Christal Watson sworn in as KCK’s newest mayor/CEO: ‘Let’s get busy’
A changing of the guard has happened in Kansas City, Kansas. And with that, Mayor Christal Watson said she’s ready to get to work.
“It will take all of us to do this work,” Watson told residents who filled Memorial Hall on Monday. “It is going to take more than just one day. We won’t see change happen overnight, but we will see the change you’ve been wanting to see.”
Officials swore in Watson — the newly-elected mayor/CEO and the first Black woman to lead the city — during an evening ceremony. Judge Candice Alcaraz, who in 2023 was the first Black woman elected judge in Wyandotte County, guided Watson through her oath of office.
She took that oath alongside three new county commissioners, two reelected commissioners and the reelected county sheriff. They all earned their seats in the November general election.
Watson, effective Monday, replaced outgoing Mayor Tyrone Garner, a retired police officer and the city’s first Black mayor. Garner, elected in 2021, announced in late 2024 that he would not run for another term, making him the third single-term mayor the county has had in recent history.
“Today we mark the first time an African American woman has been trusted to serve as mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas,” Watson told attendees before Memorial Hall erupted in applause.
She’s promised an administration grounded in serving people, instating efficient processes and implementing strong public policy. And to make that happen, Watson said, she’s going to need the community’s support, patience and love, she said.
Her administration will make mistakes along the way, Watson said, but she hopes residents will lend her their trust and be hopeful about efforts to improve the community.
“And I need you just as much as you need me,” Watson said, later promising to remain transparent behind her decision making.
Despite coming in second in August’s primary and raising less than her opponent, Watson pulled off a 1,500-vote victory. Watson, director of the KCK School Foundation for Excellence, received 9,694 votes, and Rose Mulvany Henry, a local attorney and member of the Board of Public Utilities, received 8,194 votes, according to certified election results from the Wyandotte County Election Office.
Watson and Commissioners Andrew Kump (At-Large District 2), Jermaine “Jae” Howard (District 1) and Carlos Pacheco III (District 5) are newcomers to the 11-member board that governs the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK.
Eighth District Commissioner Andrew Davis and Seventh District Commissioner Chuck Stites won reelection alongside second-term Sheriff Daniel Soptic.
The commissioners will join Christian Ramirez (District 3), Evelyn Hill (District 4), Philip Lopez (District 6) and Melissa Bynum (At Large District 1) in making budgetary and policy decisions that will affect residents across the county. Soptic will continue to lead the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department.
“God bless you, Wyandotte County,” Watson said, “Let’s get busy.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM.
