Voters Elect Three to Kalamazoo Library Board

Dorla Coleman-Bonner, Ian Kennedy and James Sebree won the three trustee seats in a four-person race for the Kalamazoo Public Library Board.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Photograph of a red-brick civic library building with a stone portico and tall windows under a clear sky, with a bare maple tree at the left edge. — Voters in Kalamazoo elected Dorla Coleman-Bonner, Ian Kennedy and James Sebree to three open seats on the Kalamazoo Public Library Board, defeating Jeff Messer. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust your local library board to govern well?

Voters elected Dorla Coleman-Bonner, Ian Kennedy and James Sebree to the Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees, while Jeff Messer was not elected. The three winners will serve four-year terms on the board.

Why it matters

The results determine who will guide governance and leadership oversight of the Kalamazoo Public Library system for the coming term. The board's direction will shape how the library operates for residents across Kalamazoo.

Coleman-Bonner received 24,295 votes, Kennedy 18,916, Sebree 16,702 and Messer 15,013, with all precincts reporting unofficial full tallies. The official certified totals have not yet been confirmed in the available results.

The players

Dorla Elaine Coleman-Bonner

Coleman-Bonner is the current president of the Kalamazoo Public Library board and a retired Kalamazoo city employee who has prioritized structured board processes and support for the new Alma Powell Library on the Northside.

Ian R. Kennedy

Kennedy is a 47-year-old attorney who has served on the Kalamazoo Public Library board since January 2025, focusing on governance procedures and guidance for library leadership.

James Sebree

Sebree is a 74-year-old retired military officer and corporate manager who serves as treasurer for Friends of the Van Buren District Library and prioritizes literacy partnerships and reading comprehension.

The details

Coleman-Bonner, currently the board president, was elected to a partial two-year term in 2024 and is retired from the city of Kalamazoo. Kennedy, a 47-year-old attorney, has served on the board since January 2025 after being appointed to fill the vacancy left by Linda Mah's resignation.

2024: Coleman-Bonner elected to a partial two-year term.
January 2025: Kennedy begins serving on the board through appointment.
November 4, 2026: Voters elect three trustees in the four-person race.

Roadmap

The election outcome positions the incoming trustees to shape the Alma Powell Library's development on the Northside, the facility Coleman-Bonner has named as a top priority. The results will influence how the board approaches that expansion in the coming four-year terms.

Residents of Kalamazoo will see the new board's direction on library services, budgeting and facilities, including the planned Alma Powell Library on the Northside. Library users across the county will be affected by the governance choices these trustees make.

The takeaway

Voters in Kalamazoo chose a board that blends legal, financial and literacy expertise to guide the library's next four years. Residents who want to follow the board's decisions can watch how it implements its stated governance and facility priorities.