Former Parkville police officer ousts incumbent. See who joins Board of Aldermen
A former Parkville police officer won a seat on the Parkville Board of Aldermen on Tuesday over an incumbent aiming for a third term.
Mark Hill, a law enforcement and security specialist, beat incumbent Bob Bennett for a seat representing Ward 2, according to unofficial results reported by the Platte County Board of Elections Tuesday night. Hill will join the board this spring alongside two incumbents and a fellow newcomer, who ran uncontested.
Hill received 49% of the 462 votes over Bennett, who earned 42%. Andrew Barchers, who previously ran for mayor in Parkville in 2022, but lost to Dean Katerndahl, garnered 8% of the Ward 2 vote.
This would have been Bennett’s third term.
As an alderman, Hill said he plans to “listen, collaborate, and make sound decisions that strengthen public safety, support responsible growth, and preserve what makes Parkville special.”
“I’m honored to serve the residents of Parkville and ready to get to work,” Hill said. “After a career in law enforcement, public service has always been important to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this community.”
In Ward 1, Tina Welch, an incumbent, won the seat with 57% of the 306 votes, beating Joe Leluga, who received 42%. Welch has served on the board since 2016. Leluga, a father of three Park Hill School District students, works in health care IT.
Stephen Melton, who ran unopposed, was elected to represent Ward 3 for another term. Melton has served on the board for six years after moving to Parkville in 2017.
And, in Ward 4, Evan Maxon, a newcomer, earned a seat on the board after running uncontested. Maxon previously ran for a spot on the board last year, but lost to Abby LacKamp.
Ahead of the election, candidates listed a variety of issues as top priorities. For Leluga and Hill, transparency was among the top of their priorities. Meanwhile, Welch said she hoped to focus on the Redefine Route 9 project and updating infrastructure. And Bennett vocalized plans to prioritize taking advantage of the many opportunities the FIFA World Cup will bring to the area to benefit Parkville residents and businesses.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 9:21 PM.
