KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County board met last night to get organized for the new year, and almost accomplished that goal.
They were able to fill the top two positions in their board leadership but deadlocked on the third.
They voted to elevate Jen Strebs to the board chairmanship, and reelected John Taylor to be vice chair. Both are Democrats from the Kalamazoo metro area.
Strebs thanked her colleagues for their support and committed to returning it to them, saying “we may be facing what could be facing a challenging year and so we will get through that together as a community and this commission.”
The board was deadlocked between Monteze Morales, another urban Democrat from the city of Kalamazoo, and incumbent vice chair pro-tem Jeff Heppler, a rural Republican.
Morales says they need a woman of color in leadership.
“We always say DEI is our priority. It needs to start with leadership,” she said.
But John Gisler says that cuts both ways as Republicans deserve representation, too. He noted two Democrats had already been selected as the chair and vice chair.
“I would think the next slot should go to a Republican to show our sense of collaboration.”
Filling the position will be the first item of business at their next meeting, when Heppler, who was too ill to attend this meeting, can be present.
The annual selection of leadership has typically been the most partisan decision they make each year, and this time was no different.
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