Shawnee picks new ‘engaged and responsive’ councilwoman to replace Justin Adrian

The Shawnee City Council has appointed Lisa Larson-Bunnell to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated in September by Justin Adrian.

Council members on Tuesday voted 5-2 to select Larson-Bunnell for the position, which she’ll hold at least until after a special election in November 2019 to fill the remaining two years of the term.

“I’m very blown away,” Larson-Bunnell told reporters after the meeting, adding that she intends to run for the seat next fall. “With it being an appointed position and not an elected position, it’s very important for me to take this time to build the public trust.”

Adrian, who was only nine months into his four-year term, resigned from the council abruptly on Sept. 12. He was later charged with having unlawful sexual relations with a student at Olathe East High School.

Larson-Bunnell, 39, is associate counsel and compliance director for North Kansas City Hospital.

She earned the spot over 14 other people who applied for the seat. All but one of the applicants took turns standing before the council Tuesday night for introductions and to offer reasons for wanting to serve.

In Larson-Bunnell’s case, she said it “is a very important time for our city and especially western Shawnee” as the council is considering new residential and commercial development in the area and a proposed community center. In addition, she said council members also face demands from underserved neighborhoods in other parts of the city and pressure to upgrade aging infrastructure.

“We need a second passionate voice that will listen to the residents of Ward 3 and be able to balance their interests with the needs of the city as a whole,” she said, referring to fellow Ward 3 council member Stephanie Meyer. “I will be that engaged and responsive representative.”

Following the candidates’ presentations, four council members nominated Larson-Bunnell and three nominated candidate Dave Myres.

Myres narrowly lost the 2017 election for the Ward 3 seat to Adrian. During his presentation to the council, he said the runner-up from that election should get the nod.

“I think we all know that if the situation was reversed, if the council members found themselves in a similar circumstance, they’d be at this very podium asking to be temporarily appointed,” he said.

Council members Eric Jenkins and Mike Kemmling, who both nominated Myres, voted against Larson-Bunnell’s appointment.

Other candidates included Jafeth Ariga, Michael Duma, Renee Grigg, Melissa Henrich, Brittney Lagemann, Elizabeth Lattin, Aubree Monrean, Dawn Rattan, Katie Rea, Geoffrey Ristau, Allissa Rousselo, Barbara Weiner and Karen Whitson. A 16th candidate withdrew his application before the meeting.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to extend a moratorium on allowing vape or inhaling shops within the city until July 1, 2019. City officials said they are awaiting a decision by the Kansas Supreme Court on whether cities in the state can regulate the use of tobacco and electronic cigarettes by people between the ages of 18 and 21.

Council members also voted 7-1 to approve a $45,296 contract with JE Dunn Construction to provide pre-construction management services for the proposed community center. The company would help develop partial plans for the center, including costs, which would be presented to the public ahead of a referendum next year on whether to build the facility. Kemmling voted against awarding the contract.

This story was originally published November 14, 2018 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Shawnee picks new ‘engaged and responsive’ councilwoman to replace Justin Adrian."