KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — There’s a new mayor in Kalamazoo, but it’s a familiar face.
Longtime city commissioner David Anderson has been elected mayor of Kalamazoo after all precincts report him leading in the polls.
Anderson, 68, won the race facing three other opponents with a reported 5,879 votes. His closest opponent, Western Michigan University history professor David Benac, received 3,094 votes, followed by community activist Estevan Juarez and football coach Corey Smith respectively.
Anderson will succeed current Mayor Bobby Hopewell who declined to run for re-election after six terms in the office. He was also endorsed by former Mayor Hopewell.
He was on the Kalamazoo City Commission since 2005, and served two years as vice mayor of the city. Anderson is also the director of housing and facilities at Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Apart from his experience in city hall, Anderson has worked with a variety of non-profits and local commission boards including acting as chair of the Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission and serving as president of the LIFT Foundation, the largest non-profit developer and affordable housing provider in Kalamazoo County.
City officials expected turnout to be higher than previous years because of well-known candidates and no incumbent was seeking election.
Anderson will be sworn in at the next city commission meeting.
More election results can be found here.
(Jeana Gondek and Josh Scott contributed to this article)
