Chris Glasser for Mayor
A Kalamazoo
for everyone.
ABOUT ME
Taking public service to another level.
As a former firefighter, EMT, reserve sheriff's deputy, and current Child Welfare worker, I take great joy in serving my community. My brothers and sisters in public safety are true public servants- they work long hours for little pay, deal with difficult situations, and have a large impact on the people that they serve. That is the mindset that I want to bring to the City Commission. Elected officials are supposed to be public servants, representing the people and bettering their lives and the city.
I expect my elected officials to be honest, transparent, open to accountability, and not bought by the wealthy and corporations. I don't believe that Kalamazoo has a candidate that matches my expectations. That's why I am running. I was taught to lead by example, and that's exactly what I intend to do.
The City continues to face struggles including homelessness, continual flooding, crime, and traffic issues. We have major projects ahead of us including the downtown traffic conversion and the downtown arena that was unwanted by many citizens. The current commission has continued to ignore the concerns of citizens. There is no reason to believe that they will adequately address the concerns listed here.
In my role as a child welfare worker, many of my clients (most of whom live in the city of Kalamazoo) are living paycheck to paycheck. Many don't have time to engage in local government, and those who do have the time don't believe that their voices will be heard. I want to represent those with no voice in our government with the ultimate goal of giving them a voice and including them in the decision making process that effects us all.
WHERE I COME FROM
I was born and raised in Kalamazoo. I've always lived on the east side of the city- I was born in Kalamazoo Township, grew up in Comstock, and I now reside in the Eastside Neighborhood in the City of Kalamazoo.
A CAREER OF SERVICE
I grew up wanting to be a police officer. After taking law enforcement classes and becoming a public safety explorer in high school, I was exposed to firefighting and emergency medical services. When I graduated high school, my goal was clear: I was going to become a public safety officer. While going to school to earn my degree in criminal justice, I earned my emergency medical technician license and became a certified firefighter. At some point in my college career, I realized that law enforcement was not quite the career for me. But I still had an interest in criminal justice, so I completed my bachelors degree and became a volunteer sheriff's reserve deputy.
After receiving my bachelor's degree in criminal justice, I immediately enrolled in Western's Public Administration program. I knew that my future was in the public sector, so this program seemed an appropriate fit. I received my Master's in Public Administration and I currently work for the State of Michigan as a CPS Investigator.
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration
Western Michigan University
Criminal Justice, B.S.
Western Michigan University
Emergency Medical Technician, Basic
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
EXPERIENCE
Children's Services Specialist, 2022-Present
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
President, Board of Directors, 2020-2023
Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association
Community Corrections Specialist, 2021-2022
Kalamazoo County Office of Community Corrections
Reserve Deputy, 2020-2023
Allegan County Sheriff's Office
On Call Firefighter, 2017-2019
Kalamazoo Township Fire Department
ISSUES THAT MATTER
HOMELESSNESS
The City of Kalamazoo has shown hostility towards the homeless population by criminalizing sleeping in public places. Many of these people have nowhere else to go due to insufficient amount of shelters. They cannot trespass on private property, and the City has told them that they cannot be on public property either. Where are they supposed to go?
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CLEAN AIR AND WATER
The City of Kalamazoo awarded tax breaks to Graphic Packaging, who has been accused of polluting the air of Kalamazoo neighborhoods. The health and wellbeing of citizens must be put before economic incentives.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Residents have the right to feel safe at home, as well as the right to not be victims of police misconduct. We must hold our public safety accountable and ensure that they are addressing the safety concerns of citizens.
FLOODING
Anytime that the City experiences moderate to heavy rainfall, much of the city floods. Citizens have been raising concerns of this for years. It is time that we address this. Flooding is not an inevitability- with proper drain management, the effects of flooding can be minimized.
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TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABLILTY
Multiple national studies show that Michigan ranks dead last in government transparency. The City of Kalamazoo needs to lead the way in expanding transparency and accountability in government.
SAY NO TO BILLIONAIRES
This is not a secret- Kalamazoo is home to several millionaires and billionaires. They often claim "philanthropy" with organizations like the Foundation for Excellence. We must ensure that policies are designed around the wellbeing of all, not just the extremely wealthy.