Roeland Park voters on Tuesday chose Joel Marquardt to be mayor over Linda Mau.
Marquardt, an architect, received 70 percent of the vote.
As the city’s new leader, Marquardt will face major obstacles to shore up more than $500,000 in lost revenue that will occur when Wal-Mart moves to Mission.
Mayor Adrienne Foster was unseated in the primary election in February in part because of concerns about her proposed solutions, such as turning over police services to the county.
Marquardt said many tools can be used to solve the financial gap the city will face when the Wal-Mart moves, not just cutting city departments.
Highlights of other Johnson County races:
ShawneeIn a high-profile Shawnee race, voters elected Mike Kemmling, a local dentist, to take the helm in Ward 2.
Kemmling received 56 percent of the vote and Alan Willoughby received 44 percent.
Last year the City Council appointed Willoughby, Mayor Jeff Meyers’ uncle, to the council seat. But questions were raised immediately about private conversations the mayor had with other council members about appointing his uncle. A subsequent investigation by the Johnson County prosecutor found that the council had broken the spirit of the Kansas open records law.
In Ward 1, Daniel Pflumm kept his seat, defeating political veteran John Segale 56 percent to 44 percent.
In Ward 3, Jeff Vaught also kept his seat, besting Gordon Herron 63 percent to 37 percent.
GardnerVoters unseated Mayor David Drovetta, who was seeking his third term, instead choosing Chris Morrow, a current council member who promised more transparency.
Morrow got 52 percent of the vote and Drovetta 48 percent.
LenexaIn Ward 3, incumbent Lou Serrone overwhelmingly defeated Jennifer Lindsey 61 percent to 39 percent.
OlatheVoters kept Ron Ryckman, the current at-large councilman, who soundly defeated Troy Calkins 71 percent to 29 percent.
In Ward 3, voters chose Wes McCoy over Jim Terrones, who was appointed to the council in June. McCoy received 54 percent of the vote and Terrones got 46 percent.
Overland ParkIn Ward 3, Jim Kite defeated Arthena Easterwood 76 percent to 24 percent.
And in Ward 5, John Thompson regained his seat when he defeated Ron Williams 71 percent to 29 percent.
Comments