BPU Board Races:  The Candidates in Their Words 

David Haley District 2

Current Occupation: Legislator, Lawyer, Property Developer

Age: 65

Born in Wyandotte County, David attended KC public school until his father’s job relocated them to the D.C. Area.  He graduated from Morehouse College and Howard University Law School.  He returned to Kansas city to clerk for a local firm and later served as an Assistant District Attorney in Wyandotte County and in the U.S. Department of HOusing & Urban Development, then served as aide in a city government with the Kansas City, MO City Council.  

He was first elected to the Kansas House in 1994 and after three terms successfully ran for the Kansas SEnate where he has served since 2000.  He was elected to the BPU board in 2021.  

Beyond public advocacy, personal interests include renovating historic housing, photography, tennis, travel and short stories; both reading and writing. He remains involved in his church and in organizing political action groups.

Gary Enrique Bradley-Lopez District 1

Current Occupation: Middle School Speech & Theater Teacher 

Age: 27

Born and raised in Wyandotte County, Gary Enrique Bradley-Lopez is proudly raising his family here with his wife and three children. He is a middle school theater teacher with a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State and is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. Gary previously ran for school board in 2019 and has worked in communications, community engagement, higher education, and K–12. Deeply active in Kansas City, Kansas, he is committed to serving his community with a focus on affordability, transparency, and sustainable solutions for families across Wyandotte County.

DH: The PILOT, especially its harsh use by the Unified Government and dismal interpretation by our public in general, was a catalyst for my initial candidacy for the Board. Even at a now “reduced rate” of 10.9%, our PILOT is approximately 3.5% higher than the mean national average of other municipalities that impose one. The revenue derived is necessary to sustain the UG’s bloated budget though; without the PILOT, our property taxes would be even higher. A solution I have consistently promoted both in KC and in Topeka is a Wyandotte Countywide vote for/against a local earnings tax. Since an estimated 70% of all Wyandotte County earned income is earned by people living out of Wyandotte County capturing even 1% of that revenue could erase the “need” for the PILOT annually or cut our property tax bills in half.

GBL: The PILOT fee has been one of the most frustrating parts of our bills because many residents didn’t even know it existed, and BPU often takes the blame even though the Unified Government controls it. I understand that frustration because I’ve felt it too. As a board member, I will push for the UG to be honest about how PILOT funds are used, since much of it goes to public safety. At the same time, I’ll advocate for exploring alternatives—like major development projects that grow our tax base without burdening ratepayers. Data centers and other projects, if done right, can bring new revenue so the PILOT can be reduced or eliminated without raising rates. My role will be to fight for transparency, keep BPU focused on affordability, and ensure Wyandotte families aren’t carrying an unfair share of the burden.

DH: I am proud that now, in only my first term on the BPU, I have been the leader for greater public transparency and access to the Utility and its processes. Examples of my solitary initiatives include : A) Opening Board meetings to audio-visual. Now any ratepayer can log online or even call in to witness or even participate during public comments at any meeting (just as with UG Commission meetings); B) “Color coding” UG charges (like PILOT, sewer, trash, stormwater, etc.) separate from electric and water consumption charges on the BPU bills while continuing, seemingly still alone, to split the bill into TWO bills to alleviate adverse consequences for an inability to simply pay UG fees, and C) Pushing, consistently and alone, to reopen the easily accessible LOBBY to walk-in foot traffic customers to increase our customer service access.

GBL: While BPU bills now show a clear breakdown of charges, many residents—especially seniors, non-English speakers, and low-literacy neighbors—still struggle to understand them. As a teacher, I know education is the key. As a board member, I’ll push for BPU to expand community workshops and multilingual outreach, including in Spanish and other languages spoken in our neighborhoods, so everyone can understand where their money is going. I will also advocate that all rate-setting discussions and key financial decisions happen in open board meetings, not behind the scenes. That means giving residents time to speak, providing plain-language explanations of proposals, and making sure information is available in formats people can actually use. Transparency isn’t just a breakdown on a bill—it’s building trust through honest communication, open meetings, and meaningful community education. That’s the approach I’ll bring to the board.

DH: The KCK BPU currently operates at approximately 48% derived by renewable generation; one of the most enviable percentages of any national energy utility. With continuing advances in technology (primarily in battery storage and in transmission), the Utility should maintain a quality standard of dependability while continuing to reduce its carbon footprint and with minimal cost hikes to our customer base. (For the record, I am one Board member who, proudly, did NOT vote for electrical and water rate increases.)

GBL: Our community deserves clean, reliable, and affordable energy. That starts with setting a strict retirement deadline for the coal-powered Nearman plant and moving toward real energy diversification. As a board member, I’ll advocate for aggressive investments in renewable energy like solar and wind, while also ensuring we have the infrastructure to keep the grid reliable. At the same time, I’ll push for training programs and union partnerships so local workers are prepared for jobs in renewable energy. This transition must benefit both families paying their bills and workers providing essential services. I also believe every major development project—like data centers—must be tied to renewable investments so that growth doesn’t raise rates or harm our environment. Long-term affordability for Wyandotte families will only come when we embrace sustainable, renewable energy sources and keep community voices at the table during that transition.

DH: My current record on the Board has been being the original board member to have the UG charges (like PILOT, sewer, trash, stormwater, etc.) segregated from electric/water consumption charges on the monthly bills; resulting, to date, in color-coding for UG fees…but not yet the full separation, and corresponding benefit of “no-service-disruption-for-unpaid-UG-taxes” that, if reelected, every one knows I’ll continue to push for. Also, I alone continue the push to re-open the customer service lobby which will enable swifter person-to-person resolutions to many, many issues. Further, I believe many deposits are usurious and unnecessary; reconnection fees punitive and “late fees” disrespectfully onerous … all symbolic of a lingering culture of greed that sadly remains a part of our jewel of a Utility.

GBL: I know firsthand how difficult it can be when you fall behind—I once had my lights cut off over a few dollars, and even after trying in Spanish, I couldn’t reach anyone by phone. That experience showed me how hard it must be for seniors, low-literacy residents, community members learning English, or those without internet access. As a board member, I will fight to reopen the lobby for face-to-face service and restore the human connection BPU has lost. I’ll push for flexible payment plans for seniors and low-income families, and for BPU to expand assistance programs directly rather than relying only on outside organizations. I also believe we need stronger outreach so residents know what help is available before they face disconnection. Most importantly, I’ll advocate for policies that protect vulnerable residents from losing essential services—because BPU is a public utility, and it belongs to the people.