Kalamazoo City Commission: Meet the candidates

By Kalamazoo Gazette staff

October 11, 2009, 6:01AM

Here are the names and addresses of the official candidates running for one of seven, two-year Kalamazoo City Commission terms.

David AndersonDavid F. Anderson
Age: 58.
Address: 513 Stuart Ave.
Occupation: Director of housing and facilities, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.anderson4kzoo.com.


Jimmy Dean AyersJimmy Dean Ayers
Age: 48.
Address: 710 Collins, Apt. 314.
Occupation: None.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: None.

Birleta Bean-HardemanBirleta Bean-Hardeman
Age: 51.
Address: 949 Austin St.
Occupation: Transportation manager, B & W Charters Inc.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: None.




Nicholas BoydNicholas Boyd
Age: 26.
Address: 1129 Berkshire Drive.
Occupation: Home-loan closer for National City Bank.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.NickBoyd.net.



Kyle BoyerKyle Boyer
Age: 21.
Address: 302 W. Walnut St.
Occupation: Bartender at Partners Bar.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.ourkalamazoo.com.

Don CooneyDon Cooney
Age: 72.
Address: 1221 Vassar Drive.
Occupation: Professor of social work, Western Michigan University.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site:  None.



Aaron DavisAaron Davis
Age: 41.
Address: 2408 S. Rose St.
Occupation: Restaurant hospitality manager for Greenleaf Hospitality Group.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: None.

Bobby HopewellBobby Hopewell
Age: 45.
Address: 525 Stuart Ave.
Occupation: Director of hospitality services, Borgess Medical Center.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.bobbyhopewell.com.


Michael KilbourneMike Kilbourne
Age: 34.
Address: 438 Ranney St.
Occupation: AmeriCorps worker, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Incumbent: No.


Terry KuseskeTerry L. Kuseske
Age: 60.
Address: 4509 Starlite Ave.
Occupation: Retired.
Incumbent: No.
Web site:
www.terrykuseske.com.


Hannah J. McKinneyHannah J. McKinney
Age: 54.
Address: 1425 Grand Ave.
Occupation: Professor of economics, Kalamazoo College.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.hannahmckinney.org.


Barbara MillerBarbara Hamilton Miller
Age: 56.
Address: 2523 Winchell Ave.
Occupation: Community
volunteer.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.barbmiller.com.

Stephanie MooreStephanie Moore
Age: 37.
Address: 414 W. Paterson St.
Occupation: Employment specialist, Northside Association for Community Development.
Incumbent: Yes.
Web site: www.commishstephaniemoore.com.


Kai PhillipsKai Phillips
Age: 21.
Address: 1110 Homecrest Circle.
Occupation: Managing director of Yerasoft, a Web and software design firm.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.kaiphillips.com.

Anna SchmittAnna Schmitt
Age: 23.
Address: 927 Clover St.
Occupation: Server and bartender.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: Facebook group “Anna Schmitt for Kalamazoo City Commission!”


Louis Cloise StockingLouis Cloise Stocking
Age: 22.
Address: 910 Oak St.
Occupation: Volunteer organizer for Michigan Medical Marijuana Association.
Incumbent: No.
Web site: www.louisstocking.com.


Karen Wellman
The candidate did not respond to the Gazette questionnaire.

CLICK A QUESTION TO SEE THE CANDIDATES' ANSWERS

1. What should be the No. 1 priority of the next City Commission? 2. Declining residential and commercial property values and stock-market losses in the city’s pension fund are creating shortfalls. Recognizing that most of the budget goes to employee salaries, specifically what services would you cut or what revenues would you increase? Be specific. 3. Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether the city should reinstate or reject an ordinance outlawing discrimination based on sexual identity or gender identification in matters of employment, housing and access to public accommodations. Do you favor or oppose this ordinance? Why? 4. Would you support a 1 percent tax on meals and drinks served in Kalamazoo County restaurants and bars to build an arena in downtown Kalamazoo? Would you support $4.5 million in city money proposed for related infrastructure costs? 5. On a traditional A-to-F grading scale, what grade would you give the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and why? Has the department gotten better or worse under Chief Jeff Hadley? 6. Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley has said the department has no intention of enforcing federal immigration laws. Do you agree with this position? Why? 7. The next City Commission could be asked to consider a measure that would make policing marijuana the city’s “lowest enforcement priority.” Would you support or oppose such a measure? Why? 8. Some groups have advocated requiring businesses receiving tax abatements to allocate a percentage of the jobs they promise to create to low-income individuals or ex-felons. Do you support such a requirement? 9. A millage request for 0.6 of 1 mill to fund Metro Transit is on the city’s ballot Nov. 3. Do you favor or oppose this levy? Why? 10. How should the City Commission balance spending for downtown development and residential revitalization projects?

MORE ELECTION 2009:

• Meet the Portage candidates here.
• Go to the Portage candidates' questions and answers here.
• Go to the Kalamazoo candidates' questions and answers.