The Kansas City Star’s endorsement in the WyCo BPU District 1 At-Large race | Opinion

In any other election cycle, our recommendation for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities District 1 At-Large seat would be slightly less complicated.

But the race between candidates Gary Bradley-Lopez and Lisa Walker-Yeager is unlike any we’ve seen in recent memory.

For starters, Walker-Yeager is also running for a seat on the UG Board of Commissioners in the same Nov. 4 general election. If she wins both seats, Walker-Yeager told us she plans to do both jobs simultaneously.

But there are serious questions about the legality of the possibility. According to Wyandotte County Deputy Chief Counsel Wendy Green, the BPU is an administrative agency of the Unified Government, and the UG governing body acts as a check on the BPU governing body.

“Commissioners have the power, through their charter ordinances, to completely alter the BPU Board’s functions and duties,” Green wrote in a statement. “Thus, those elected positions are incompatible as the BPU Board is inherently subordinate to the UG Board of Commissioners.

“As such, a person cannot be both a BPU board member and UG commissioner. If a person is simultaneously elected to both offices, by law, they can only be allowed to accept one such office.”

Lisa Walker-Yeager’s legal woes

Making matters much more difficult for Walker-Yeager in both races are pending criminal charges filed against her in Wyandotte County District Court.

County prosecutors contend Walker-Yeager shot her contractor, Noble Bey, in the back last year after a dispute over payment, according to court records. She’s charged with two felonies — one count each of aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits.

In Kansas, state statutes forbid people convicted of a felony from holding office. But Walker-Yeager has not been convicted of a crime and is absolutely presumed innocent here. She is due in court Nov. 13, court records indicate. It is highly unlikely these criminal matters will be adjudicated by Election Day.

In our view, the uncertainty surrounding this case only hurts Walker-Yeager’s candidacy. Yet, voters seemingly view Walker-Yeager as a serious and viable candidate for public office — even with the cloud of this legal mess hanging over her head. Walker-Yeager topped all BPU District 1 At-Large vote-getters in the August primary with 3,841 votes.

Bradley-Lopez finished second with 2,336 votes.

Could Walker-Yeager’s legal woes derail her political career? Voters — or more than likely, the court system — will have the final say. But at this time, we cannot in good faith endorse her candidacy.

In this race, Bradley-Lopez is best suited to represent BPU District 1 At Large.

Gary Bradley-Lopez

Bradley-Lopez is a theater teacher in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and received a masters of education degree at Fort Hays State University. His platform includes improved services for BPU customers and a greater effort to reduce costs and electricity rates.

According to his campaign website, Bradley-Lopez said he supports expanding payment assistance programs, making the BPU more transparent and increasing renewable energy sources.

Leading up to the primary, he told us he understands the difficulty older and poorer customers face in installing new energy-efficient air conditioners or newer pipes.

Bradley-Lopez said he thinks BPU should focus on green energy production if and when the demand for power accelerates. Also, the candidate said he is firmly opposed to any sale of the BPU to a private company. Last year, outgoing Mayor Tyrone Garner floated the idea to sell the BPU to address cost concerns.

“Hell no,” Bradley-Lopez said then.

“It’s ours,” he continued. “It’s the people’s. … That said, there’s a lot of things to work on.”

Bradley-Lopez has campaigned on a promise to work to address potentially excessive payments from the BPU to the Unified Government, known as PILOTs, or payment in lieu of taxes. We’d like to see him and others follow through on this pledge.

But the issues facing BPU and its customers are generational. With three seats — half the board — up for grabs this year, members must be qualified, focused and serious about their jobs. A fourth slot could open up if BPU board member Rose Mulvany Henry is elected UG mayor and CEO.

Whoever wins the BPU seat must make economic development, rebuilding the electricity grid, the cost of utilities and the environment their main priorities.

At Large board members represent all of KCK.

We strongly recommend Bradley-Lopez for the BPU District 1 At-Large seat.

This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM.