The Challenges Ahead Are Real

Five issues the next Council and Mayor need to focus on

The Progress Kansas City board has prioritized five issues for the next Council and Mayor.

Financial stability

Decades of infrastructure investment have outpaced our ability to maintain what we have. In general, KC tries to operate on revenues 20% short of obligations.

Accelerate growth

Kansas City isn't keeping pace with peer and neighboring communities. Single-family building permits in 2025 were 499, compared with 1,851 in Johnson County.

Public safety

A top concern across every neighborhood and demographic in the city. KCPD has 1,148 uniformed officers compared to the 1,280 they need.

Housing affordability and homelessness

Rising costs are squeezing renters and would-be homeowners alike, and driving a growing homelessness crisis. The homeless population is on track to double in the next four years. Home prices in the KC region have exploded to 4–5 times median income, compared to less than 3:1 as recently as 2016 — the fastest affordability collapse in the region's modern history.

City Hall accountability

Residents, builders, and business owners increasingly find it harder to get their business done at City Hall.

Progress Kansas City exists to meet this moment — helping voters identify and elect a Council and Mayor equipped to lead.

Our Purpose

A coalition committed to our city's future

Our mission: ensure that Kansas City's 2027 municipal elections produce a City Council and Mayor who are strong, visionary, capable, hard-working, and ethical.

Progress Kansas City PAC is a coalition of community stakeholders and civic leaders united by a shared commitment to our city's future.

Focused on the issues that matter most

Housing and homelessness

Economic growth and financial stability

Government accountability

Public safety

Our Board

Guided by leaders from every part of Kansas City

Progress Kansas City is guided by a 27-member board reflecting the full diversity of our city — geography, race and ethnicity, economic background, and professional expertise. Each member brings deep civic engagement and a trusted network to this work. Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Terry KilroyPresident

Senior Counsel, Lathrop GPM LLP

Colleen HernandezSecretary

President, Hernandez Consulting LLC

Edgar PalaciosTreasurer

Founder & Executive Director, Revolución Educativa

Hunter ArmisteadFinance Chair

President & Chief Investment Officer, Alaris Capital

David Atterbury

President, Whetstone Capital Advisers

Mike Bell

Executive Vice President, Hunt Midwest

Andrew Brain

CEO & Founder, The Brain Group

Richard Chaves

President, Parking Company of America

Pat Contreras

Vice President, Business Development, McCownGordon Construction

Rev. Darron Edwards

Lead Pastor, United Believers Community Church

Tyler Enders

Co-Owner, Made in KC

Ryan Gound

President, Labconco

Judge Jon Gray

Retired Circuit Court Judge; Gray Legal Strategies

PJ Guastello

Owner, Oak Ridge Family Social Club

Carol Hallquist

Founder, Principals Connect

Darren Hennen

Vice President, Olsson

Niles Jager

President, Lighthouse Capital

Terrell Jolly

CEO, Integrity Capital Management

Mark Jorgenson

Retired Financial Services Executive

Kevin Klinkenberg

Executive Director, Midtown KC Now

Rev. Ronald Lindsay

Senior Pastor, Concord Fortress of Hope Church

Melanie Miller

Retired Executive Leader

Rick Paul

Founding Partner, Paul LLP

Tashayla Person

Vice President, Strategic Government Affairs, CATALYST

Jeanette Prenger

Founder & CEO, ECCO Select

Matt Roney

Partner, Kit Bond Strategies

Our Process

The same transparency we ask of City Hall

We're committed to the same transparency and accountability we ask of City Hall. Here's how our work unfolds:

Research and define priorities

We study Kansas City's critical issues in depth to ground our positions in evidence, not assumption.

Candidate questionnaires

We distribute detailed questionnaires to candidates and publish their responses on this website, so voters can evaluate them directly.

Interviews and endorsements

Our board conducts candidate interviews and makes endorsement decisions through a defined, documented process.

Candidate support

We identify ways to help endorsed candidates succeed, from resources to public backing.

Specific dates for the 2027 questionnaire and endorsement timeline will be posted here once finalized.

State of the Race · Voter Information

The 2027 election at a glance

7 + 1seven open council seats, plus the open Mayor's office

Jan 12candidate filing closes (City Charter §602)

Apr 6nonpartisan primary — top two per office advance

—days until the June 22 general election

District with at least one open seatIncumbent eligible

Stylized district shapes for illustration. Each district elects an in-district member and an at-large member (voted citywide).

Seat	Current holder	2027 status
Mayor	Quinton Lucas	Open — term-limited
1st District	Nathan Willett	Eligible for another term
1st District At-Large	Kevin O'Neill	Open — term-limited
2nd District	Wes Rogers	Open — running for Mayor
2nd District At-Large	Lindsay French	Eligible for another term
3rd District	Melissa Robinson	Open — term-limited
3rd District At-Large	Melissa Patterson Hazley	Eligible for another term
4th District	Eric Bunch	Open — term-limited
4th District At-Large	Crispin Rea	Open — running for Mayor
5th District	Ryana Parks-Shaw	Open — running for Mayor
5th District At-Large	Darrell Curls	Eligible for another term
6th District	Johnathan Duncan	Eligible for another term
6th District At-Large	Andrea Bough	Open — term-limited

Declared candidates for Mayor

Ryana Parks-ShawCrispin ReaWes RogersKenda Tomes McClain

Seat status reflects City Charter term limits and public candidacy declarations as of September 19, 2026, compiled from Missouri Ethics Commission filings, city clerk records, and on-record announcements. Re-election plans of eligible incumbents will be shown once confirmed directly with each. Updated through the January 12, 2027 filing deadline; candidate questionnaire responses will be published here.

~Dec 2026Filing opensCandidates file with the City Clerk

Jan 12, 2027Filing closesThe field is set

Apr 6, 2027PrimaryTop two per office advance

Jun 22, 2027General electionNew Council and Mayor sworn in Aug 1

Check your registration at sos.mo.gov/elections · Find your polling place through the Kansas City Election Board or your county election board.

Get Involved

Help us meet this moment.

Progress Kansas City is funded by private individuals who share our commitment to Kansas City's future. Your contribution supports the research, the candidate screening process, and the voter information on this site.

Prefer to talk first, give by check, or host an event? Contact us directly.

Donate to Progress Kansas City PAC

Give in under a minute by credit or debit card. For larger gifts, wire instructions are available on request. To mail a check, make it payable to Progress Kansas City PAC and send it to PO Box 410404, Kansas City, MO 64141. Every dollar we raise and spend is reported publicly to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

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Contributions are not tax-deductible. Missouri law requires us to report contributor name, address, employer, and occupation. Progress Kansas City PAC is registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission, MEC ID C264425. Secure card, Apple Pay and Google Pay payments are processed by Anedot. Wire instructions from the treasurer on request.