Kalamazoo City Commission interviews city manager finalists, decision expected Monday
Commissioners said they’ll consider both the interviews and public feedback before making their choice. Residents can submit feedback through the city’s online form or speak during the public comment period during the City Commission Committee of the Whole meeting at 5 p.m. ahead of Monday’s 7 p.m. meeting in order to provide feedback before decisions are made.
The Kalamazoo City Commission interviewed four finalists for city manager Wednesday, October 15, with a final decision expected during its business meeting Monday, October 20.
The finalists – Malcolm Hankins, Laura Lam, Odis Jones Sr., and Elle Cole – appeared before commissioners at City Hall, each given 50 minutes to respond to a set of nine questions. Candidates were also invited to ask questions of their own.
The session, in partnership with Raftelis Senior Manager Pamela Wideman, was part of a national search process facilitated by the municipal consulting firm. Commissioners said they’ll consider both the interviews and public feedback before making their choice.
Residents can submit feedback through the city’s online form or speak during the public comment period during the City Commission Committee of the Whole meeting at 5 p.m. ahead of Monday’s 7 p.m. meeting in order to provide feedback before decisions are made.
Cole’s interview was postponed due to health reasons and completed Friday morning, October 17, via Zoom.
Malcolm Hankins
Malcolm Hankins, assistant city manager in Des Moines, Iowa, has worked in local government since 1999, holding leadership roles in Arizona, Colorado, and Iowa. His background centers on neighborhood revitalization, housing stability, and equity-based policy.
Hankins told commissioners he would bring a “servant leadership” approach focused on communication, collaboration, and accountability. He said that creating strong internal systems and cross-departmental coordination is key to effective city management.
He identified affordable housing as one of Kalamazoo’s greatest needs and opportunities, emphasizing that it is essential to community health and long-term growth.
“Finding a way to provide housing to folks at different income levels and make sure everyone has an opportunity to live without being burdened by cost,” Hankins said. “When you thrive, everyone thrives together.”
Hankins described the city manager’s role as both operational and relational — implementing the commission’s vision while ensuring staff have the resources and clarity to execute it effectively.
“My job is to implement your policies and to understand where you want to go,” he said. “Another part of my role is to bring you information to assist in those discussions.”
When asked about ethical challenges, Hankins said he aims to lead with transparency and consistency.
“I try to move in a way that I don’t present myself with those opportunities,” Hankins said. “I approach my work and my relationships with people so that I’m not often placed in situations where my ethics could be questioned. I like to hold a high standard of ethics and be forward about that. I haven’t had many instances where I’ve been morally or ethically challenged in this role, and that’s because I try to lead and operate with integrity from the start.”
Laura Lam
Laura Lam, Kalamazoo’s current chief operating officer, has served in city leadership for more than a decade and helped develop Imagine Kalamazoo 2025, the city’s long-term community vision. A credentialed city manager through the International City/County Management Association, Lam previously led the Community Planning and Development Department and the Foundation for Excellence, where she worked on equity initiatives and philanthropic partnerships that supported major city projects.
Lam said her deep roots in the community drive her desire to lead.
“I’ve lived in this community for 30 years,” Lam said. “Kalamazoo is my home. I chose to leave California and an amazing job to bring my family back here because I’m deeply committed to this community.”
She listed poverty and housing as Kalamazoo’s top challenges, noting that more than half of local families struggle to meet basic needs and that wages lag behind the cost of living. She cited data showing about 800 unhoused residents and 8,500 rent-burdened households, calling for creative and coordinated solutions.
Lam referenced Milwaukee’s anti-displacement fund as one possible model to protect residents from rising costs linked to redevelopment, resulting in unintentional displacement. This was discussed with the forthcoming Kalamazoo Event Center in mind.
“We have steps we’re going to have to take to ensure that everyone can benefit,” she said.
She also pointed to existing local programs such as property tax exemptions and foreclosure prevention assistance that could be expanded or simplified.
“We can’t do the hard work I just talked about without the foundation of trust,” Lam said. “That’s where this work begins.”
Odis Jones Sr.
The city announced Friday morning, October 17, that Odis Jones Sr. had withdrawn from consideration for the city manager position. Jones, who previously served as city manager in Hutto and Missouri City, Texas, and as CEO of the Public Lighting Authority of Detroit, did not provide a reason for his decision. His withdrawal leaves three finalists in the running.
Elle Cole
Elle Cole, a certified public accountant with a master’s degree in public administration, has nearly 20 years of experience in municipal finance and consulting. Based in Michigan, she has advised cities and public agencies on budgeting, strategic planning, and technology modernization since 2005. She’s held interim chief financial officer roles and led financial transformation projects for local governments and nonprofits across the state.
Cole said she views housing as essential infrastructure, arguing that stability and opportunity start with a place to call home.
“That means modernizing code enforcement to preserve housing stock, expanding partnerships for workforce and transitional housing, and leveraging adaptive reuse to increase supply,” she said.
On equity, Cole emphasized the importance of inclusion, communication, and making residents feel represented.
“Inclusion isn’t just about who gets invited to the table; it’s about who feels comfortable speaking once they’re there,” she said.
She said she strives to combine technical precision with a community-centered mindset.
“I blend the discipline of a CPA with the vision of a community builder,” Cole said. “Downtown development and protecting vulnerable residents are not opposing forces — they’re part of the same mission.”
Next steps
The City Commission will select Kalamazoo’s next city manager during its Monday, October 20 business meeting. Residents can still share feedback through the city’s online survey or contact commissioners directly before the vote.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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