In 1955, the City Council of Kansas City formed the original Citizens’ Commission on Municipal Revenue. Chaired by future Mayor Ilus Davis, its mission was “To provide the City Council with recommendations for a city finance program which would correct present financial problems and ensure continuing city growth.”
Today, Mayor Sly James officially reconstitutes the commission with sixteen of Kansas City’s most learned and talented civic leaders. “It is my pleasure and great honor to announce the members of the Citizens’ Commission on Municipal Revenue and charge them with examining closely the means by which we fund our city’s functions. I have asked a broad spectrum of citizens to lend their expertise and am humbled that each of them has agreed to serve the city they love. My sincere thanks to each of them, especially Chairwoman Susan Stanton, for undertaking this critical task. These men and women represent different backgrounds, different parts of the city, different generations and different political views, but each brings a keen intellect for city finances and a wealth of experience that will serve our city well,” said Mayor James.
The Mayor has appointed the following residents of Kansas City, Missouri to the Citizens’ Commission on Municipal Revenue:
Chairwoman Susan Stanton has held senior executive positions in both the public and private sector including President and Chief Operating Officer of Payless Cashways, a Fortune 500 company. Mrs. Stanton served as Interim President and CEO for the United Way of Greater Kansas City and KCPT-Channel 19, as well as Vice President of H&R Block and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. She began her career serving as Director of Administration and Chief Operating Officer for Jackson County, Missouri. A life-long Kansas City resident, Mrs. Stanton has served on numerous boards and commissions and holds a master’s degree from the University of Texas. She has completed executive programs at both Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Commission Member Rev. Thomas Curran is the President of Rockhurst University. Father Curran is an ordained Roman Catholic priest and previously served as Vice President of Regis University in Denver where he was responsible for the University’s annual fund and capital campaign. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Civic Council, the Midwest Research Institute, and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
Commission Member Dr. Brent Never is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Affairs in the Henry W. Block School of Management at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, and is actively involved in nonprofit service and collaboration in the nonprofit sector. Dr. Never received his Doctorate from Indiana University at Bloomington in Public Policy, and as a two-time Fullbright Scholar most recently attended the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.
Commission Member George Lopez is the Executive Vice President of James B. Nutter and Company, is currently a trustee of the Missouri Residential Mortgage Board and the Board President of the Wildwood Outdoor Education Center. He serves on the board of the Missouri Residential Mortgage Board and previously served on the City Landmarks Commission and Jackson County Land Trust. Mr. Lopez received degrees from the University of Kansas.
Commission Member Wayne Powell is the Executive Liaison to the President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. Mr. Powell previously served as Assistant Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and as the Assistant Secretary to its Board of Directors. He serves as the Board of Directors Vice President for the Hope Leadership Academy Charter School. Mr. Powell received his B.A. in Political Science from Gettysburg College, his master’s from the University of Michigan, and received his Executive Education from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.
Commission Member Kathy Hauser is Of Counsel for the law firm of Lathrop & Gage LLP, of Kansas City specializing in real estate, and local government. Ms. Hauser served as City Attorney for the City of Kansas City under Mayor Cleaver. She has been a member of numerous City Boards and Commissions and is affiliated with the Missouri Economic Development Financing Association. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Commission Member Gregory Lever is the Business Development Manager of Taliaferro & Browne, Inc., with an extensive history in working for municipal interests, including on the staff of Mayor Cleaver. Mr. Lever is the former Executive Director of the Regional Transit Alliance. He has received a Lifetime Board Member Award from the Avila University Alumni Association Board of Directors, where he received his B.A. in Political Science.
Commission Member Peter Yelorda served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Community Affairs Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Mr. Yelorda previously served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Kansas City under Mayor Cleaver. In his 26 years of public service he has served on the UMKC Board of Trustees, Chair of the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation, chairperson for the Full Employment Council and Chair of the TIF Commission. Mr. Yelorda earned an undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Commission Member Jeanette Prenger is President of ECCO Select, a Kansas City human enterprise solutions provider, and was recently elected as the Vice Chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is the incoming Chair for Junior Achievement and serves on the United Missouri Bank Board of Directors. Among her service on boards on some of Kansas City’s most prominent civic organizations, Mrs. Prenger serves as a Trustee for the United Way of Kansas City and Park University.
Commission Member Reginald Thomas is the President and Business Manager of the Kansas City Local Laborers Union #264, has had a long history of working for Local and National Labor organizations as well as worker advocacy. He has served as Chairman of the Laborers Health and Welfare Fund, President of the Construction Benefits Audit Corporation and Executive Board Member and Delegate to the AFL-CIO District Council.
Commission Member Merley McMurry is the Governmental and Community Affairs Business Manager for Kansas City Power & Light. Prior to joining KCP&L, she served as Vice President of Member Services and Strategic Initiatives for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for over 15 years. A life-long resident Kansas City, Mrs. McMurrry is active in the Santa Fe Neighborhood Association and has held leadership positions at the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, the Guadalupe Center and Kansas City’s Wet Weather Panel. She holds a bachelor’s from the University of Missouri and a master’s from Central Michigan University.
Commission Member Steve Glorioso is a professional political and media consultant with local, national and international experience. Mr. Glorioso served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Barnes and has served on many City Boards and Commissions including the Commission for Kansas City Tax Reform. Mr. Glorioso received degrees from Villanova University.
Commission Member Donna Wilson Peters is Vice President and General Counsel for Kauffman Scholars, Inc. and previously served in the real estate and public finance departments of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Chicago, Ill and Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus PC in Kansas City. Mrs. Peters served as Secretary and Board Attorney for the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and on the Kansas City Landmarks Commission. She began her career in the office of Congressman Alan Wheat after receiving her bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate from Howard University.
Commission Member Tim Kristl is President of Mitchell, Kristl & Lieber, P. C., a local law firm, and is a former Chair of the Kansas City Tax Increment Financing Commission and Executive Board Member of the Clay County Economic Development Council. Tim earned his Juris Doctor and his bachelors of Business Administration from Notre Dame, and his LL.M. in Taxation from The University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Commission Member James Stacy directs real estate and community relations for DST Systems, Inc. Prior to joining DST, Mr. Stacy was the Founder, President and CEO of MC Lioness Realty and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Robert Esrey and Company. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Mr. Stacy has served as a Regent for Rockhurst University, Board President of the Broadway Westport Council, Vice-Chair of the St. Joseph Health Foundation among other prominent civic boards and associations.
Commission Member Jim Rice is Senior Associate for Planning and Development at Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. Mr. Rice has forty-seven years of government and health care management experience. He served as Executive Assistant to Mayor Berkley after serving at Truman Medical Center and the City Manager’s office in Kansas City. In 1970, Mr. Rice became the first Assistant to the City Council in the history of Kansas City. He served for 23 years as Vice President, Community Affairs for Health Midwest before joining Northland Neighborhoods. Mr. Rice holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
