Thomas Geraghty became the newest member of the Mission City Council Wednesday night, replacing Jason Vaughn who resigned the Ward 1 seat to move outside the city.
Geraghty is a retired plastic and reconstructive surgeon who practiced in the Kansas City area since 1978. He has lived in Mission for 50 years and spent the last 36 years in the same house at 5914 W. 51st St. Geraghty, 69, said he retired from his medical practice last summer after 37 years, giving him the time to dedicate to the council position.
“I decided I need to do something for my city,” Geraghty said. “It’s my home. I want it to be successful.”
Geraghty also is the retired Chairman of Medical Aid for Children of Latin America, a charitable foundation which he founded. He is current president of the Kansas University Medical School Alumni Board.
Besides his medical practice, Geraghty also was a clinical professor of plastic surgery and was co-founder of the Kansas City Plastic Surgery Society.
Geraghty is a graduate of Bishop Miege, KU and the KU medical school.
Mayor Steve Schowengerdt said Geraghty was selected by a committee that included Council President Debbie Kring, Ward 1 Councilor Pat Quinn and City Administrator Laura Smith along with himself. The appointment was ratified unanimously by the council.
Vaughn began his term in February 2015, taking over for Steve Lucas who also resigned because of a move out of the city. Geraghty’s term runs to January 2018. The seat will be up for election in November 2017.
