City Manager Darwin Watson was let go at last night’s city commission meeting in Benton Harbor. He’s served as the City Manager for a number of years just after the Emergency Financial Manager control of the city, with a track record of financial success, a surplus, clean accounting audits, and more.
Our Andrew Green from WSJM News spoke to Darwin after last night’s meeting:
“For my people to come at me for those personal reasons is not professional. It’s not professional. It is strictly personal. I’ll tell that to anyone. And to look me in the eye and say that it isn’t, I have to question your character because that’s exactly what it is.”
Watson said the worst part of the discussion was that “there has been nothing said, just you’re done.”
The commission vote was 5-3, with Commissioner Edward Isom, Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats, and Mayor Marcus Muhammad voting no. Commissioner Sharon Henderson was not present, with all others voting yes. Commissioners voting in favor of Watson’s firing did not state a specific reason for their vote or bringing the firing forward.
To read the full WSJM News story, click here.
So, what’s next for Benton Harbor and the City Manager position? As of last night, the commission voted to declare an emergency. The Personnel and Finance Committee will now begin searching for a new manager.
