Justin Passick
Contributing Writer
(Justin Passick/TCJ – New City Manager Vester Davis is a Grand Rapids native who has been on the job in Charlotte since July 1.)
Meeting up with new Charlotte City Manager Vester Davis in the past few weeks, it is obvious that he is still settling into his new role, having just started his term on July 1.
His office is barely decorated, and he admits that he is still getting a feel for how Charlotte operates. Most of his initial activities involved meeting various community groups to learn what is needed in the area. Davis said he’s thankful for the warm welcome the community has given him.
A Grand Rapids native who worked in nonprofits like Arbor Circle’s youth shelter, Davis earned his master’s degree in public administration at Grand Valley State University. Davis took an internship serving the city manager of South Haven. That planned one-year role stretched into four as he was invited to stay on.
His first appointment as city manager was in the village of Stanton, population just over 1,300, a position he held for two years. Davis moved on to the city of Springfield, population nearly 6,000, where he served for more than four years. With a population of over 9,000, Charlotte is his biggest municipality so far, and his excitement for this role can be felt in conversation.
Davis’ first point of action is recruiting fresh talent to build a team that benefits Charlotte. At the time of writing, several city positions have become available, ranging from city clerks and park rangers to wastewater plant workers. Davis says the real goal is to set Charlotte up for long-term success by finding skilled people to guide it forward.
A married father of three boys, Davis has a clear passion for parks and outdoor spaces. He spoke of how shared outdoor areas can build local community and draw visitors from nearby areas. That idea extends to his hope of turning Charlotte into a destination, someplace families want to visit for a pleasant day out.
Davis already recognizes a few of the challenges facing Charlotte. Roads are an obvious concern, he said, citing post-pandemic pricing across every part of the supply chain for repair projects. He also recognizes local housing issues, with not enough affordable housing available for families and younger professionals. He has long-term goals to connect the resources of larger developers throughout the state with local construction professionals, along with the city’s own inspection and coding departments, resulting in both economic and population growth.
Davis joins a line of city managers in Charlotte, a position dating back to 1962. Past managers have served anywhere from months to decades.
Asked what he’d like to share with the community, Davis said, “Great things are on the way.”
