An unusually large mid-term turnout ended a tumultuous year in divisive Prairie Village politics by resoundingly defeating an attempt to jettison the mayor-council form of government in effect since the founding of the city in the 1950s.
According to reporting by KSHB-41, the Johnson County (JOCO) Election Office certified 2,004 signatures in 2023, above the required amount of 1,945 to place the question of abandoning the current form of government on the 2025 ballot, illustrating the divide in the Northeast JOCO city. But nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) decided to keep the current government structure.
According to The Beacon, a whopping 60% of PV residents went to the polls, a number usually associated with a presidential election year, following recent controversies over rezoning for affordable housing, construction of a new city hall, and the recent proposal to dismantle the city’s government structure.
A slate of six candidates endorsed by PV United, an organization opposed to the housing and city hall initiatives offered by the current council went down to defeat along with the question on dismantling the government.
Councilman Craig Robinson, easily re-elected against a PV candidate, reflected on the results to KSHB:
“Ultimately, it’s too big of a risk to abandon our government and then try to figure out what that meant down the line. It’s a sign the majority of residents want the city to move on. They want council to move on.” Robinson celebrated two victories on Election Night, having managed the successful re-election campaign of Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
Council Member Lori Sharp, affiliated with PV United, lamented the defeat of the organization’s slate of candidates, but celebrated the turnout of residents in a local election:
“The results, while disappointing, showed a great number of people engaged and informed about our city. Similar to across the country there are differing views on how to spend our limited resources. I choose to focus on more city and resident services while others take a more national or even global view point.
“The six candidates I supported were more “resident-focused” and wanted the residents to have a voice in the tearing down of Mission Bible Church and the building of the new $30 million city hall complex. We either didn’t communicate our message well enough or a majority of the residents didn’t want to vote on that expenditure.
“As far as the multi-family, that remains to be seen. This new council will get to vote on rezoning of the old YMCA property on 79th. A developer, Price Brothers, purchased that property. We were told by the mayor at the last meeting that plans were being developed and would be brought before the council in the near future.
“I also met with a developer regarding a commercial property and its parking lot to the east near 73rd and Mission. And of course, Karbank owns the property at 75th and Belinder. So even though Prairie Village is fully developed and completely surrounded, there are opportunities for more dense housing. All of these decisions and the rezoning of these properties will be done by the new council members the residents just elected.
“While the candidates that I supported did not get elected, I am bolstered by the enthusiasm and engagement of my neighbors. Their commitment and passion for the city are unparalleled and I am humbled by their efforts.”
