Kay Barnes delivers a brief speech after being sworn in as temporary Jackson County executive at the Jackson County Courthouse on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City’s first female mayor is officially back in the local political arena, though just temporarily, after voters overwhelmingly decided to oust former Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. at the ballot last week.
And while she seems to be trying to steer clear of some of the county’s most contentious debates during her brief tenure at its helm, she’s shown an early willingness to weigh in on at least one of its biggest: the future of its stadiums, the debate over which White had attributed as the primary reason for his recall.
Former Mayor Kay Barnes was sworn in as temporary Jackson County Executive Wednesday afternoon during a brief ceremony in the county legislative chambers, where she said that she would support keeping the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and moving the Royals to Washington Square Park in downtown Kansas City.
Barnes, 87, said she is aware she will be unable to enact significant changes during her time in the executive office but hopes to provide stability to the seat and legislature anyway.
“I hope, in a way, that I can be a resource for whomever,” Barnes said. “In terms of the complex issues the county is facing. I certainly do not see myself taking on any kind of strong initiative on any of those. I’m certainly willing to be part of discussions.”
Stadiums stance
Barnes said that her position on the Chiefs and Royals and the future of their stadiums has been “consistent and public” for at least two decades.
“I want the Chiefs,” Barnes said. “My personal wish is that they stay at Arrowhead and they develop that complex in any ways they choose, obviously working closely with Jackson County.
“I am in favor, as I have been, as I said, for 20 years, for the Royals to be in the greater downtown area. I personally believe the Washington Square Park location is an excellent one. So I hope to see both of those initiatives moving forward.”
Earlier this week, Legislative Chair DaRon McGee concurred on trying to keep the Chiefs in place but warned that a move to Washington Square Park for the Royals could eliminate too much “green space” downtown.
“I don’t know that I’ll be intersecting with any past issues, but I certainly want to be a force moving forward to solidify important relationships,” Barnes said.
In 2024, Jackson County voters soundly rejected a 30-year sales tax that would have helped pay for Royals and Chiefs stadiums, which White publicly opposed.
“After that tax failed, then everyone said it was Frank White’s fault,” White told The Star before the recall vote.
In the past year, future stadium funding debates have extended across the metro, inspiring a “border war” over incentive packages from the Kansas and Missouri state legislatures. The Royals are reportedly considering sites in Clay and Johnson counties in addition to Jackson County.
‘A proven leader’
Barnes’ tenure as mayor was marked by a period of massive downtown development in Kansas City. Her administration spearheaded development of the city’s urban core, shaping the Power and Light District and encouraging creation of new homes.
Her time as county executive is set to be somewhat less productive, with Barnes saying she expects to hold the seat for a couple weeks at most.
Barnes said she did not interact with White almost at all during his term as county executive and that she did not have a strong awareness of the ongoing dynamics among the executive staff. She also said explicitly that she does not plan to get involved at all with anything related to property tax assessment, valuation or collection as temporary county executive.
She said that she thinks her reputation as a team player will lend strength to the legislature until an interim county executive is sworn in.
The ceremony took place just a few hours after the Kansas City Election Board certified the results of last week’s recall election.
Voters recalled White, who had been county executive since 2016, in a landslide election last week but remained technically in his seat until local election boards finalized the results.
Barnes will hold the post for up to 30 days, during which the Jackson County Legislature is tasked with finding a new interim executive and approving them through majority vote. Per the county charter, if the majority of the nine-person legislature cannot agree on a candidate, a Jackson County judge will appoint a county executive instead.
Barnes’ successor will serve until January 1, 2027, at which point a county executive elected in November 2026 will begin a standard four-year term.
McGee described Barnes’ temporary appointment as “a reminder that government is bigger than any one person.” He described the former Kansas City mayor’s leadership style as steady and fair, with a deep respect for public service.
“It’s about the trust we hold on behalf of the people we serve,” McGee said. “During times of transition, the trust must be strengthened, not shaken, and today, we are proud to welcome a proven leader to guide us forward.”