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Assistant Battle Creek city manager picked as new Kalamazoo City Manager

WMUK

Kalamazoo City Commissioners have unanimously voted to offer the city manager's job to Assistant Battle Creek City Manager Jim Ritsema. 

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that Ritsema and Middleville City Manager Rebecca Fleury emerged as the top two candidates. Four candidates were interviewed for the job last week. Current City Manager Ken Collard is due to retire early next year. Gazette reporter Emily Monacelli spoke with WMUK's Gordon Evans. 

Ritsema has worked for the city of Battle Creek since 2000. He tells the Battle Creek Enquirer that taking the job is "bittersweet" after putting a lot "sweat and tears" into Battle Creek. But Ritsema says he's ready to move Kalamazoo forward. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.