Marion City Council ‘WILL NOT COMMENT’ on raid of newspaper at meeting, agenda says

The Marion City Council will meet Monday for the first time since police raided the local newspaper, kicking off an international firestorm of condemnation.

“COUNCIL WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AT THIS MEETING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” the agenda says.

That’s 47 exclamation points.

Mayor David Mayfield, who has been a vocal critic of the Record, will not attend the meeting, according to an agenda packet posted online Friday afternoon. In a letter, Mayfield apologizes for missing the meeting, saying he has had a family vacation planned for more than six months and is out of state.

“I have not missed any meetings in the three and a half years of service being the Mayor. I didn’t want there to be any confusion as to why I am not present at this meeting,” Mayfield’s letter says. “It has absolutely nothing to do with the current happenings in Marion county.”

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody and his officers led a raid on the Marion County Record last week after obtaining a search warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Laura Viar. Officers were apparently looking for evidence of alleged identity theft of Kari Newell, a local restaurant owner.

Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey withdrew the warrant on Wednesday after finding insufficient evidence for the search and the newspaper’s computers and other devices were returned.

The agenda doesn’t list any items related to the search of the newspaper and the only executive session listed pertains to litigation involving an industrial park. Public comments will be accepted at the end of the meeting, with remarks limited to three minutes per person.

The city council will meet at 4:30 p.m. at 203 N. 3rd Street in Marion.

This story was originally published August 18, 2023 at 3:32 PM.

Jonathan Shorman

The Kansas City Star

913-735-3689

Jonathan Shorman was The Kansas City Star’s lead political reporter, covering Kansas and Missouri politics and government, until August 2025. He previously covered the Kansas Statehouse for The Star and Wichita Eagle. He holds a journalism degree from The University of Kansas.