One of the greatest challenges of governance is finding a balance between the interests of the community as a whole and those who have a special stake in a particular issue. Citizens that serve on the City’s Boards and Commissions help strike that balance by looking for solutions that work for the entire community. A staff member from the City Clerk’s Department will explain the City’s Boards and Commissions, what they do and how they do it, and how citizens can become involved as a member of one of them.

By State law, cities in Kansas are divided into three classes.

Cities of the 3rd Class - When a city incorporates, it becomes a city of the 3rd class. To incorporate, a city must generally have either 300 inhabitants or 300 or more platted lots served by water and sewer lines. (Shawnee incorporated as a city of the 3rd class on June 10, 1922.)

Cities of the 2nd Class - A city may petition to become a city of the 2nd class when its population is more than 2,000 but less than 15,000. A city whose population is between 2,000 and 5,000 may elect to remain a city of the 3rd class, but must become a city of the 2nd class when it reaches 5,000 population. (Shawnee became a city of the 2nd class on January 29, 1957.)

Cities of the 1st Class - A city may petition to become a city of the 1st class when its population reaches 15,000. A city whose population is between 15,000 and 25,000 may elect to remain a city of the 2nd class but must become a city of the 1st class when it reaches 25,000 population. (Shawnee became a city of the 1st class on October 22, 1971).

The City of Shawnee is divided into four (4) wards, with two (2) Councilmembers elected to represent each ward. The Mayor is elected to serve the City at-large. General City elections are held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. The term of office of members of the Governing Body elected at the City general election shall be four (4) years.

A primary election of City officers will be held on the first Tuesday in August of every odd-numbered year in the event there are more than two (2) candidates for any office. If there are not more than two (2) candidates, there shall be no primary election for such office but the names of the candidate or candidates shall be placed on the general election ballot.

The Mayor is elected at large to serve a four-year term (except for the 2012 election when members of the Governing Body elected will hold three year terms). The Mayor is compensated $16,271.58 annually.

City Council is elected by wards to serve four-year overlapping terms (except for the 2010 and 2013 elections when members of the Governing Body elected will hold three year terms). After every regular City election, the Council elects one of its members to serve as president of the council, who in the absence or disability of the mayor, becomes acting mayor. Councilmembers are compensated $9,615.32 annually.