Kay Barnes
Fun fact: Kay Barnes was first elected Mayor on her birthday.
Many of the vibrant, exciting, colorful aspects linked to the heart of Kansas City is thanks to the dedication of Kay Barnes, the first woman elected as Mayor of Kansas City in 1999. During her 2 terms as Mayor, Barnes was instrumental in the development and revitalization of Downtown Kansas City. With this multibillion-dollar campaign came the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the H&R Block Headquarters, the Power and Light District, the opening of the Sprint Center, and on top of that, the conversion of old building into urban apartments.
Prior to this revitalization, Downtown Kansas City was referred to as an “urban wasteland,” with residents having no interest of making their way to the heart of the city. It is safe to say that this is no longer the case. During the World Series, the Power and Light District was packed with thousands of fans cheering on the boys in blue. The Kauffman Center attracts a diverse patronage nearly every week, some weeks 5 days a week to either of its +1,600 seat halls.
Barnes is a native of Missouri, and holds degrees in secondary education from KU and UMKC (go Roos!), and in her early years worked as a teacher and with Cross-Lines Community Outreach. Prior to being appointed 54th Mayor of Kansas City, Barnes was a Kansas City Councilwoman and served on the Jackson County Legislature.
Following her term as Mayor, Barnes ran for Congress, along with becoming the Founding Director of the Center for Leadership at Park University’s Hauptmann School for Public Affairs, a position she still holds today. Barnes has no intention of running for public office in the near future, but is a supporter of those seeking office. In 2015, Barnes was inducted into the UMKC Starr Women’s Hall of Fame. On top of this recognition, Mayor Sly James is been working to honor the development Barnes instituted Downtown
Barnes has been celebrated for her creativity, collaboration, trust, assertiveness, character, and ability to bring together a community. Her work as Mayor was instrumental in making Kansas City the diverse, cultural, and energetic city we know it to be today.