KALAMAZOO (WKZ0) — Mayor Bobby Hopewell has become the first to announce he will be running for Mayor this fall under Kalamazoo’s new system for electing the Commission.
The top three vote getters will get four years and the second three will get two year terms this time around. In two years, the three positions will become 4-year terms.
The Mayor’s position will be filled in a separate spot on the ballot. Hopewell has been a commissioner since 2003 and the Mayor since 2007.
In his announcement on his campaign website, Hopewell said, “I’m proud of the work I’ve been a part of over the past decade and hope to continue to serve this amazing city”. Among the most difficult challenges the City Commission has faced, Hopewell said, have been ongoing budget shortfalls.
Jack Urban is the only other incumbent who has announced he is running.
Vice Mayor David Anderson also hinted during an appearance on WKZO this week that he will be running again, but WKZO has learned he also applied for the vacant County Administrator’s post, and may reapply now that the first search failed.
Incumbents Bob Cinabro and Barb Miller have made it known that they will not be running again.
