Lauren Wolf, who had filed to run for the council position being vacated by Michael Kelly in Prairie Village’s Ward 3, has announced that she will not actively campaign and instead is throwing her support behind Eric Mikkelson, who also has filed for the seat.
Since the filing deadline has passed, Wolf cannot officially withdraw her name from the ballot. She says that she and Mikkelson have met and “want the exact same things for Prairie Village.” The two met recently through mutual friends and talked about the council race.
“I think he is the best choice for our ward,” she said today. “We have the same goals.” She said Mikkelson has the experience that the city needs right now and it does not make sense to have the voters choose between two candidates with the same vision. Wolf hopes to become actively involved in Prairie Village, though, and will try to get on a city committee and look for other opportunities to engage. She is likely to consider a run for office in the future, she said.
Like Mikkelson, Wolf is an attorney. She is an associate at Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, where she has worked since moving to the Kansas City area in 2010. She has lived in Prairie Village since 2013 when she purchased her first home.
Wolf had articulated four goals in her council run: advocating smart, responsive, transparent government; maintaining a safe community by supporting public works and police and partnerships with schools, other cities and community groups; promoting forward-thinking development while maintaining the city’s unique culture and identity; providing a fresh approach to expansion and rejuvenation of parks, community events, recreation facilities and city beautification.
Wolf grew up in Wichita and has a bachelor’s from Kansas State and a law degree from the University of Iowa. She worked as an intern in the city manager’s office in Paducah, KY and worked on campaigns for Paducah’s current mayor.
She is involved in Vitas Hospice and Hope House Young Professionals.
