List of mayors of Kansas City, Missouri
Encyclopedia
| Party | Mayors |
|---|---|
| Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
35 |
| Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
20 |
| Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
1 |
The Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
is the highest official in the Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Government
Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Government
The Municipal Government of Kansas City, Missouri is the largest municipal government in the state of Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. It employs over 2,000 people at all levels and consists of the Mayor of Kansas City and the city manager, the Kansas City City Council, and...
.
Since the 1920s the city has had a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
in which a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
runs most of the day to day operations of the city. In terms of actual power Kansas City has a relatively weak mayor compared to other large cities of its size. However, the Mayor of Kansas City is considered extremeley influential in drafting and guiding public policy. He presides over all city council meetings that he attends and he has a vote on the council. Due to these combined factors the mayor, in fact, holds a significant amount of de facto power in the city government
Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Government
The Municipal Government of Kansas City, Missouri is the largest municipal government in the state of Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. It employs over 2,000 people at all levels and consists of the Mayor of Kansas City and the city manager, the Kansas City City Council, and...
.
Since 1946 Mayors of Kansas City are elected by the voters of Kansas City to four year terms, and are limited to two terms under the city's charter. Mayors initially served one year terms until 1890 when they began serving two-year terms.
The mayor of Kansas City occupies an office on the 29th floor (the highest floor in the building) of the Kansas City City Hall
Kansas City City Hall
The City Hall of Kansas City, Missouri, is the official seat of government for the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It is a 29-story skyscraper located in downtown Kansas City, and has an observation deck on the top of it...
.
Eleven of Kansas City's mayors are interred in Elmwood Cemetery (Kansas City, Missouri)
Elmwood Cemetery (Kansas City, Missouri)
Elmwood Cemetery is a cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.It was formally organized in 1872 at 4900 Truman Road at Van Brunt Avenue and was landscaped by George Kessler. The first burial was in 1840.-Kansas City Mayors:* Edward Herrick Allen* Thomas Bulene...
.
The current mayor of Kansas City is Sly James
Sly James
Sylvester "Sly" James, Jr. , is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. James lives in Kansas City's Hyde Park neighborhood. He was inaugurated as Mayor on May 2, 2011.- Early life, education, and career :...
, whom was elected to office on March 22, 2011.
Mayors
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William S. Gregory William S. Gregory William S. Gregory was the first mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1853.When Kansas City was incorporated on March 18, 1853, it had an area and a population of 2,500. 63 votes were cast for mayor and Gregory defeated Dr... |
1853 | 1854 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
1 |
| 2 | Johnston Lykins Johnston Lykins Johnston Lykins was a prominent figure in the early history of the United States frontier settlement which became Kansas City, Missouri. He was the city's second Mayor.-Biography:Lykins was born in Franklin County, Virginia... |
1854 | 1855 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1 |
| 3 | John Johnson John Johnson (Missouri) John Johnson was an architect who designed the original Coates House and was partially destroyed in 1978 in Kansas City's worst fire that killed 20... |
1855 | 1855 | Democratic | ½ |
| 4 | Milton J. Payne Milton J. Payne Milton Jameson Payne , who served six one-year terms as Kansas City, Missouri Mayor, was also the city's youngest mayor .... |
1855 | 1860 | Democratic | 4½ |
| 5 | George M.B. Maughs George M.B. Maughs George M.B. Maughs served a physician who served a one-year term as Kansas City, Missouri mayor in 1860.He was born in Loudoun County, Virginia and attended The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. He came to Kansas City around 1855 and opened a medical practice on Main Street between 2nd... |
1860 | 1861 | Democratic | 1 |
| 6 | Robert T. Van Horn Robert T. Van Horn Robert Thompson Van Horn was a lawyer, the owner and publisher of the The Kansas City Enterprise, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri during the parts of the Civil War, member of the Missouri General Assembly, and representative to the Forty-seventh Congress of the United States.Born in East Mahoning... |
1861 | 1862 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
1 |
| 4 | Milton J. Payne | 1862 | 1863 | Democratic | 1 |
