Olathe City Council races deliver upset victories for first-time candidates
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kevin Deneault ousted Marge Vogt in Ward 4, 2,480 to 1,861; seat fills in Jan 2025
- Jeff Creighton won the at‑large race over Rob Olson, 8,826 to 7,341; Olson defeated
- New council must address infrastructure, public safety, taxes, development and housing
There will be two new faces on the Olathe City Council when freshly elected members are sworn in next January.
In a major upset, self-employed entrepreneur Kevin Deneault swept to victory over longtime incumbent Marge Vogt in northeast Olathe’s Ward 4.
Unofficial Johnson County election results show Deneault captured 2,480 votes to Vogt’s 1,861 votes, putting an end to her bid for a 10th term on the City Council, where she has served since 1997.
In the at-large contest, Olathe Planning Commission member Jeff Creighton bested former longtime Johnson County state lawmaker Rob Olson 8,826 votes to 7,341 votes, according to unofficial results.
Incumbent LeEtta Felter also won her uncontested race to represent southeast Olathe’s Ward 3 for another four years.
Results will not be finalized until the county canvass on Nov. 12.
The newly elected members will be sworn in shortly before longtime Olathe City Manager Michael Wilkes plans to retire at some point during the first quarter of 2026.
Over the course of their terms, council members will be asked to balance municipal priorities such as infrastructure and public safety with residents’ concerns about property taxes.
They will also make important decisions about what development should be allowed in Olathe and what needs to be done to expand the affordable housing stock as Johnson County continues to grapple with an expensive housing market.
Who is Kevin Deneault?
In an email statement Wednesday morning, Deneault reflected on his upset victory over Vogt.
“I’m honored that my neighbors have placed their trust in me. I’ve had so many meaningful conversations about Olathe’s future, and I’m eager to have more,” he said. “My focus is on helping Olathe stay strong, resilient, and welcoming for everyone.”
Deneault, who has lived in Olathe since 2003, said at a recent candidate forum that voters were ready for a change on the City Council.
“What distinguishes me from (Vogt), first and foremost, is I’m a fresh choice for voters,” Deneault said.
His vision for Olathe centers on “building connections between people, and maintaining amazing services,” according to his campaign website.
“I believe in planning smart growth — where new development and businesses add value to our neighborhoods, jobs to our economy, and life to our public spaces,” Deneault said on his website.
Deneault has said that he supports streamlining permitting processes and prioritizing local small businesses in city contracts.
He also says Olathe should explore public/private partnerships and incentives that encourage mixed-income housing developments.
Who is Jeff Creighton?
Creighton, a recently retired business manager for the Harlan Parker Insurance Agency in Olathe, emerged victorious over Olson in a competitive contest.
Creighton, a fellow Republican, said he expected a tough race.
“From day one, I always thought that I was a bit of an underdog because Mr. Olson has spent a lot of time in office,” Creighton said. “He’s got name recognition, people who have supported him through the years.”
Creighton, who has past volunteer service on the Olathe Citizens Police Advisory Council and the Olathe Police Foundation, said on his campaign website that he wants to enact fiscal policies that maintain the city’s strong bond rating. He also emphasized his strong support for the city’s police and fire departments.
As a first-time candidate, Creighton said the experience of running a campaign and winning over voters has been rewarding.
“This has just been really exhilarating for me,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s something I’ve never done before. Sometimes it’s tiring, but it’s been really interesting and I’ve learned a lot.”
His opponent, Olson, served in the Kansas House from 2005 to 2010 and the Senate from 2011 to 2024 before leaving state politics.
The Star previously reported that Olson drew criticism from former lawmakers over 20 years of campaign payments he made to a consultant who was also paid by the state of Kansas to be his assistant. During Olson’s last four years in the Senate, that consultant continued receiving payments while living in a rental property that Olson’s company had purchased.
Who is LeEtta Felter?
Felter, who originally won her seat in 2021, gave up her seat on the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education in 2023 after 12 years of service.
Felter’s campaign website emphasizes her fiscal responsibility and commitment to making Olathe “an inclusive community where everyone can live a safe and productive life.”
“That means good jobs; a resilient economy; attainable housing; quality amenities, and access to extraordinary education, childcare and health services,” Felter said on her website.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 9:08 PM.
