Kevin McManus returns to Sixth District Councilman job

By Kathy Feist

Kevin McManus will step in as the interim Sixth District At-Large representative on the Kansas City City Council. The seat was left vacant following Andrea Bough’s departure to lead the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. Mayor Lucas announced McManus as his recommended appointment this morning.

“Kevin McManus has spent his career serving Kansas City, and I’m confident he’s the right person to represent the voices of south Kansas City as we build a safer, more vibrant, and more accessible community for families and neighborhoods in a vital part of our city,” read a statement from Mayor Lucas’ office. 

Lucas is not the only one to share his opinion regarding McManus’ new role. The Telegraph reached out to a few south Kansas City spokespeople. 

“Kevin is very experienced in both city and state government,” said John Sharp, former city councilman and state legislator, whose seat McManus filled. “I thought he always did an excellent job of representing the south Kansas City area on the City Council. He also tried to be fair and responsive to all parts of the city, not just south Kansas City.” 

“McManus is well regarded as a thoughtful policymaker rather than a ladder-climbing politician,” said Geoff Gerling, chairman of the South Kansas City Democrats. “Competent leadership is always welcome. I hope he engages with south Kansas City residents in the course of the next year.”

Others were not so complimentary. “He’s lazy. He hardly went to any community meetings,” complained south Kansas City Republican spokesperson Terrence Nash. “Also, he promised Blue River Road would be fixed and it’s not getting fixed.”

All eleven city councilmen voted in favor of McManus’ appointment.

 McManus is no stranger to Kansas City politics. He represented the Sixth District on the City Council from 2015-2023, serving as Mayor Pro Tem for his final term.  Before that time, he represented south Kansas City in the Missouri General Assembly for three years.  He has spent most of his life in the Sixth District, having grown up in the Brookside area as a member of the St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, attending St. Peter’s School and Rockhurst High School, and eventually moving into Verona Hills in the Red Bridge area to raise his family.  He recently moved to Blue Hills Estates with his wife and three young children. 

Prior to McManus’ approval, the city council thanked Andrea Bough for her service to the city, pointing out her calm manner, motherly listening skills and consistency. “You’re my voice of reason,” said First District-at-Large City Councilman Kevin O’Neill. “I always know that if I hear you say something, I’m going to go halfway there because that’s probably the place I want to be.”

 McManus will fill the remainder of Bough’s term, ending August 1, 2027, representing the Sixth District, which includes Waldo, Brookside, the Country Club Plaza, the Red Bridge Area, Martin City, and UMKC.