Gould Evans Principal Dennis Strait endorsed candidate Brian Platt as future City Manager for Kansas City, MO, announced in an October 15 open letter to Mayor Quinton Lucas, City Council members, and other business, civic, and community leaders:
I am asking for your support regarding an important, impending decision from our elected leaders.
Earlier this summer, I shared a guest commentary written for The Kansas City Star (PDF) in which I made a case for selecting the best-qualified candidate to be our next City Manager. Since that time, Mayor Lucas and our City Council have narrowed the list to four candidates. I’ve reviewed each public interview and found most candidates to be appropriately qualified for the position.
That being said, Brian Platt stands apart. He possesses the skills needed to guide us through this pandemic crisis and its aftermath—and position our city on a path toward fiscal sustainability. And he recognizes that managing the city’s budget and finances is the most important function of the job. You can read my full recommendation below.
Development practices at city hall need to be driven by policy rather than politics. That’s unlikely to happen without a strong manager.
Advocacy from business, civic, and community leaders like you will help ensure the best candidate is selected. Your voice is valuable. If you agree with our recommendation and live in Kansas City, Missouri, please contact the Mayor and your City Council representatives (PDF) to share your choice for City Manager. We’ve included all relevant contact information below. A decision is imminent, so time is of the essence.
Thank you in advance.
Dennis Strait
Managing Principal
Gould Evans - Kansas City
Read the
full recommendation letter here.