| 7 | William Bonnifield William Bonnifield William Bonnifield , also known as William Bounifield and William Bonnefield, was a Democrat who served one month as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1863 during the American Civil War.... |
1863 | 1863 | Democratic | ½ |
| 6 | Robert T. Van Horn | 1863 | 1865 | Republican | 1½ |
| 8 | Patrick Shannon | 1865 | 1866 | Democratic | 1 |
| 9 | Alexander L. Harris Alexander L. Harris Alexander L. Harris was a Democrat mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1866 and 1868.Harris was born in either Tennessee or Kentucky... |
1866 | 1867 | Democratic | 1 |
| 10 | Edward H. Allen Edward H. Allen Edward Herrick Allen was a Republican Kansas City Mayor in 1867.Allen was born in Danbury, Connecticut and claimed a Mayflower ancestry... |
1867 | 1868 | Republican | 1 |
| 9 | Alexander L. Harris | 1868 | 1869 | Democratic | 1 |
| 11 | Francis R. Long Francis R. Long Francis Reid Long was Kansas City Mayor in 1869 and founder of what would become Commerce Bancshares.Long was born in Woodford County, KentuckyAfter moving to Kansas City he joined with Nathaniel Grant and A.S... |
1869 | 1870 | Republican | 1 |
| 12 | Elijah M. McGee Elijah M. McGee Elijah McGee was a Democratic Kansas City Mayor in 1870 and a developer whose family name is applied to many streets in Kansas City.... |
1870 | 1871 | Democratic | 1 |
| 13 | William Warner William Warner (Missouri) William Warner was an American lawyer and politician from Kansas City, Missouri. He represented Missouri in both the U.S. House and Senate. He was mayor of Kansas City in 1871-72.... |
1871 | 1872 | Republican | 1 |
| 14 | Robert H. Hunt Robert H. Hunt Colonel Robert H. Hunt fought in the Civil War and later became Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.Hunt was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1839. His parents emigrated to America in 1847, taking their children with them. At the age of eight Robert began to work as a waterboy on the railroad... |
1872 | 1873 | Republican | 1 |
| 15 | Edward Lowe Martin Edward Lowe Martin Edward Lowe Martin was born in Kentucky in 1842 and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1863.Martin was the head of the E. L. Martin & Company wholesale liquor business and organized the Kansas City Distilling Company. He became mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1873... |
1873 | 1874 | Democratic | 1 |
| 16 | Smith D. Woods Smith D. Woods Smith D. Woods was a Democrat Mayor of Kansas City in 1874 and 1875.He was born in Indiana. After moving to Kansas City he operated a furniture store and then concentrated on real estate.-Category:... |
1874 | 1875 | Democratic | 1 |
| 17 | Turner A. Gill Turner A. Gill Turner Andrews Gill was a Democrat Kansas City Mayor in 1875 and 1876.Gill was born in Bath County, Kentucky on a farm. He would later get a law degree from the University of Missouri.... |
1875 | 1877 | Democratic | 2 |
| 18 | James W. L. Slavens | 1877 | 1878 | Republican | 1 |
| 19 | George M. Shelley George M. Shelley George Madison Shelley was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1878-1879.Shelley was born in Kentucky and moved to Kansas City in 1870. He was a grocer, president of the City Council and Board of Public Works.... |
1878 | 1880 | Democratic | 2 |
| 20 | Charles A. Chace | 1880 | 1881 | Republican | 1 |
| 21 | Daniel A. Frink | 1881 | 1882 | Republican | 1 |
| 22 | Thomas B. Bullene Thomas B. Bullene Thomas B. Bullene was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1882.Bullene was born in Oswego County, New York. He was an owner of the Emery, Bird, Thayer & Co... |
1882 | 1883 | Republican | 1 |
| 23 | James Gibson | 1883 | 1884 | Democratic | 1 |
| 24 | Leander J. Talbott Leander J. Talbott Leander J. Talbott was a wealthy Missouri realtor and politician who served as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1884.... |
1884 | 1885 | Democratic | 1 |
| 25 | John W. Moore John W. Moore (Missouri) John W. Moore was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1885 and a president of the Kansas City Board of Trade.Moore was born in Kentucky and was raised near Blue Springs, Missouri.... |
1885 | 1886 | Democratic | 1 |
| 26 | Henry C. Kumpf Henry C. Kumpf Henry Christian Kumpf was elected to three one-year terms as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1886-1888.During his term the "City of Kansas" formally changed its name to "Kansas City."... |
1886 | 1889 | Republican | 3 |
| 27 | Joseph J. Davenport Joseph J. Davenport Joseph Jackson Davenport was a lawyer, realtor and Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1889.Following his term a new city charter was implemented and terms were extended to two years.... |
1889 | 1890 | Republican | 1 |
| 28 | Benjamin Holmes Benjamin Holmes (Missouri) Benjamin Holmes was a Democratic Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1890-1891.He was the first mayor under a new charter allowing for two-year terms and was oversaw the design and construction of the George Kessler-designed parkway system.He was born in Independence, Missouri... |
1890 | 1892 | Democratic | 1 |
| 29 | William S. Cowherd William S. Cowherd William Strother Cowherd was a Democratic Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1892–1893 and Congressman from Missouri in 1897–1905.... |
