Kay Barnes

Kay Barnes
Acting Jackson County Executive
In office
October 8, 2025 – October 16, 2025
Preceded byFrank White
Succeeded byPhil LeVota (interim)
52nd Mayor of Kansas City
In office
April 10, 1999 – May 1, 2007
Preceded byEmanuel Cleaver
Succeeded byMark Funkhouser
Personal details
BornBeverly Kay Cronkite
(1938-03-30) March 30, 1938
PartyDemocratic
SpouseFrank Barnes
Alma materUniversity of Kansas,
University of Missouri–Kansas City
OccupationSenior Director for University Engagement at Park University
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Kay Waldo Barnes (born March 30, 1938) is an American politician who served as Mayor of Kansas City from 1999 to 2007. She was the first woman to be elected to the office and was elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.

She was the Democratic nominee for Missouri's 6th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in 2008, but lost to incumbent Republican Congressman Sam Graves in a landslide.

In 2025, following the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White, Barnes was appointed by Jackson County Legislature Chair DaRon McGee as the acting County Executive, effective October 8, 2025, and served until an interim County Executive was selected to serve out the remaidner of White's term on October 16.