Wyandotte County voters delivered a decisive message Tuesday night, reshaping leadership across Kansas City, KS, and proving once again that in “The Dotte,” community power — not political machinery — still drives elections.
Turnout reached nearly 20%, and voters gravitated toward candidates who addressed the issues hitting households hardest: utility costs, property taxes, neighborhood-based economic development, and transparent governance.
The result was a clear demand for accountability and renewal.
Christal Watson Wins in a Major Upset
In the biggest surprise of the night, Christal Watson defeated Rose Mulvany Henry with 53.7% of the vote in the election for mayor and CEO of the Wyandotte County Unified Government.
Watson entered the race without major endorsements, big donors, or institutional backing. Instead, she built a campaign rooted in neighborhood networks, faith communities, youth advocates, and working families—particularly resonating with Black and Hispanic residents, who together make up roughly 53% of Wyandotte County’s population, mirroring her final vote share.
Mulvany Henry, a lifelong Dotte resident and well-known attorney and business executive, held advantages in name recognition and establishment support. But Watson’s years of grassroots engagement proved more powerful, signaling that voters wanted a leader who reflects their daily realities.
Throughout her campaign, Watson emphasized utility affordability, PILOT reform, property tax transparency, and equitable economic development across every corridor of The Dotte — not just the fast-growing west side. She called for a utility-relief fund tied to new developments, performance audits of major projects, and expanded tax relief for seniors and families under financial strain.
Her message—centered on fairness for households —clearly connected. Voters responded with a mandate for change.
Unified Government Commission: New Faces & Narrow Margins
District 1: Jermaine Howard Wins Big
Newcomer Jermaine Howard swept this race with 71.4%, decisively defeating Lisa Walker Yeager. Yeager, who appeared on two ballots this year, struggled to gain traction in this district, where voters favored Howard’s fresh approach and commitment to community-driven policymaking.
District 5: Carlos Pacheco III Captures Open Seat
Dr. Carlos Pacheco III, a highly funded candidate with support from a broad spectrum of supporters, won with 66% over former city economic development coordinator LaVert A. Murray. Pacheco will succeed longtime Commissioner Mike Kane, who retired after nearly 20 years of service.
District 7: Chuck Stites Re-Elected Unopposed
Commissioner Chuck Stites secured a second term without opposition.
District 8: Andrew Davis Holds On
In a fairly tight race, incumbent Andrew Davis won with 53.6%, defeating challenger Jacob Handy by fewer than 200 votes — reflecting a district still closely divided on its political direction.
At-Large District 2: Kump Defeats Lopez
Attorney Andrew Kump defeated current District 6 commissioner Philip Lopez, earning 53% of the countywide vote. Lopez, whose District 6 seat wasn’t up for election, will continue in his current seat which is not up for election until 2027. Kump replaces Tom Burroughs, who left the seat to run for mayor. Burroughs, one of six initial candidates for mayor, did not advance out of the primary.
BPU Races: Haley Survives Ethics Controversy
The Board of Public Utilities races drew unusual attention after an ethics investigation resulted in the censure of board member Dave Haley and his removal as BPU Board president. Haley referred to the scandal as an “October Surprise” — an action deliberately created or timed to influence the outcome of an election.
Despite the controversy, Haley won reelection to the At-Large Position 2 seat with 52.7%, defeating former KCK Mayor David Alvey.
Additional BPU Results
- At-Large Position 1: Gary Bradley-Lopez won with 55.4% over Lisa Walker Yeager.
- District 2: Chase Cook narrowly edged Neal Palmer, earning 50.1% to Palmer’s 49.3%.
KCKCC Board of Trustees: Sutton Returns; Kump & Sanchez Join the Board
Three seats were up for election on the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees this year: two full four-year terms and one seat to complete the unexpired term of the late MaryAnn Mosely.
Incumbent Linda Hoskins Sutton secured reelection with 37.5%, while fellow incumbent Brad Isnard lost his bid for another term. The second full-term seat went to Geoffrey Kump, who finished with 25.9%.
In the race for Mosely’s unexpired term, appointed trustee Mary Ricketts was edged out by Alex Sanchez, who won with 38.1% in a close three-way contest.
The results bring two new members — Kump and Sanchez — onto the board, alongside returning trustee Sutton.
Notice the Kump name, brother Georfrey and Andrew Kump are both newly elected. Andrew Kump won the at-large seat on the Wyandotte County Commission. Geoffrey, who failed in his attempt to win a seat on the UG Commission in 2021, proved more effective in his race for the KCKCC Board.
KCKPS School Board: Paige Re-Elected; Dinkens & Penn-Hicks Join
In the USD 500 school board race, where the top three candidates win seats, voters selected:
- Wanda Brownlee Paige — 23.9% (re-elected)
- Sheyvette Dinkens — 11.3% (new)
- Pamela Penn-Hicks — 17.4% (new)
Incumbent Rachel Russell finished with 15.5%, just short of returning to the board.
A New Chapter for The Dotte
From the mayor’s office to BPU, from the UG Commission to the school board, Wyandotte County voters opted for leadership that reflects lived experience, everyday struggles, and a desire for change. Across the ballot, the message was unmistakable:
The people of The Dotte are ready for transparency, fairness, and progress driven by the community — not by special interests or political inertia.