There’s a new election system in Kalamazoo, but no change in the city’s mayor. Bobby Hopewell easily won a two year term in the first election since changes to the Kalamazoo City Charter that include the separate election of the mayor. Don Cooney, Kalamazoo’s longest-tenured commissioner, received the most votes in the commissioner race, making him the new vice-mayor. However, Cooney says the new title likely won’t mean a change in the commission’s focus.
“I’m glad to have that job, but I think it’s not going to change an awful lot because we’ve got a common agenda and we’re all going to work hard to achieve that agenda," Cooney said following his win.
Cooney, incumbent David Anderson and newcomer Shannon Sykes won four year terms. While incumbent Jack Urban and new comers Erin Knott and Matt Milcarek were elected to two year terms.
The newest commissioners said their priority heading into their new position would be the city's looming budget shortfall, including a projected $3 million deficit next year. Milcarek -- who is currently serving on the city's blue-ribbon revenue panel to find solutions to the deficit -- said he wanted to see the commission put forward a long-term solution.
“We’re going to spend so much energy, year after year, just trying to balance the budget to come up with one-time solutions," Milcarek said. "And we need to move past that. We need a one-time, a sustainable solution that’s going to put us on a path to fiscal solvency that we can just move on from it.”
Knott said she would wait to see what the blue-ribbon panel put forward before leaning towards any solutions, but she didn't want the city to limit its options.
“I want to honor their work and allow this committee to do its due diligence, but I’m a firm believer and I’ve told voters all this time that we need to be open to revenue enhancement," Knott said. "We can’t cut our way out of the situation.”
Kalamazoo City Commissioners will serve four-year staggered terms going forward. Three seats on the city commission will be up for election every two years.
