Appointment
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. [2] It was a limited,national search yielding a pool of 40 applicants because the position is only guaranteed until the next mayoral election in 2027. [1] Although the process was open to external candidates,the final decision narrowed to three individuals with extensive experience at Kansas City 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. [2] This was called a "comprehensive selection process",which included two straw-poll votes by the City Council and public interviews with the finalists on May 1,2025. [4]
Vasquez was appointed as Kansas City's 16th City Manager on May 8,2025. [2] [4] The Kansas City Council approved Mayor Quinton Lucas's recommendation,at an annual salary of $265,000, [1] with an 11-2 vote. The two dissenting votes were cast by Councilmembers Ryana Parks-Shaw and Darrell Curls,both representing the 5th district. [2] [1]
At age 54,and already with 28 years of experience in Kansas City government, [1] he became the first Latino to permanently hold the position of City Manager in Kansas City. [2] He said,"I was asked a question not long ago,'how did you get to be the guy that people always look to for solutions?' I just said,I raised my hand,I worked my ass off,and that is what it takes." The Kansas City Star said "Vasquez choked up as he described seeing one of his former employees rise to fill one of his [own past] jobs". [1] Vasquez likened his mentality to that of a coach:"You need to guide,you need to encourage,motivate,and provide corrective action". [3] Of his existing tenure,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". [3] 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". [3]
Tenure
As city manager,Mario Vasquez oversees a municipal government with a $2.5 billion budget and nearly 5,000 employees. [5] [11] 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. [5]
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. [2] [3] Other significant responsibilities include overseeing the design and construction of a new municipal jail, [2] [12] promoting city-wide economic development with a focus on growth in suburban areas and on reinvestment in historically neglected neighborhoods, [2] [3] [9] and managing the city's finances,which includes preparing for the 2026 renewal of Kansas City's 1% earnings tax. [2] [3] He intends to improve city services and oversee an audit of the communications office for transparency. [3] [13]
