Politics, Elections and Government

Kansas City Councilman Quinton Lucas Joins Crowded Race For Mayor

KCUR | By Lisa Rodriguez

Published June 23, 2018 at 4:42 PM CDT

Third District Councilman Quinton Lucas announced his candidacy for mayor on Saturday. He is the ninth person to enter the race.

Third District Councilman Quinton Lucas is entering the crowded race to be Kansas City, Missouri’s, next mayor.

Lucas is the sixth current city council member to announce a mayoral bid, and the ninth person to enter the race.

Sources confirmed to KCUR that former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is also eyeing the race, but Kander has not yet officially announced.

Current Mayor Sly James is term-limited and cannot run when his current term ends next year.

Lucas is in his first term on the city council. In 2016, he sponsored an ordinance that caps tax incentives for developers, with exemptions for distressed areas determined by the city. He has also been behind efforts to motivate developers to build more affordable housing.

In a statement, Lucas said he hopes to continue promoting equitable growth across the city.

Quinton Lucas greets supporters at his mayoral campaign kickoff on Saturday at Ruby Jean's Juicery on 30th St. and Troost Ave.

“I will make sure that all Kansas City neighborhoods yield the benefits of our city's strength. That means increasing affordable housing options, improving public safety, and ensuring continual transparency and accountability from our city’s government,” Lucas said.

Lucas has been a vocal critic of closed-door city council sessions, especially throughout the process of selecting a developer for the new, single-terminal airport.

“City hall has this bizarre attraction to secretness — secrecy, rather — and I’d like to see us move away from it,” Lucas said at a campaign kickoff event on Saturday.

Lucas is an attorney with the law firm German May and teaches administrative and contract law at the University of Kansas School of Law.

Fully half the city council is now officially running for James’ job — Lucas, 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner, 6th District Councilman Scott Taylor, 4th District Councilwoman Jolie Justus and 5^th District Councilwoman Alissia Canady.

Businessman Phil Glynn, attorney Stephen Miller and Rita Berry are also running.

The mayoral election is April 2, 2019.

Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter and the afternoon newscaster at KCUR 89.3. Follow her on Twitter @larodrig.