KCK board approves 9 months of extra pay for outgoing official, names replacement
Local officials unanimously granted outgoing Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston nine additional months of his full salary and will continue to pay for his benefits after he formally leaves public office.
They also named the temporary replacement who will be tasked with running county operations for the next several months.
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, announced Monday that Johnston was resigning from the county’s top hired spot at the end of the week. The announcement did not specify why he was leaving, and Johnston did not return a Monday afternoon call from The Star seeking that information.
During Thursday evening’s Board of Commissioners meeting, officials unanimously, and with no additional discussion, approved Johnston’s exit agreement and named Assistant County Administrator Alan Howze as his replacement for the rest of the year.
Board documents indicate that Howze will temporarily fill Johnston’s role between July 6 and Jan. 6. The board’s approval of his hire means that the government can begin negotiating his salary and benefits.
Howze takes top role
Howze, originally from Virginia, has worked for the Unified Government for a decade. Before that, he worked as a fellow for the IBM Center for the Business of Government and also brings experience working for Congress.
At the Unified Government, he has been responsible for leading various departments, such as the appraiser’s office, public health, transit, community development and more.
Toward the end of Thursday’s meeting, he told staff and attendees that he was grateful for the trust and confidence that everyone had in him and promised to honor that trust.
In the weeks ahead, he plans to meet with various departments to discuss steps forward and will continue to work alongside and support government staff, whom he called talented, dedicated and committed to the community.
“As we move forward together, as Interim County Administrator, I remain committed to leading with the values that define our county: integrity in every decision we make, compassion in how we serve, accountability for our actions and results, and stewardship of the public resources entrusted to us,” Howze said in a Thursday evening news release.
Johnston, Cobbins leaving
Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement.
Johnston was among Wyandotte County’s top-paid employees during 2025, making about $271,452 that year, according to open records data collected by Kansas OpenGov.
His exit also comes two months after the union representing KCK’s local fire department cast a vote of no confidence in both Johnston and Police Chief Dennis Rubin.
Under the terms of his separation agreement, Johnston must agree not to make negative remarks about the Unified Government or any elected officials. With that, the government cannot make disparaging comments about him, either.
Assistant County Administrator Bridgette Cobbins, who has worked for the Unified Government for three decades, is also retiring. She will be temporarily replaced by Casey Meyer, a member of the government’s legal team.
In her role as assistant county administrator, Cobbins coordinated alongside the local fire and police departments, municipal court system, city public works and more.
