Independence taps Wichita official to lead city through incoming change, growth
After an extended search process, the city of Independence has selected its next city manager.
Troy Anderson will jump the state line after a stint in Kansas and step into the role on April 13, following a national search that spanned several months. He will be formally appointed incoming city manager at the upcoming March 16 meeting of the Independence City Council.
Anderson was one of 36 candidates from 17 states to apply for the city manager position, including four finalists, according to the city of Independence.
In a statement released Friday, outgoing Independence Mayor Rory Rowland described Anderson as “the right choice at the right time.”
“Independence is turning plans into progress across every part of our community, and his experience gives us exactly the kind of steady, capable leadership needed to carry that work forward,” Rowland said.
Anderson will come to Independence from Wichita, Kansas, where he has been assistant city manager since 2022. As assistant city manager, he helped administer Wichita’s $750-million-plus annual budget, and served on the city’s Capital Improvement Committee, which oversaw a $3 billion capital improvement program.
Anderson was also previously the deputy chief of staff for the city of Omaha, and has held city administrative roles in Missouri, Nebraska and Texas. He grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and graduated from both the University of Arkansas and the University of Texas at Arlington.
“Independence feels like home,” Anderson said Friday. “From the City’s rich history to its many assets and significant projects underway, Independence is primed for real growth in the years ahead. I’m excited to be part of what’s coming next.”
Throughout his time in local government, Anderson has focused on attracting businesses and revitalizing commercial areas in the cities he’s served, which made him stand out for the role, according to the city.
“We are at a turning point as a city,” said Council Member At-Large Bridget McCandless, who chaired the City Manager Recruitment Committee and is also running for mayor. “We have momentum economically, structurally, and in our neighborhoods. Troy’s track record in planning and redevelopment will help us turn this momentum into lasting growth.”
To hire Anderson, McCandless and the recruitment committee worked with SGR, a national executive search firm specializing in local government hires. Before accepting the role in Independence, Anderson was a finalist to be the city manager for Sarasota, Florida, and a finalist to be the city administrator for Davenport, Iowa.
Independence’s former city manager of nine years, Zach Walker, announced in July 2025 that he would be leaving the city to become city manager of Bloomington, Minnesota, in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Interim City Manager Lisa Reynolds, who has held the role since Walker’s exit in October 2025, will transition back to her previous job as deputy city manager when Anderson starts.
Anderson will be one of a series of new leaders coming to Independence this spring. One week before his first day with the city, Independence residents will elect a new mayor and two new city councilmembers.
The city also recently named a new interim police chief and a new school superintendent.
