Up To Date

Picking The Right City Manager For Kansas City, Missouri

By Steve Kraske,

Published August 5, 2020 at 2:03 PM CDT

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The city manager in Kansas City serves and advises the mayor and city council, appoints most department directors and proposes an annual budget. The manager also enforces municipal laws and ordinances, and coordinates city operations and programs.

Finding just the right city manager is a complex enough endeavor, given the importance of the job in Kansas City, Missouri, but the decision is complicated further when a global pandemic is added into the mix.

"What we need to do is really find that person who can walk and chew gum" at the same time, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who will inevitably work closely with the new manager.

Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
Luke Norris, managing director of strategy and government relations for OpenCities

A previous version of this post misquoted Mayor Quinton Lucas as saying, " ... talk and chew gum."

Corrected: August 6, 2020 at 1:34 PM CDT

A previous version of this post misquoted Mayor Quinton Lucas as saying, " ... talk and chew gum," instead of, " ... walk and chew gum."

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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Luke X. Martin

As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.

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