Election Day may still be two months away, but as of Friday one Prairie Village ward has officially lost an incumbent — and its constituents can be all but certain of who his replacement will be.
Though he had been absent from council meetings for five months, former mayoral candidate Michael Kelly was still officially one of the two city councilors representing Ward 3 until last week. Kelly, who moved with his fiance to Nova Scotia, Canada, last fall, informed the city via written letter several weeks ago that he was resigning his seat, and that the resignation would be effective Friday, Feb. 7.
With that date passed, Ward 3 is down to a single representative on the council, Andrew Wang. And mayor Ron Shaffer indicated last week that he had no intention of seating a replacement prior to the April election.
As such, current Parks and Recreation committee member and Stinson Leonard Street partner Eric Mikkelson — the only candidate whose name will appear on the Ward 3 ballot — is all but assured to be Kelly’s replacement.
UPDATED: Although Lauren Wolf announced she wouldn’t be seeking the office and that she was supporting Mikkelson in the April election, her name will still appear on the ballot.
