevin Travis—not just about what you do, but who you are and what drives you.
I went to college to study history and teach. It was around that time when the township my grandpa was living in, Oshtemo in Kalamazoo, started a scheme to drive him and his neighbors off their farms in favor of more development. That’s when I first started getting involved in politics, when I wrote my first letter to the editor to a local paper calling out local officials who were in developer’s pockets. It’s around then when I decided not just to study history, but become a part of it, and if necessary, make it.
…I decided not just to study history, but become a part of it, and if necessary, make it.
Q: Your background spans farming, manufacturing, compliance, and law. How have these diverse experiences shaped the way you approach leadership and problem-solving in public service?
In short, perspective. I had to work my way through school, summer jobs, side hustles. I went about a decade without taking a vacation. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life. I really started honing the leadership skills as a continuous improvement engineer. My job was to investigate problems and prevent reoccurence, and my boss’s approach was “don’t blame people”; something that was a new approach from prior leadership.
It was actually really positive, because it meant getting people involved who may otherwise have been on the defensive and worrying about losing their job. The approach built trust and collaboration, discovering holes in processes and procedures that, when resolved, made everyone’s job easier and more productive. Eventually people would approach me before problems occured. I read a few books on servant leadership, and began incorporating those skills into my routine.
I also found a friend and mentor who was a retired Army officer that helped me integrate providing direction and motivation as a skill. As far as incorporating those skills into public service, find what works, don’t be afraid to try new things, surround yourself with people that share your vision, but also aren’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong.
Q: You’ve built a reputation for surrounding yourself with driven, hard-working people. What do you look for when deciding who to bring into a project or initiative?
A lot of times God has a funny way of leading people to me. It’s really the best way I can describe it. Some people have described me as “intense,” not sure if it was a criticism or a compliment. First, someone has to have passion beyond thier own self interest. I ask about what is the greater good, and what will history judge us for. It’s why I thought of the idea of having our first park be Seven Generations Park – in acknowledgement of local Pottowattomi culture and really in awe and appreciation of a concept that is lost on the “throw away, think only of today” mainstream culture. Having that vision of how things are going to look 140 years from now is profound and it’s a world view I encourage others to take.
Q: Let’s talk People v. Loew. I’m sure you knew I was going to ask this—but what tips do you have for filing a FOIA request that actually gets a meaningful, timely response instead of a bureaucratic brick wall?
Pick your target, pick it strategically, anticipate what can or cannot be asked for. Pick your battles. I give all credit to Mr. [Mike] Villar for the FOIA idea leading to Loew. When he first broached the idea to me I knew the judiciary was completely off limits, but the prosecutors’ office was not. So long as the communication was not regarding some investigative matter, but instead was a mundane email between the Chief Judge and the Chief Prosecutor, it was fair game. The back door to the judiciary was literally wide open, and it was completely genius.
I merely made a second request from the time Judge Bakker took the bench to the start of Mr. Villar’s FOIA; what was found only reinforced the pattern of bad behavior in that office that Mr. Villar uncovered; including a few other cases that should have gone up on appeal.
We actually didn’t get everything – text messages between CJ and CPA that we had independent verification of existing. We even had a witness to a meeting where the CJ and CPA were discussing sentences over lunch.
A PI friend recently went through some police footage – obtained through FOIA – for a case and found that the police “forgot” to turn off the dash cam footage – they turned off the body cams. The dash footage ultimately showed the police planting drugs on a suspect.
This footage shook my friend to his core, an Army veteran and traditionally pro law enforcement, he no longer trusts the police. The other question is what to do with the information that you’ve found, especially if it’s illegal or unethical.
Plenty of people have a legitimate fear of retaliation when things are found, and there needs to be more protection, especially when, as in Loew, there were no real consequences at the end of the day.
NOTE: Check out Kevin’s Amicus Brief for People v. Loew here.
Q: As someone who balances township service, a legal career, and life on a small farm, how do you manage to keep all the plates spinning without burning out?
That’s a great question. I was working full time through law school and the bar exam, and my wife was a full time nursing student as well – I was literally running Marathons, too. Seriously, things seem way less busy now than at that time. Some days are more intense than others, live every moment, live it well. When it’s time to work, work hard, when it’s time to play, play hard. I do recognize my limits, and have pulled back on some of my community organizations, and have handed off my place on one of the boards I was serving on.
I do plan on retiring from my role as supervisor by the end of the year, and plan on running for Judge Skocelas’ seat in 2026.
Q: On a lighter note—if Watson Township suddenly had an official mascot, what would it be, and why do I have the feeling it would involve a tractor?
Well, in all seriousness I would vote for a Beaver. It’s not very common and fits with the unique nature of our community. The beaver is also the mascot of MIT – God’s first engineer. We’ve actually got a population of them living in Seven Generations Park, and one of the trails will be named “Beaver Trail” because it passes by a beaver dam. Though a tractor would be super cool too, I’ve got a few of them in the tractor barn.
You heard it here first! Be sure to support Kevin Travis in his 2026 run. For his commitment to fairness and transparency, Clutch happily endorses him as a candidate.
