Overland Park mayor election results: Skoog defeats conservative rival in tight race
With all precincts reporting, longtime Councilman Curt Skoog eked out a victory Tuesday to be the next Overland Park mayor.
With the Johnson County election office reporting unofficial final results by 9 p.m., Skoog, a councilman of 16 years, won 50.6%. Political newcomer and vocal conservative Mike Czinege had 49.2%.
According to the election office, those results include 38,867 ballots counted in the Overland Park mayoral race. Skoog led Czinege by 548 votes.
And in Overland Park City Council races, two incumbents lost their seats.
Overall in Johnson County, voter turnout was 24.6%.
“I’m excited to have the turnout we had in this election and to come out victorious. Now the hard work begins, which is to mend our community and find common ground to move us forward,” Skoog told The Star Tuesday night. “We have a new council, and one of my first tasks as mayor will be to find common ground among our new council so we can continue to deliver for our residents.”
With the mayor’s seat vacant for the first time in 16 years — as Mayor Carl Gerlach retires — the race was centered on the identity of Overland Park and how that might change as its population continues to shift.
Skoog campaigned on his experience, saying that city leadership during his time on the council led Overland Park to become an “economic powerhouse” of Kansas. He received the endorsement of Gerlach and former mayor and Johnson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ed Eilert, and his campaign was bolstered by donations from developers and real estate attorneys.
Czinege, a retired AMC Theatres executive who entered the race with little name recognition but was the top vote-getter in the primary, argued that many city officials cater to developer interests, and it’s time for drastic change. He believes it’s time to start saying no to developers and curb the use of tax incentives, so the city maintains its suburban feel.
Skoog has criticized Czinege for bringing national politics into the nonpartisan race. Czinege openly campaigned as a conservative Republican, saying it was a shorthand way to explain to voters who he is. Skoog switched his political affiliation from Republican to independent ahead of his campaign.
Czinege ran on a “law and order” message, saying the city needs to put a stop to rising crime and the proliferation of apartment buildings. He received the endorsement of Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, former Gov. Jeff Colyer and Kansans for Life, which pushes for anti-abortion legislation.
He also has received backlash for his messaging on COVID-19, including false claims he has made about the vaccine. Czinege recently said in a debate, “Why should I have to risk my life to take a vaccine?”
Kansas law allows mail ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted through Friday. The election office will continue updating the results on Tuesday. Final results will be certified after the canvass next week.
City Council races
Two incumbents — Stacie Gram and Chris Newlin — were defeated by their opponents in the Overland Park City Council races.
In the 1st Ward in northern Overland Park, Councilman Logan Heley won with 63.2%, over challenger Ryan Spencer’s 36.5%.
Heley is community engagement manager for Harvesters Community Food Network in Kansas City. He has pushed for more affordable housing options, improved public transportation and climate action.
Spencer was far more critical on the city’s use of tax incentives, especially provided to developers of apartment complexes.
Competing for an open seat in the 2nd Ward, north of Interstate 435 and south of 87th Street, Melissa Cheatham won with 62.2%, while Roger Tarbutton had 37.6%. The seat was left vacant by Skoog.
Cheatham previously worked in Washington, D.C., where she lobbied for environmental policies. Tarbutton, a retired attorney, was much more opposed to the council granting subsidies to private developers, as well as an encroachment of apartments and mixed-use buildings.
In the 3rd Ward, north of 119th Street, incumbent Councilman Jim Kite retained his seat, winning with 52.4%, defeating newcomer Amanda Vega-Mavec, with 47.5%.
In the 4th Ward, which covers a portion of the western half of the city, from 119th Street south to 151st Street, incumbent Stacie Gram lost her seat, with 47.4%, against newcomer Scott Mosher, who won with 52.3%.
Mosher is the father of Overland Park police officer Mike Mosher, who was killed in a shootout with a suspect last year. He argued that council members refused to give him an opportunity to voice concerns about first responders’ pay during the pandemic. Before his son’s death, the family fought against pay freezes for officers, but felt ignored by city officials.
Gram was seeking a full term after being appointed to fill a vacancy last year.
In the 5th Ward, there is an open seat to represent the east-central part of the city, south of I-435 and east of Antioch Road. Sam Passer appeared to win with 50.2%, over Sheila Rodriguez, with 49.4%. But the race remains too close to call.
And in the 6th Ward in southern Overland Park, incumbent Councilman Chris Newlin lost his seat, with 48.2%, against challenger Jeffrey Cox, who won with 51.3%.
Cox has taken jabs at council members, including Newlin, arguing they are influenced by developers and “special interests.”
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 7:41 PM.
