KALAMAZOO, MI — David Anderson, a Kalamazoo city commissioner who has served on the commission for nearly 14 years, is planning to run for mayor.

Anderson announced his plan to run for mayor during an interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette and MLive on Monday, June 3.

Anderson, director of housing and facilities at Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and chairman of the Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission, said he is running on the principles of supporting young people and their families and building a strong and equitable community.

“We are digging out of 40 years of disinvestment in urban core cities and local government in the state of Michigan,” Anderson said in a written statement. “It’s going to take time, persistence, optimism, collective action and focused hard work to build our way to a city that provides a safe, supportive environment and opportunity for all. We will not agree on every topic, but, if we heed our values and work together, great things will happen.”

Anderson was first elected to the commission in 2005. He said he has a collaborative leadership style and that his skills, training and experience will help the city continue its forward momentum. He serves on a number of boards in the community, including 18 years as president of the LIFT Foundation, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing.

Anderson called Kalamazoo a “little big city,” and noted the opportunities for young people and the arts and culture scene as a few of the positive things about the city.

If elected mayor, he would like to focus more on issues related to education and young people.

“We’re known as the Promise city but we have to focus on what can we do to help people take care of those opportunities,” Anderson said.

The city is in a position where it has to be intentional about its vision and the steps needed to move it forward, he said. The city has to execute plans related to issues of economic development and affordable housing, Anderson said.

He emphasized his focus is on Kalamazoo, but said the city commission could at times take action on issues that are important nationally, if there is reason to.

“I think there are things we can do here like incorporating more energy efficient requirements in our building standards, for example, practical application of local things, that recognize national issues that people are concerned about,” Anderson said.

Issues important to the city, he said, include safe and well maintained streets, good water, great parks and recreation programs, equitable processes and policies, balanced budgets, careful ordinance development, hiring and supporting quality city staff, thoughtful economic development and lifting up people who have or are experiencing challenges.

Anderson said he would also like to focus on placemaking, or being intentional to encourage things to help make Kalamazoo feel like a cool place to be.

He said he was surprised when he found out Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell did not plan to run for reelection at the end of his current term, and had been thinking about the opportunity since that time.

Anderson said he and Hopewell have voted differently on some issues, but have similar approaches.

A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, Anderson also earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. He is married to Cori Terry, and they are the parents of four grown daughters.