Tyrone Garner (politician)
Tyrone Garner | |
---|---|
30th Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas | |
Assumed office December 13, 2021 | |
Preceded by | David Alvey |
Personal details | |
Born | 1968 or 1969 (age 54–55) Portland, Maine, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 1 |
Education | MidAmerica Nazarene University (BA) Ottawa University (MA) FBI National Academy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Tyrone A. Garner (born 1969)
Tyrone Garner was born in
On November 2, 2021, Garner defeated incumbent
Mayor/CEO of Unified Government (2021-2024)
On January 10, 2022, Garner hired Wyandotte County's first black female interim county administrator, Cheryl Harrison-Lee.[10] Only four months later, on April 21, 2022, Unified Government Commissioners raised questions about Harrison-Lee's dedication to the job, citing her ongoing consultancy work with the neighboring city of Kansas City, Missouri, administering economic development tax revenues.[11] Garner "angrily stormed out of a special session"[12] of the Unified Government on May 3, 2022, refusing to answer commissioners' requests that he begin a nationwide search for a permanent county administrator. Commissioners cited the interim administrators' possible conflict of interest as reasons to begin the search.
In a Facebook post on January 29, 2024[13], Mayor Garner announced he would temporarily step aside as mayor to undergo a confidential medical procedure. No return date was given. Tom Burroughs, former Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives and current Unified Government At-Large District 2 Commissioner will serve as Mayor Pro Tempore.
Controversies
On December 16, 2021, Garner proposed ending the county's mask mandate early amid rising COVID-19 cases and against the appeal of county health officials.[14] The repeal of the mask mandate was one of Garner's first acts in office.
On December 27, 2021, Garner closed the county's sole cold-weather shelter.[15] After citizen protests and an emergency commissioners meeting, the cold shelter was eventually allowed to open.[16]
On January 18, 2022, KCTV News broke the story that Garner charged county taxpayers $85,569 for a new Yukon Denali.[17] After widespread community debate, Garner returned the luxury SUV on February 8, 2022.[18]
"... weeks into his tenure" in January 2022,[19] Garner blocked a $23 million downtown redevelopment project,[20] despite campaigning on a promise to revitalize the downtown core. The project was to include 70 to 85 apartment units, as well as a fitness center and meeting space. The proposed development is supported by the Commission.
Honors and awards
- 2016 KCKPS Reasons to Believe Award Recipient[21]
- 2018 Black Achievers Award presented by the SCLC of Greater Kansas City[22]
- KC Globe Most Influential Kansas Citians of 2015 Award[23]
- Eugene K. Patterson Community Service Award presented by the Heart of America Chapter of The Tuskegee Airmen[22]
- Rosalyn Brown and Betty Taliaferro Service Award presented by Friends of Yates, Inc.[22]
See also
References
- ^ "Tyrone Garner Elected Mayor in Kansas City, Kansas". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. November 3, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Tyrone Garner".
- ^ "Tyrone A. Garner". Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Rupert, Mary (October 26, 2021). "Mayoral candidates differ on issues at forum". Wyandotte Daily. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Home". garnerformayor.com.
- ^ The Kansas City Star (subscription required)
- ^ Horsley, Lynn (November 2, 2021). "Tyrone Garner elected first Black mayor of Kansas City, Kansas". KCUR-FM. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Tyrone Garner - Mayor of Wyandotte County - KCK". garnerformayor.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Schmidt, Heidi (November 17, 2021). "Garner to be sworn in as mayor of Unified Government and KCK in December". WDAF-TV. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Brian Dulle. "Wyandotte County appoints new interim county administrator". WDAF-TV. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ KSHB 41 News Staff. "Medical procedure sidelines Unified Government Mayor Tyrone Garner, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Burroughs will fill in". KSHB-TV. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - KCUR. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ Koch, Makenzie; Castro, Monica (December 30, 2021). "Wyandotte County warming shelter will open despite initial pushback from new mayor". WDAF-TV. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ Ricono, Angie; Fahrlander, Cyndi (January 18, 2022). "KCK mayor under fire for vehicle choice". KCTV. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- KSHB. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Thomas Friestad (October 22, 2020). "Lanier United, UG advance plan to redevelop current Reardon Center site into mixed-use". American City Business Journals. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ "Tyrone A. Garner". Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Tyrone Garner". www.wycokck.org. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ "100 Most Influential Kansas Citians and the Lifetime Honorees" (PDF). Kansas City Globe. March 25, 2015. p. 8. Retrieved May 31, 2022.