City leaders appoint new Deputy Mayor of Topeka
TOPEKA (KSNT) - The City of Topeka has a new Deputy Mayor.
At Tuesday's city council meeting, Topeka leaders voted to appoint District 5 Councilman Brett Kell as new Deputy Mayor for 2025. According to the rules from the governing body, the council member who has served the longest on council and has not previously served as Deputy Mayor is automatically nominated.
According to documents from the council's agenda, the Deputy Mayor serves a one-year term, stepping in to fill the "absence or temporary disability" of the mayor. District 1 Councilwoman Karen Hiller was also nominated for the role as Deputy Mayor.
Six members of the council voted for Kell, and four members voted for Hiller. Below is a list of who have served as Deputy Mayor while serving as council members over the last 10 years:
- 2024: District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala
- 2023: District 7 Councilman Neil Dobler
- 2022: District 8 Councilman Spencer Duncan
- 2021: Former Councilman Mike Padilla
- 2020: Former Councilman Tony Emerson
- 2019: Former Councilwoman Sandra Clear
- 2018: Former Councilman Brendan Jensen
- 2017: Former Councilman Jeff Coen
- 2016: Former Councilwoman Michelle De La Isla
- 2015: Former Councilwoman Karen Hiller
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