1892 | 1894 | Democratic | 1 |
| 30 | Webster Davis Webster Davis Webster Davis was a mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1894 to 1895 and was the Assistant Secretary of the Interior from 1897 to 1898.Davis was born in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania... |
1894 | 1896 | Republican | 1 |
| 31 | James M. Jones James M. Jones James Monroe Jones was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1896-1900.Jones was born in Prospect, New York and moved to Kansas City in 1885. He was a lawyer with offices at 15 West 9th Street and residence at 721 Harrison Street. Prior to being mayor he was circuit court judge and had a residence... |
1896 | 1900 | Republican | 2 |
| 32 | James A. Reed James A. Reed James Alexander Reed was an American Democratic Party politician from Missouri.-Biography:Reed was born on a farm in Richland County, Ohio. He moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the age of 3. He went to public schools and attended Coe College... |
1900 | 1904 | Democratic | 2 |
| 33 | Jay H. Neff Jay H. Neff Jay Holcomb Neff was a newspaper publisher and Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1904-1905.Neff was born in Hartford, Indiana. He sold books to pay his way through Asbury College. He studied law and practiced in Peru, Indiana... |
1904 | 1906 | Republican | 1 |
| 34 | Henry M. Beardsley Henry M. Beardsley Henry Mahan Beardsley was the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1906-07.He was born in Knox County, Ohio. His family moved to Champaign, Illinois where Beardsley graduated from the University of Illinois in 1879 and in 1882 was admitted to the bar. He moved to Kansas City in 1886. He was a... |
1906 | 1908 | Republican | 2 |
| 35 | Thomas T. Crittenden Jr. | 1908 | 1910 | Democratic | 1 |
| 36 | Darius A. Brown Darius A. Brown Darius Alvin Brown was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1910 to 1911.He was born in Wabaunsee County, Kansas and attended public schools in Topeka, Kansas. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1893. He moved to Kansas City in 1891... |
1910 | 1912 | Republican | 1 |
| 37 | Henry L. Jost Henry L. Jost Henry Lee Jost was a Democratic Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1912-1916 and a U.S. Congressman from March 4, 1923-March 3, 1925.... |
1912 | 1916 | Democratic | 2 |
| 38 | George H. Edwards George H. Edwards George H. Edwards was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1916 to 1917.He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Kansas City in 1888. first living at 609 Brooklyn Avenue and then 3533 Harrison Boulevard while mayor.... |
1916 | 1918 | Republican | 1 |
| 39 | James Cowgill James Cowgill James Cowgill was State Treasurer of Missouri from 1908 to 1912 and Kansas City, Missouri Mayor from 1918 until he died in office.... |
1918 | 1921 | Democratic | 1½ |
| 40 | Sam B. Strother Sam B. Strother Sam B. Strother was Kansas City, Missouri Mayor for two months in 1922.He was born near Louisville, Kentucky but his family moved Lee's Summit, Missouri shortly after his birth. He was a lawyer and "public administrator of Jackson County in 1903. His residence was at 5825 Central Street He... |
1921 | 1922 | Democratic | ½ |
| 41 | Frank H. Cromwell Frank H. Cromwell Frank Houghton Cromwell Frank Houghton Cromwell Frank Houghton Cromwell (April 22, 1878 - April 14, 1955 was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1922 to 1923.He was born on a farm at 39th and Harrison He was surveyor for "Tuttle & Pike, engineers," became a salesman for the W. I... |
1922 | 1924 | Democratic | 1 |
| 42 | Albert I. Beach Albert I. Beach Albert Isaac Beach , also known as Albert I. Beach , was the last mayor of Kansas City, Missouri before the city adopted the City Manager form of government. Beach was the son of George Henry Beach and Eva F... |
1924 | 1930 | Republican | 3 |
| 43 | Bryce B. Smith Bryce B. Smith Bryce B. Smith was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1930 to 1939 at the height of the power of the Thomas Pendergast machine.Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
1930 | January 5, 1940 | Democratic | 4½ |
| 44 | Charles S. Keith | 1940 | 1940 | Democratic | ½ |
| 45 | John B. Gage John B. Gage John Bailey "Jack" Gage was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1940 to 1946 who made reforms following the collapse of the political machine of Thomas Pendergast.Gage was born on the family farm at 9th and Cleveland... |
1940 | 1946 | Democratic | 3 |
| 46 | William E. Kemp William E. Kemp William Ewing Kemp was a mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1946 to 1955.Kemp was born in La Monte, Missouri and received his undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State University. He was a law graduate of Washington University in St... |
1946 | 1955 | Democratic | 3 |
| 47 | H. Roe Bartle | 1955 | 1963 | Democratic | 2 |
| 48 | Ilus W. Davis Ilus W. Davis Ilus Winfield Davis was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, United States from 1963 to 1971."Ike" Davis grew up on the east side of Kansas City and in 1933 was in the freshman class of the University of Kansas City which was to become the University of Missouri-Kansas City... |
