WELCOME TO THE FIRST DISTRICT!
The First District is defined by its attractive, quality neighborhoods that extend through eleven different cities, clustered in the northeastern corner of Johnson County. From tree-lined avenues to shopping districts, the First District is a popular place to live and work. This interactive website provides convenient access to the many points of interest throughout the First District. I encourage you to take advantage of this website to contact me if you have questions or concerns or if I can be of service.
Of the 20 cities incorporated within Johnson County, 11 are in the First District. They include the cities of Fairway, Merriam, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, Westwood, Westwood Hills, and the northern portions of the cities of Overland Park and Leawood. These cities—among the first settled in Johnson County—were pioneered as model bedroom communities to downtown Kansas City during the post World War II period. Their growth fueled the exponential development of Johnson County over the past 30 years. Today, continuous renewal and reinvestment ensure that the First District retains its distinctive character. And its proximity to both the urban core and the growing suburban areas in southern and western Johnson County make it an ideal place to make a home and raise a family.
The First District also includes the historic Shawnee Indian Mission, the Helen Cuddy Rose Garden located in Antioch Park, the Sylvester Powell, Jr. Community Center. The 54-acre Shawnee Mission Medical Center is a prominent metro hospital, tending to the health care needs of the First District that employs more than 2,800 local residents. The Shawnee Mission School District has played an instrumental role in furthering the community’s intellectual capital and earning Johnson County the reputation of a great place to raise a family.
Throughout my service to the people of the First District, including my tenure as the Mayor of Fairway, I’ve remained committed to sustaining the quality of life that is currently associated with Johnson County. As an elected official, I believe a cooperative metropolitan approach to many of our challenges will be critical to the future success of this community. Issues such as our environment and the regulations we put in place to protect our natural resources, the health and safety of our communities, and transportation simply don’t follow strict jurisdictional boundaries. That means we need to partner with our neighbors across municipal, county, and state lines in order to provide the best possible quality of life.
Being accessible and responsive to my constituents is important to me, and I make every effort to ensure that your needs are addressed promptly and courteously. My office is available to assist you in a variety of ways, and I encourage you to keep in contact with me and to share your thoughts and opinions about community issues.