Meet the 6 candidates running for Wyandotte County’s Board of Public Utilities
A court case, ethics concerns and a former mayor on the ballot: Even before the Nov. 4 election, the Board of Public Utilities race is full of storylines from both local government veterans and newcomers.
The candidates are running for three seats on the six-member board of directors of the utilities company, which is an administrative arm of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. The BPU provides electric and water utilities for residents of Wyandotte County and part of Johnson County.
Multiple incumbent candidates decided not to run again. District 1 at large member Mary Gonzales is not to seeking reelection, after more than 20 years on the board. And District 2 board member Tom Groneman is stepping away after 12 years of service.
The BPU website has a map of the three districts up for a vote, and voters can see sample ballots on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.
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The Star’s editorial board made endorsements for the BPU general election, as well as the primary race. The Opinion staff is independent and editorially separate from The Star’s newsroom.
BPU At-Large District 1
Lisa Walker-Yeager
Lisa Walker-Yeager won the most votes in the primary. She is running for both a BPU seat and a position on the County Commission.
Walker-Yeager is facing felony charges for allegedly shooting her contractor in 2024. If her criminal case goes to trial, it would be after the election. People convicted of felonies may not hold public office in Kansas.
Walker-Yeager has served as a local neighborhood association vice president.
Gary Bradley-Lopez
Gary Bradley-Lopez received the second-highest number of votes in the primary. His campaign website says he supports expanding payment assistance programs, making the BPU more transparent and increasing renewable energy sources.
Bradley-Lopez works as a theater teacher in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and received a Masters of Education at Fort Hays State University.
BPU At-Large District 2
David Haley (incumbent)
David Haley was elected to the BPU in 2021, and served as its president until September 2025, when he was fired from his leadership role for an ethics violation. Haley allegedly put his long-term partner on his health insurance when they were not married.
Haley is currently a Kansas state senator, and has served in the Kansas House and Senate for almost 30 years. A Wyandotte County native, Haley attended Howard University Law School.
David Alvey
David Alvey served as Mayor and CEO of the Unified Government from 2017 to 2021, when he was narrowly defeated in 2021 by current mayor Tyrone Garner.
He served on the BPU for eight years, starting in 2009. A fifth-generation Wyandotte County resident, Alvey worked as a Rockhurst High School administrator for almost 20 years.
In 2021, Alvey opposed reducing the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes fee on BPU bills, which are set by the UG and fund City Hall.
In a 2017 debate, Alvey’s challenger said when Alvey voted for rate increases while on the BPU. He said over eight years, residents had to pay 42% more for electric and 35% more for water. Alvey countered that when he was first elected to the board, there was only 19 days of cash on hand.
BPU District 2
Chase Cook
Chase Cook is a lawyer for MRIGlobal, a scientific research organization, according to his LinkedIn. Cook worked for the Unified Government as assistant legal counsel from March 2020 to April 2021, his LinkedIn states.
He serves on the board of directors for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Johnson and Wyandotte County. He graduated from UMKC’s law school in 2018.
Neal Palmer
Last year, Palmer retired from an almost 40-year career with J.E. Dunn Construction, according to his LinkedIn.
He had an elected position on the Piper School District Board of Education for 17 years.
The Star’s Sofi Zeman contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
