Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions I hear most often – at the door, at town halls, and in my inbox.
The Election
When is the Prairie Village mayoral election?
Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. You’ll find the mayor’s race on the same ballot as governor and Congress.
How do I register to vote in Prairie Village?
The registration deadline is October 13, 2026. Advance voting begins October 17, 2026.
Where do I vote?
Look up your polling place using the Kansas voter information portal.
The Mayor’s Role
What does the Prairie Village mayor do?
The Prairie Village Mayor helps set the agenda and runs each meeting of the City Council. The Mayor does not get a vote, but can break ties if one occurs. The Mayor also holds a veto – though that is rarely used (there hasn’t been a veto in over eight years).
An effective Mayor will have strong relationships with councilmembers and staff. They should also structure discussion and process in a way that is collaborative and productive.
Finally, as Mayor, I would start hosting Mayoral Town Halls throughout the year and around big decisions that the City is facing. I will also continue writing my citywide newsletter, where I work to provide information about items large and small to residents.
City Decisions
Are more apartments or higher-density housing coming to Prairie Village?
Residents spoke loudly and clearly a handful of years ago that they do not want to see substantial changes to our housing and zoning policies. Over the length of the zoning process, I repeatedly voted for a limiting and moderation of that discussion.
I consider this conversation closed, and I do not see land available nor have I heard about any potential new higher-density projects.
Should the $30M city hall project have gone to a public vote?
The Municipal Campus project was necessitated by overcrowding in our Police Department. The solution we landed on as a Council was to renovate and expand our PD into the existing City Hall spaces. This displacement of our City Hall employees forced a conversation about a new City Hall.
As these conversations were moving forward, the Mission Road Bible Church came up for sale. This 4-acre property, adjacent to our current municipal campus, Harmon Park, and fire station, was an opportunity to acquire land for a future city hall and keep it in the public domain. The City made a cash offer which was matched by a developer – had the city not done so, the church property would likely have been developed into housing.
We studied both a renovation of the church and a new build of City Hall on that site. When you run the numbers over the projected 75-year lifespan of a new City Hall, the taxpayer comes out tens of millions of dollars ahead versus using repeated heavy renovations every 25 to 30 years. The church, built in the 1950s, would have needed significant work to become a secure, modern civic facility.
Ultimately, while some feel we should have put some or all of these decisions to a vote, our City has always handled these decisions by electing representatives to study and vote for the best interests of PV residents today and tomorrow. We have never voted in PV on projects like this – whether it be our new Public Works facility built for $10M+ in 2019, our Police Station in 1996, or any number of other infrastructure decisions, large and small, which required borrowing.
In my mind, the City was better off with a larger upfront investment that saved significant dollars in the long run, and maintaining the way that we’ve always done things in PV. The six candidates up for election last November all ran on this platform and were reelected by wide margins across the city – the residents spoke clearly about the preferred direction of the city.
Why was switching trash service to GFL the right call?
Republic’s 10-year contract is coming to an end in 2026. This contract, negotiated before the pandemic, was extremely favorable to the City during rocky economic times of high inflation and a pandemic. Our current rate is a little under $22 a month for each household. Republic bid a 10-year renewal at $27 a month, forcing the City to search for other providers.
GFL, a national trash hauler with a regional footprint of 85,000 homes, came back with a bid of just under $23 a month with substantially similar terms and services. GFL already services neighboring cities in Johnson County, as well as Countryside East in PV. They are a known commodity and their bid saves the taxpayer quite a bit of money, making a deal with them a logical choice.
Leadership and Community
How will you bring our community together after years of division?
I hope to unite Prairie Village through communication and collaboration. I have worked for years on communication, whether it be on social media, my citywide newsletter, or by hosting more town halls in my ward than any other councilor. These are all things I will continue to do whether or not I’m elected mayor, as it will be critical to continue communicating and building trust with residents.
I am also a collaborator. I have strong relationships with fellow councilors and our city’s employees. I am proud to be endorsed by nine of the ten remaining councilmembers, as well as former Mayor Wassmer, current Mayor Mikkelson, and former PV Police Chief and Johnson County Sheriff Byron Roberson. I also have the public support of a number of regional mayors.
These relationships in PV and beyond will play an important role in uniting our city and advocating for what is best for Prairie Village if I am elected Mayor.
What’s your favorite Prairie Village tradition and why?
I love our Jazz Fest and Village Fest events. The times when our city comes together represent a break from the political noise and truly show the best side of our community. This year, for our 75th anniversary, we added several more community events, and there are already discussions underway to keep some of them occurring annually. I love when we’re able to gather as a city and celebrate the quality of life we have in PV.
Still have a question?
Write to me directly or come find me at the next town hall – I’ll give you a straight answer.