1963 | 1971 | Democratic | 2 |
| 49 | Charles B. Wheeler, Jr. Charles Wheeler (politician) Charles Bertan Wheeler, Jr. is a former Missouri state senator and a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1971 to 1979, in addition to having held other elected offices. As of January 2011, he is running once again for Mayor of Kansas City, MO.-Life:Wheeler was born in 1926... |
1971 | 1979 | Democratic | 2 |
| 50 | Richard L. Berkley Richard L. Berkley Richard L. Berkley served as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., from 1979 to 1991.Although Kansas City mayors do not officially have political affiliations, Mayor Berkley was the first Republican mayor of the city since the 1920s... |
1979 | 1991 | Republican | 3 |
| 51 | Emanuel Cleaver Emanuel Cleaver Emanuel Cleaver II is a United Methodist pastor and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and in January 2010 became chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.... |
1991 | 1999 | Democratic | 2 |
| 52 | Kay Barnes Kay Barnes Kay Waldo Barnes is a former two-term mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. She was the Democratic nominee for of the United States House of Representatives in the 2008 election against Republican incumbent Sam Graves.-Biography:... |
1999 | 2007 | Democratic | 2 |
| 53 | Mark Funkhouser Mark Funkhouser Mark Funkhouser is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007 until May 2, 2011. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor.-Early life and education:... |
2007 | 2011 | Democratic | 1 |
| 54 | Sly James Sly James Sylvester "Sly" James, Jr. , is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. James lives in Kansas City's Hyde Park neighborhood. He was inaugurated as Mayor on May 2, 2011.- Early life, education, and career :... |
2011 | -- | Independent | 1 |
Other high offices held
This is a table of governorships, congressional and other federal offices, and ranking diplomatic positions in foreign countries held by Kansas City mayors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Missouri.| Name | Mayoral term | Other offices held |
|---|---|---|
| William Carr Lane William Carr Lane William Carr Lane was a doctor and the first Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1823 to 1829 and 1837 to 1840... |
1823–1829 1837–1840 |
Governor of New Mexico Territory |
| John Fletcher Darby John Fletcher Darby John Fletcher Darby was a U.S. Representative from Missouri and the fourth mayor of St. Louis, Missouri.Darby was born in Person County, North Carolina. He moved with his father to Missouri in 1818, where he worked on a farm, before moving to Frankfort, Kentucky in 1825... |
1835–1837 1840–1841 |
U.S. Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... |
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Living former mayors
, five former mayors were alive, the oldest being Charles B. Wheeler, Jr.Charles Wheeler (politician)
Charles Bertan Wheeler, Jr. is a former Missouri state senator and a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1971 to 1979, in addition to having held other elected offices. As of January 2011, he is running once again for Mayor of Kansas City, MO.-Life:Wheeler was born in 1926...
(1971–1979, born 1926). The most recent death of a former mayor was that of Ilus W. Davis
Ilus W. Davis
Ilus Winfield Davis was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, United States from 1963 to 1971."Ike" Davis grew up on the east side of Kansas City and in 1933 was in the freshman class of the University of Kansas City which was to become the University of Missouri-Kansas City...
(1963–1971), on September 4, 1996.
| Name | Mayoral term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Charles B. Wheeler, Jr. Charles Wheeler (politician) Charles Bertan Wheeler, Jr. is a former Missouri state senator and a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1971 to 1979, in addition to having held other elected offices. As of January 2011, he is running once again for Mayor of Kansas City, MO.-Life:Wheeler was born in 1926... |
1971–1979 | August 10, 1926 (age 85) |
| Richard L. Berkley Richard L. Berkley Richard L. Berkley served as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., from 1979 to 1991.Although Kansas City mayors do not officially have political affiliations, Mayor Berkley was the first Republican mayor of the city since the 1920s... |
1979–1991 | |
| Emanuel Cleaver Emanuel Cleaver Emanuel Cleaver II is a United Methodist pastor and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and in January 2010 became chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.... |
1991–1999 | |
| Kay Barnes Kay Barnes Kay Waldo Barnes is a former two-term mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. She was the Democratic nominee for of the United States House of Representatives in the 2008 election against Republican incumbent Sam Graves.-Biography:... |
1999–2007 | |
| Mark Funkhouser Mark Funkhouser Mark Funkhouser is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007 until May 2, 2011. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor.-Early life and education:... |
2007–2011 |