Election day is almost upon us — so while we work on our upcoming ballot run-down, we figured it was time to introduce a new series focused on local government. Up first: City Council.

In this guide, we'll break down each position + its affected population, along with how to contact them. To get the most out of this resource, determine your district with this map.

Terms + conditions

While none of Kansas City's 13 councilmembers are on the ballot this year, their responsibilities — adopting ordinances, approving budgets, conducting public hearings, etc. — are integral to your quality of life.

A quick vocabulary lesson before we dive in:

Mayor | You know this one. This person is the chief elected official of the city and de facto council president. They are tasked with appointing members to committees, advisory boards + commissions, along with signing City Council-authorized ordinances and bonds.

Mayor Pro Tem | If for any reason the mayor can't perform the job, this sitting City Councilmember has been pre-approved by the committee to serve in their absence. TLDR: the mayor's official substitute.

Councilmember | This position is reserved for those elected by constituents in their home district.

Councilmember At Large | These folks are elected by the entire population of Kansas City, not just constituents in their home district.

Meet the members

From left, follow the list below to match the name with the smiling face. | Photos via City of Kansas City

Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Quinton Lucas

District 1

Kevin O'Neill, Councilmember at Large
Nathan Willett, Councilmember

District 2

Lindsay French, Councilmember at Large
Wes Rogers, Councilmember

District 3

Melissa Patterson Hazley, Councilmember at Large
Melissa Robinson, Councilmember

District 4

Crispin Rea, Councilmember at Large
Eric Bunch, Councilmember

District 5

Darrell Curls, Councilmember at Large
Ryana Parks-Shaw, Mayor Pro Tem

District 6

Andrea Bough, Councilmember at Large
Johnathan Duncan, Councilmember

Each councilmember's page has more than just a bio — along with information on how to reach out through email or phone, you can also find special resources like district-wide newsletters (we know you love those).