Kansas City mayor, city council appoint new city manager

Yahoo

09-05-2025

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City has named its next city manager.
On Thursday, the Kansas City Council voted 11-2 to select Mario Vasquez to be the next city manager, just over a month after ousting Brian Platt.
Downtown KC business owners demand action; mayor pushes back over text message dispute
Vasquez currently serves as director of city planning and development and assistant city manager. According to his LinkedIn, Vasquez began his career with the City of Kansas City back in 1997.
Last week, the City Council, along with Mayor Quinton Lucas, conducted public interviews with the three finalists for the position, which included Vasquez, Interim City Manager Kimiko Gilmore and Patrick Klein, the city's former aviation director.
'After interviewing all qualified candidates, Mario Vasquez emerged as the clear choice to lead our city administration,' Lucas said. 'His extensive experience in urban planning, economic development, and project management, combined with his 28-year dedication to Kansas City, made him the ideal candidate to guide our city forward.'
See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri
Vasquez focused his interview on strengthening community partnerships. He also highlighted the importance of being present in neighborhoods and hearing directly from residents.
In his current role as assistant city manager, he has overseen more than $600 million in public-private development initiatives and capital projects, according to the city.
'I am honored to be selected for the important position of city manager,' Vasquez said. 'Throughout my career, I have worked to bring people together, navigate diverse perspectives, build trust, and foster collaboration across departments and sectors. I know this community, its history, and its aspirations, and I am ready to guide Kansas City forward with purpose and resolve.'
Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android
Vasquez will oversee all city departments and operations, manage a workforce of thousands of employees, and manage a multi-billion-dollar budget, according to Lucas.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.