Candidate Questionnaire: Chris Glasser

The following is Watershed Voice‘s candidate questionnaire for the November 2025 local elections. We will be running all candidate questionnaires in the order received today, tomorrow, and Thursday — our regular publishing schedule.

Chris Glasser, Kalamazoo City Mayor candidate filled out our questionnaire, below are his answers as submitted.

Name: Chris Glasser  
Age: 29  
Are you an incumbent? No  
Family (optional): Declined to answer this optional question.

Background/Bio:  

I was born and raised in Kalamazoo, never leaving the 49048 zip code. Growing up, I knew that I wanted to work in public service. Originally wanting to be a police officer, I went to WMU and got my degree in criminal justice. Along the way, I gained interest in firefighting and EMS. I became a licensed EMT and shortly after was hired as an EMT. As I continued my professional career, I knew I wanted to stay in the public sector and went back to WMU to get my Master’s in Public Administration. I currently serve as a CPS investigator for the State of Michigan. 

Why are you running for the office of Kalamazoo Mayor? 

I am running because I am looking at the world around us and I know that we can do better. I grew up being disappointed in our elected officials and understand the frustrations that people have with government at all levels. I want to be the public servant that people deserve- someone that will listen to their concerns, accept criticism, and act with integrity.   

Have you previously held public office, or have you served in a public leadership role? If so, what is your experience, and what are some of your accomplishments? 

I have not held public office before. 

If not, describe any experience — professional, volunteer, or otherwise — that you believe is relevant to serving as Kalamazoo Mayor. 

I served on the board of directors for the Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association for three years, serving as the treasurer and then the president. The president of the board of directors is a very similar role to the mayor of a city commission with a city manager style government. The executive director/city manager handles the day to day operations while being supervised by the board of directors/city commission.

How long have you lived in the area you are seeking to represent? 

I have lived in the Kalamazoo area all of my life. I have lived within city limits for eight years.   

In your opinion, what are the three most important issues to the area relative to the scope of the position you are seeking, and why? 

The  three most important issues for me is increasing government accessibility/accountability/transparency, housing, and public safety. We need a city hall that is open and transparent to the public. Housing is a human right. Despite spending millions of dollars on housing and homelessness, the number of unhoused individuals has increased this year. Regarding public safety, the ongoing gun violence makes our neighbors feel unsafe and effects us all as a community.    

What measures will you pursue to address those issues? 

I would reinstate the ability for residents to call into city commission meetings. This makes city government more accessible to those who cannot attend in person and increases accountability, as citizens are able to voice their concerns in a public way that is on the record. Homelessness is a human rights issue and should not be criminalized. Additional funding needs to go towards building more shelters that ensures that people aren’t left to freeze to death or die of heat stroke. Regarding public safety, we need to ensure that KDPS builds and maintains public trust through relationship building and transparency.   

How would you ensure better protection and service for the most vulnerable and underserved populations in Kalamazoo? 

As a CPS investigator, my job is about protecting some of the most vulnerable amongst us- our children. Children in abusive or neglectful homes do not have people that can speak up for them and protect them. As an elected official, I would see it as my responsibility to lift up those who are disadvantaged and to give a voice to those who feel silenced. We do better when we all do better. Uplifting people, whether it be housing the unhoused, providing healthcare to all, or public transportation has benefits to the entire public, not just those who are directly served.   

How would you promote transparency and maintain public trust in city government? 

The city government needs to explain their actions and set measurable goals to ensure that policies and projects are successful. Right now, millions of dollars are allocated without properly explaining them to the public, and often there is not follow up to ensure that the money that was allocated was spent effectively. Further, we need to strengthen our 311 system that allows citizens to call in with questions and ensure that Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are processed promptly and provide as much information as legally allowable.   

What values or guiding principles shape your approach to public service?  

I work for the people, they do not work for me. I chose to run for office, which means I have made a deliberate decision to spend my time listening to the concerns of the public and advocating on their behalf. As a police explorer, the values of honor, respect, and integrity were heavily emphasized. Those values are still important to me today. 

Is there anything else your prospective constituents should know about you, your platform, your views, or your background? 

We can do better together. The more people that vote, the better the government will represent the will of the people. The more people that speak up and participate, the better we will do. If we cannot achieve our goals as a city, we will collaborate those who can help us achieve those goals, whether it be with nonprofits, private businesses, state representatives, or federal representatives. The question is not whether we can achieve it, but how will we achieve it.