KC councilmembers slam Nathan Willett for promoting Vance visit via city email list
Two Kansas City council members are criticizing their City Council colleague for using an email communication system for their district constituents to promote national Republican talking points during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the city.
Eric Bunch and Crispin Rea, who both represent the 4th District on the City Council, said in separate statements Monday evening that 1st District Councilmember Nathan Willett used the 4th District email list to send communication welcoming Vance that was “inappropriate and unauthorized.”
Both Bunch and Rea said they received complaints from their constituents about the messages.
Bunch said Willett’s “divisive” message violated the City Council’s internal regulations for sending messages to constituents. He said Willett had been warned about the regulations because of earlier misuse.
“His selective use of certain district lists raises serious concerns about the line between public service and other political activities,” Bunch said in his statement.
Bunch said he also plans to review how the message was sent and demand more constraints to prevent it from happening again.
Willett told The Star in a text message Tuesday morning that the email was sent to the 4th District residents in error.
“There was an error in selecting lists,” Willett said in the text message. “I have been able to speak with (Councilman) Rea to apologize and had a good conversation. I will see (Councilman) Bunch later today to apologize.”
JD Vance in Kansas City
Vance on Monday toured Milbank Manufacturing, a manufacturer of electrical metering equipment located within the City Council’s 4th District. During the visit, Vance touted manufacturing policies under President Donald Trump. He also touched on illegal immigration and criticism of Democrats in Congress.
Willett, who is running as a Republican for Missouri’s 6th District seat in Congress, sent an email promoting the Trump administration’s focus on boosting U.S. manufacturing.
“We believe in the American First Agenda of the President and have seen firsthand in the Show Me state how they have fought for the American Worker - unlocking American manufacturing and reducing the reliance on foreign supply chains,” Willett said in the email. “We are seeing expanded growth and opportunities here in Missouri. We must continue the fight for the America First Agenda.”
Email message was not related to city business
Rea said neither he nor Bunch approved sending Willett’s message to the residents of their district. Rea said he was disappointed by the content of the message because it was not related to city business.
“You subscribe to our list to be updated on how your city taxpayer dollars are being used to deliver city services,” Rea said in the statement to his constituents. “I will join Councilman Bunch in addressing the matter and ensuring that our policies are followed and we remain focused on City government issues.”
Willett has previously generated controversy during his campaign for Congress. He recently accepted the endorsement of former police detective Eric DeValkenaere, the first Kansas City police officer ever convicted for killing a Black man. The conservative councilmember called DeValkenaere and his wife “great friends.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 10:36 AM.
