Steady leadership. Honest conversations. Responsible decisions.
I believe good leadership starts with being honest about the challenges we face listening to the people we serve, doing the homework, and making responsible decision for the long-term health of our community.
I’m proud to serve Independence and look forward to the opportunity to continue the work.
WHAT I BELIEVE
LEADERSHIP ISN’T ABOUT HAVING ALL THE ANSWERS.
It’s about asking good questions, listening to different perspectives, understanding the consequences of our choices, and being willing to make a decision.
These are the principles I try to bring to the job every day:
Face reality.
We can’t solve problems we aren’t willing to acknowledge.
Do the homework.
Good ideas get stronger when we put the numbers and consequences behind them.
Fix the problem - don’t move it.
A solution should still look responsible five and ten years from now.
Listen to everyone. Serve the whole community.
Everyone deserves to be heard. Leadership also means accepting for the decision that follows.
Independence is worth investing in.
Financial responsibility matters because the community we’re working to protect and strengthen matters.
LOOKING AHEAD
THE NEXT CHAPTER ISN’T ABOUT ONE BIG SOLUTION.
It’s about making consistent, responsible decisions that move Independence in the right direction.
There isn't a single project, cut, fee, grant, or development that will determine Independence's future.
It's about making consistent, responsible decisions that add up over time—strengthening our finances, supporting our local economy, taking care of the things we've already invested in, and continuing to build a community where people want to live, work, raise their families, start businesses, and put down roots.
That's the Independence I want us to keep working toward.
A financially sustainable city.
Financial stability gives us choices.
It means being able to provide the services our community relies on, plan beyond the next budget year, respond when something unexpected happens, and invest strategically in the future.
Getting there will require us to keep looking honestly at both sides of the equation: how we spend our resources and how we sustainably pay for the services our community wants and needs.
There won't be one solution. It will take careful budgeting, greater efficiency where we can find it, thoughtful economic development, outside partnerships and funding, appropriate revenues, and sometimes difficult choices.
The goal isn't simply to balance a spreadsheet. It's to build a city government our community can afford for the long term.
A strong local economy.
I want Independence to be a place where someone can start a business, grow a business, find opportunity, and invest with confidence.
That means supporting the businesses already here while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and welcoming responsible new investment.
Economic development also needs to be intentional. Growth isn't a magic solution to every financial problem, and development has costs as well as benefits.
The goal is growth that makes our community stronger: more economic activity, a healthier tax base, good jobs and opportunities, thriving commercial areas, and investment that contributes to the community around it.
Infrastructure we can depend on.
Some of the most important things a city does are things most of us rarely think about—until they stop working.
Streets. Water. Sewer. Sidewalks. Public facilities. Parks. The systems underneath our feet that allow a community to function every day.
Taking care of infrastructure means maintaining what we already have, planning ahead for what we'll need, making smart use of grants and outside funding, and understanding the long-term cost of the investments we make.
Sometimes responsible leadership means building something new.
Sometimes it means taking better care of what we already own.
The important thing is that we're making those decisions intentionally, with an understanding of what our community can sustain over time.
A connected community we're proud to call home.
A financially healthy city isn't enough by itself.
Independence should also be a place where people feel connected—to their neighbors, to local businesses, to community traditions, and to the decisions shaping the place they call home.
Our parks, library, museum, downtown, events, schools, businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and gathering places all contribute to that sense of community.
So does making sure people feel welcome participating in local government—even when they disagree.
I want us to continue building an Independence where people don't simply live here.
They feel like they belong here.
LET’S TALK
YOU DON’T HAVE TO AGREE WITH ME TO TALK TO ME.
Some of the best conversations I’ve had as mayor have been with people who see an issue differently than I do.
As we head toward November, I’d like to have even more of them.
Gather a few friends or neighbors, and I’ll come to you. No formal presentation. No PowerPoint. Just an opportunity to talk about Independence, ask questions, and hear different perspectives.
GET INVOLVED
WANT TO HELP?
Whether you’d like a yard sign, want to volunteer, host a conversation, or contribute to the campaign, I’d be grateful for your support.
I love this community.
Serving as mayor has been one of the most challenging, interesting, and rewarding experiences.
I’ve learned a lot. I’ve listened a lot. I’ve made decisions I know not everyone agrees with.
And I believe deeply in where Independence can go from here.
I’m ready to keep doing the work. In service to our community -
Mayor Kate
Civics 101
Local government affects our everyday lives in countless ways—but understanding how it actually works isn't always easy.
Over the past couple of years, I've heard a lot of thoughtful questions from community members about how decisions are made, where city money comes from, what the roles of the Mayor, City Council and City Manager are, and why the City can—or sometimes can't—do certain things. What I've learned is that people genuinely want to understand their local government, but the information isn't always easy to find or easy to digest.
That's why I created Civics 101.
Contact Me - City Business
Please note: This is my personal website. For official city business, public records requests, or formal communication with the City of Independence, please use the official City of Independence channels to ensure transparency and proper public record documentation. The link below will connect you with my city email.
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