Occupation
Integrated Services of Kalamazoo Administration. The Kalamazoo County public mental health provider
Age
74
Occupation / Current Position
Director of Housing and Facilities
Education
Bachelors in Accounting from Western Michigan University
Experience & Qualifications
Kalamazoo City Commission since 2005. Mayor since 2019. Kalamazoo County public housing commission since 2002.
Campaign Phone
2693442169
Leadership in Kalamazoo is a team sport. It is critical to be able to work effectively and
efficiently with the City Commission, city staff and community partners.
With years of experience in City government, I understand the role and know the details of the
job. I have longstanding positive relationships with internal City staff and regional leaders, am
steady and a good listener, do not hold grudges, and understand how to make hard decisions even
though I know not everyone will be happy with them. These qualities are especially important in
today’s political climate and because we will be hiring a new city manager.
To be a safe, healthy, vibrant community that provides opportunity for all we must continue our
focus on public safety, clean water and air, and basic infrastructure. Two high-profile concerns
are the challenges for people without permanent housing and the issue of ongoing gun violence.
The City has invested $35 million in housing initiatives in the last five years, and we are seeking
a stronger partnership with Kalamazoo County and others to develop effective, broader,
collaborative solutions. Our efforts combining targeted enforcement and partnerships with local
gun violence prevention initiatives are having a measurable positive effect.
A vibrant city is one where people want to live, work, play and gather. To promote long-term
economic viability, a city must invest in itself. In the last six years we have been making
unprecedented investments in our water and wastewater systems, housing, streets and sidewalks
and parks while keeping the budget balanced.
If the city feels well run, clean and safe, people will want to live here and invest. In addition to
this work we will continue to support local efforts for entrepreneurs, business build-out and
mentoring.
Great places support and attract economic investment and stability.
Historical investments in City infrastructure have been made in the last six years including over
$200 million in water, wastewater, air quality, safe streets, and non- motorized transportation.
Providing safer streets, paths for walking, beautiful, functional parks, clean air and water and
treating gun violence as a public health issue all contribute to improved health and safety.
The City is funding the removal of lead paint from homes in Kalamazoo, and the majority of its
public building energy use, including the wastewater treatment plant, will come from renewable
sources by 2028.
Occupation
Children’s Services Specialist
Age
29
Occupation / Current Position
Children’s Services Specialist: I investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect.
Education
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, KVCC. Criminal Justice, BS Western Michigan University. Master of Public Administration, Western Michigan University.
Experience & Qualifications
7 years experience working in the government and nonprofit sector. Served on the Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association for three years, serving as treasurer and president.
Campaign Phone
2692200701
I bring over 6 years of experience in leadership positions, including being the president of the board of directors for the Kalamazoo Eastside neighborhood Association. I utilize my skills in interpersonal communication to work with my clients, most of whom reside in the City of Kalamazoo. I utilize these skills to ensure that my clients are treated with respect while also asking the questions necessary to address barriers and collaborate with them to identify solutions to better their lives and the lives of their children.
Housing and Homelessness: The number one issue in terms of human rights in the city of Kalamazoo is homelessness. The moral and cost-effective solution is to build a zero-barrier shelter utilizing a housing first approach.
Accessibility and Transparency in Government: City government should be both accessible to citizens and its actions should be transparent. To achieve this, the city needs to resume allowing call in citizen comments during city commission meetings, participation in citizen advisory boards should be encouraged, and the 311 system should be strengthened. Meeting minutes should be provided to the public as soon as possible.
It is important that as we look at ways to bring developers and businesses into the city that we anticipate the effect that it has on people who already call Kalamazoo home. Proposals to offer tax breaks to developers must consider negative side effects to existing residents. Tax breaks and grants should be focused on small businesses and not million-dollar corporations. Rather than providing tax breaks to already wealthy corporations, Kalamazoo should ensure that it has the transportation infrastructure, the housing, and a trained workforce that will entice businesses to come to Kalamazoo.
The city should continue to embrace green energy when financially able to reduce its carbon footprint to help combat climate change, which threatens human life across the globe. Locally, we should be ensuring that our water and air are clean and that our homes are lead free. Certain neighborhoods are disproportionally affected by air pollution and lead exposure. Regular testing should be completed to ensure clean air, clean water, and lead-free environments. Corporations that pollute our air and our neighborhoods should not be provided with tax breaks and should be held accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Occupation
Teacher and Public Speaker
Age
61
Occupation / Current Position
Teacher and Public Speaker
Education
WMU
Experience & Qualifications
Teacher and Public Speaker. My teacher career started about 4 years ago i was sitting on my couch and God told me to go to the Kalamazoo Mission and be a teacher i said how he said go and am going to show you i did and i thought there for 8 months and created a workforce development class and i been teaching evrey since, And what's amazing i been doing all this teaching with no credentials. God is
Campaign Phone
2695012836
Skills to communicate, in courage and uplift people. Am a Teacher and Public Speaker I teach at the Kalamazoo State Hospital and I go speak to high schools students its very important to help the forgotten and the youth of are great city of kalamazoo giving them hope and conforming them to believe in themselves and convert them from engaging in gun violence, gangs and drugs and become productive citizens of society, this its what I do and represent.
Gun violence and homeless I have both the solution in lowering both gun violence and homeless here in are wonderful city of Kalamazoo. I would like to add ! To me having the solution to both gun violence and homeless i want to let the voters know the only reason why i haven't revealed it to any one yet is because if i give it to them and they don't use it and then my whole campaign would have been for nothing,. but i would like to ensure them that if i lose the election i will give the solutions to the winner no problem, because what is most important to me is to save lives and help the homeless become housed .
I in courage people to change their life around and understand that hard work and dedication pays off. In order to survive in this world you must gain skills or go to college that will prepare you for a job or career. which we enable one to create long term economic stability and vitality of the city. To promote long-term economic stability and vitality Kalamazoo should focus on 3 main strategies 1.Diversify the economy 2. Invest in talent 3. Enhance quality of life
What can they do the Northside of Kalamazoo has been In danger for years with all the companies over there move them out into better environments or move the companies out there no other way. It's something we been enduring for years that's just the way its has been for us across the tracks sort of speak. Its a norm of live to us and its been that way for many years. To enhance resident health and safety Kalamazoo should prioritize two key actions 1. Accelerate the replacement of all lead-lined water pipes. 2. Increase urban green infrastructure.
