The Shawnee City Council on Monday cleared the way for a veteran Kansas City area municipal official and Johnson County native to become the city’s next permanent city manager.
During the city council meeting on Monday night, Mayor Mickey Sandifer formally introduced Paul Kramer as the new city manager.
Kramer is currently the city manager in Leavenworth, Kansas, a position he has held for nearly a decade.
The Shawnee City Council voted unanimously 8-0 to approve a negotiated contract between the city and Kramer.
“Paul is a very qualified individual to come out and hit the ground running with our city,” Sandifer said. “This is what we need at this period in time.”
Kramer beat out some 70 other nominees
For the past nine years, Kramer has served as the city manager for Leavenworth.
According to the Leavenworth city website, before becoming the city manager in Leavenworth, he also served as the assistant city manager and executive director of the Leavenworth Housing Authority.
Sandifer said Kramer’s experience made him stand out from the other candidates.
“He’s been involved with every facet of the city [of Leavenworth],” he said. “(That’s) very useful for our city.”
Kramer has a wife, Shayla Kramer, and three kids and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Master’s in Public Administration.
Kramer is a Johnson County native, SMSD grad
During the city council meeting Monday, Kramer talked about viewing his new role as being part of a team.
“It takes an entire team and I see that team here in Shawnee,” he said. “I see the role of city manager as working alongside staff, this governing body and the residents and businesses to celebrate and preserve the community, the neighborhoods and the character of Shawnee.”
He also talked about his roots in Johnson County, graduating from Shawnee Mission North High School, attending the Old Shawnee Days festival and playing in baseball tournaments at the Mid-America Sports Complex.
“I have fondness for people and places of Shawnee, an appreciation for the history and an excitement for what lies ahead,” he said.
Kramer arrives after a time of turmoil in Shawnee
Kramer will fill the position that was previously held by former city manager Doug Gerber, who was fired in November after a controversy over a sexually explicit video rocked city hall days just before local elections.
Prior to that, then-City Manager Nolan Sunderman resigned in 2022, citing a “different vision” than the city council at that time.
One aspect Sandifer said the council was looking for was stability and longevity, which Kramer proved he had with his previous job, he said.
“This is our chance to move Shawnee forward,” Sandifer said. “We’ve had a little bit of some humps to jump over. I think we’ve smoothed the road over.”
City council seems excited about the hire
Talking with six city councilmembers, a repeating theme emerged about Kramer’s experience and that the council was united in his hiring.
“I feel like he’s very well rounded,” said Councilmember Angela Stiens. “I really feel like he will do great things for Shawnee.”
Councilmember Jacklynn Walters agreed and was happy it was team effort, including the human resources department, who helped vet nominees.
“Coming out with an unanimous decision on a city manager, I think, is huge when you have a very politically divided council,” she said. “I love that he’s a family man, invested in his community and wanting to put roots down here.”
What’s next:
Kramer is expected to formally start his role in Shawnee on April 29.
He will replace interim city manager Doug Whitacre, who will resume his regular duties as Public Works Director.
As City Manager, Kramer will have one year to establish residency in the City of Shawnee as a condition of his employment.
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