Johnson County city election results: Here’s who won mayor and council races
Councilwoman Sollie Flora will be the next mayor of Mission, according to final unofficial election results on Tuesday.
With all precincts reporting by 9 p.m., Flora won with 65.4%, defeating Councilwoman Arcie Rothrock, who had 34.3%. The winner will replace Mayor Ron Appletoft as he steps down.
“Our victory sends a clear message that voters are ready for a solutions-oriented, collaborative leader who will work hard to build a resilient and welcoming city that is ready for tomorrow,” Flora, who is an attorney, first elected to the council in 2017, said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our residents and businesses to make Mission an even better place to live, work, and play.”
The new mayor will step in as the long-stalled, troubled Mission Gateway project remains far from finished, casting a shadow over the city’s progress. Sitting at the highly visible former Mission Center Mall site, off of Shawnee Mission Parkway, Johnson Drive and Roe Avenue, the land has remained largely vacant for 15 years.
The developer has until the end of December to complete the project under the city’s development agreement. Since meeting that deadline is not expected to happen, the next mayor will be left to guide the city as it determines whether to extend project deadlines once again, or cut ties with the developer.
The race was among the most notable this year, along with several other city races throughout Johnson County, including mayoral and city council contests.
Look for separate stories on both the Overland Park mayor and council races as well as major Johnson County school board races.
Edgerton mayor
Mayor Donald Roberts retained his seat on Tuesday, in the tiny southwest Johnson County town embroiled in controversy over encroaching industrial development.
Roberts, mayor of 12 years, won another term with 61.6%, defeating challenger Brent Carroll, with 37.8%.
The longtime incumbent has championed the town’s booming industrial park, saying Logistics Park Kansas City is a great success for the entire region, bringing thousands of jobs and corporate giants like Amazon and Hostess to the town of 1,700.
Carroll represented the voices of many concerned residents, who worry about degradation of the rural land, truck traffic, noise and the property tax abatements granted to the developers. Carroll is employed at the Logistics Park. But he worried that it hasn’t fully delivered on its promises to the community, and that tax dollars have gone to funding infrastructure needed at the park, rather than improvements in town.
The industrial park continues to expand out into rural parts of Johnson and Miami counties, with developers replacing farmland with concrete warehouses. Some Miami County residents petitioned to form their own town to keep out the development, but county officials rejected the request.
Though Edgerton is among the smallest Johnson County communities, the top elected official earns well above peers in much bigger cities. In 2018, the council approved raising Roberts’ salary from $1,000 per year to $90,000.
Olathe City Council
Longtime Councilwoman Marge Vogt was elected to another term on Tuesday, and Councilman Kevin Gilmore won an at-large seat.
Gilmore won 53.4%, defeating opponent Dean Vakas, with 46.3%. Gilmore ran for a full term at-large, after being appointed to fill a vacancy in the 3rd Ward last year. He also serves as the director of pensions and benefits for the Church of the Nazarene.
Competing for an open seat in the 3rd Ward, which sits east of Interstate 35 and south of Santa Fe Street, LeEtta Felter won with 51.3%, to opponent Wayne Janner’s 47.2%.
Felter, vice president of AAG Investments, serves on the Olathe school board and said she’d like to serve in both positions if elected to council.
In the 4th Ward, in the northeastern corner of the city, incumbent Vogt won 52.4%, beating opponent Dustin Morris, with 47.3%.
Vogt was first elected in 1997 and is serving her eighth term. She works as a nurse practitioner and clinical manager, plus serves as a board member, and is past chair, of the Mid-America Regional Council representing the city.
Other mayoral races
In Merriam, 4th Ward Councilman Bob Pape won the race for mayor on Tuesday, with 72.7%, defeating Angel Lopez, with 26.4%. Mayor Ken Sissom, who was first elected in 2009, is retiring.
In Gardner, Mayor Steve Shute is stepping down from the role. Council member Todd Winters won with 59.3%, defeating council members Randy Gregorcyk, 21.6%, and Tory Kristen Roberts, 18.8%.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 10:17 PM.
