Mario Vasquez
Mario Vasquez | |
|---|---|
 Vasquez in 2025 | |
| 16th City Manager of Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Assumed office May 8, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Platt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bolivia |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Missouri–Kansas City |
| Occupation | Public administrator, City planner |
Mario Vasquez is an American public administrator who became the 16th City Manager of Kansas City, Missouri, in May 2025. His appointment by the City Council, on the recommendation of Mayor Quinton Lucas, made him the first Latino to permanently hold this position.[1][2] His career in Kansas City's government spans three decades of extensive experience, having previously served as Assistant City Manager and Director of City Planning and Development.[3][4] As City Manager, he oversees a $2.5-billion-dollar budget, a workforce of nearly 5,000 employees, and major city initiatives including public safety, economic development, and preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[1][4]
His selection followed an expedited nine-week search process, initiated after the dismissal of his predecessor, Brian Platt. This swift process ultimately focused on three internal candidates with deep ties to Kansas City, contrasting with the yearlong national search that had led to Platt's hiring in 2020.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Mario Vasquez was born in Bolivia. During what he described as "a time of economic distress and turmoil" there, his family immigrated to Wisconsin.[5] He graduated from a suburban Madison, Wisconsin high school in 1989.[5]
He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1995. He earned a Master of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1996. He earned a second Master's degree, in Entrepreneurial Real Estate, from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) in 2014, while working for the city.[5] First District council member Nathan Willett commented on Vasquez's immigrant background: "Mario's path to city manager is the definition of the American Dream".[2]
Career
[edit]Kansas City government
[edit]Vasquez began his public service as an entry-level planner for Kansas City in 1997.[3][5] In 2005, he was promoted to Project Manager. For 17 years, he was involved in numerous projects, including the city's acquisition and redevelopment of the Linwood Shopping Center on the East Side.[5]
In 2022, he was appointed Assistant City Manager.[5] From August 2023 to May 2025, he also concurrently was Director of City Planning and Development.[3][5] As Assistant City Manager, he oversaw more than $600 million in public-private development initiatives and capital projects. He led initiatives in comprehensive planning, strategic infrastructure investment, and catalytic economic development.[3] As Director of City Planning and Development, the department expanded project services, reduced plan review timelines, increased staff in the permitting division, and reduced inspection delays.[2] He became recognized for his collaborative approach and understanding of Kansas City's housing, infrastructure, and development landscape.[4][6] A significant undertaking during this period was his involvement in the South Loop Project, an initiative to create a park over a section of Interstate 670. Vasquez acknowledged the complexities, stating, "We're building the plane as we're flying it", and emphasized the goal of completing the project by the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[7]
Appointment as city manager
[edit]Vasquez was appointed as Kansas City's 16th City Manager on May 8, 2025.[1][3] The Kansas City Council approved Mayor Quinton Lucas's recommendation with an 11-2 vote. The two dissenting votes were cast by Councilmembers Ryana Parks-Shaw and Darrell Curls, both representing the 5th district.[1]
Vasquez became the first Latino to permanently hold the position of City Manager in Kansas City.[1] He said, "I would say I'm ready to roll my sleeves, but my sleeves are already rolled up, so I'm ready to go forward".[2]
This followed what was described as a "comprehensive selection process", which included two straw-poll votes by the City Council and public interviews with the finalists on May 1, 2025.[3] The search for a new city manager was "expedited", concluding just nine weeks after the suspension and subsequent dismissal of former City Manager Brian Platt. This rapid timeline was a departure from the yearlong national search that had led to Platt's hiring in 2020. Although the process was open to external candidates, the final decision narrowed to three individuals with extensive experience at City Hall: Vasquez, then Director of City Planning and Development and Assistant City Manager; Kimiko Gilmore, then Interim City Manager; and Patrick Klein, the former Director of Aviation who had retired in 2023.[1]
Tenure as city manager
[edit]As city manager, Mario Vasquez oversees a municipal government with a $2.5 billion budget and nearly 5,000 employees.[4][8] His responsibilities include ensuring city services operate efficiently, advising the Mayor and City Council, appointing department directors, preparing the annual city budget, enforcing municipal laws, and coordinating city operations and programs. The City Manager's Office leads coordination for large-scale events.[4]
Upon taking office, Vasquez identified preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a major priority, expressing the need for the city to be ready for an anticipated 650,000 tourists and to fill key emergency management and fire department vacancies.[1][2] Other significant responsibilities include overseeing the design and construction of a new municipal jail,[1][9] promoting city-wide economic development with a focus on growth in suburban areas and on reinvestment in historically neglected neighborhoods,[1][2][6] and managing the city's finances, which includes preparing for the 2026 renewal of Kansas City's 1% earnings tax.[1][2] He intends to improve city services and oversee an audit of the communications office for transparency.[2][10]
Vasquez likened his mentality to that of a coach: "You need to guide, you need to encourage, motivate, and provide corrective action".[2]
Personal life
[edit]Mario Vasquez moved from Bolivia to the United States with his family in the 1980s.[5][2] He has stated that he has made Kansas City "my life and my family".[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Merchant, Josh (May 12, 2025). "As Kansas City's new city manager, Mario Vasquez will have to tackle these 3 key issues first". KCUR. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hawley-Bates, Savannah (May 8, 2025). "Mario Vasquez is the new Kansas City manager. Here's what he says about the job". KCUR. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f News Staff (May 8, 2025). "Mayor Lucas, City Council Appoint Mario Vasquez as New City Manager". The Kansas City Globe. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "About the City Manager". City of Kansas City, Missouri Official Website. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hawley-Bates, Savannah (May 3, 2025). "Kansas City's next city manager? Meet these 3 candidates for the job". KCUR. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
- ^ a b "Mario Vasquez Is the New City Manager" (Press release). City of Kansas City, Missouri. May 8, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ "How South Loop Project construction in Kansas City could happen". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV. September 19, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
- ^ "Kansas City Names Mario Vasquez as New City Manager". Ingram's Magazine. May 14, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Reporter, The Beacon KC (May 14, 2025). "Mario Vasquez is Kansas City's New City Manager: Here are Three Key Issues that He Will Confront in the First 100 Days". Northeast News. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Calacal, Celisa (May 12, 2025). "'Public information is vital': Meet Kansas City's new City Manager Mario Vasquez". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Yahoo News.