Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for De Soto mayor to address leading up to the Nov. 4 election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to De Soto residents.
Each day this week, we’re publishing the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Background: Readers want to know something of your background. Briefly explain your education and employment history and how those experiences qualify you for this job.
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:
Robert Daniels
De Soto isn’t just where I live – it’s where my family chose to build our future nearly 20 years ago. My wife Lisa and I raised our four sons here, all Eagle Scouts and De Soto High School graduates. When my parents followed us to make De Soto their home, it cemented our commitment to this community.
My leadership journey spans more than 25 years of building and running a successful IT and Training company, where I guided organizations through complex technological changes. From training Shawnee Mission School District’s IT staff to working with Hallmark, I’ve helped businesses and individuals across the US and Canada embrace change while managing strategic planning and budgets. Now, as IT Director at Westside Family Church, I continue leading a team of 100 employees through today’s technological challenges.
But leadership isn’t just about business. I’ve served on local and state boards, advocating for small businesses and shaping policies that affect our daily lives. Whether through church activities, Scout leadership, Rotary presidency, Chamber board, or city council, I constantly seek opportunities to serve and improve our community.
What sets me apart is my commitment to engaged leadership. I believe in bringing people together, finding solutions that benefit everyone, and ensuring every voice is heard. Because in De Soto, how we get there matters.
Rick Walker (incumbent)
I am a lifelong De Soto resident and a graduate of De Soto High School and the University of Kansas, where I earned my degree in Civil Engineering. For more than 40 years, I have worked as a professional engineer, specializing in infrastructure design and project management for communities across Kansas and Missouri. That experience has given me a deep understanding of how cities function, how to plan, fund, and deliver essential services efficiently and responsibly.
I married my wife, Monica (McAninch), in 1984, and together we raised our two sons, Luke and Kyle, right here in De Soto. Our family has since grown to include our daughter-in-law, Samantha. Like many families in this community, we have experienced De Soto’s evolution firsthand. We saw the jobs from Sunflower leave the community, we watched as retail activity on Main Street was pulled to strip malls and shopping centers in nearby towns, and now we are seeing the resurgence of our community.
I began serving the De Soto community in 1999, first on the School Board, then on the Planning Commission and City Council, and for the past eight years as Mayor. During that time, I have helped lead our city through record growth, major infrastructure investment, and the uncertainties of the COVID era when steady, fact-based leadership mattered most. My engineering background helps me evaluate complex projects with both technical and financial insight, while my years in public service have reinforced the importance of listening, collaboration, and keeping De Soto’s long-term interests at heart.
