New Peabody mayor looks for a new direction
Staff writer
The town of Peabody will have a new mayor in a little more than six weeks, and he promises change and a new direction.
Kevin Burke, who has served on the Peabody City Council the last two years, soundly defeated incumbent Mayor Catherine Weems Nov. 4.
Burke does not think the city was heading in the right direction with Weems serving as mayor.
“I thought the town needed different leadership,” he said in explaining why he ran for mayor.
“I want to pull the city together. It will be a task, but it can be done.”
Infrastructure and affordable housing are at the front of his agenda.
Burke, a lifelong resident and fifth generation of Peabody, did not see the city doing anything to resolve these issues.
With more housing, infrastructure and a better economy the town could attract people living in Newton and Wichita to Peabody.
He wants the council to make decisions that impact the future of Peabody still happening 50 years later.
To accomplish his goals Burke wants to develop a long-term plan, as some needs cannot be done immediately.
While the official canvassing of votes is not official yet, Burke said he met with the two write-in candidates who appeared to have secured council seats and thinks they will work together.
He said with him and two new council members it will give the town a new slate.
“The biggest thing for me is to be informative,” he said. “I feel like we have been neglected.”
The people on council do not have all of the answers, so they need to rely on professionals to do that work for them, Burke said.
“The town needs experienced council members,” he said. “We have got to learn to get along with people.”
Some things have been overlooked, he said.
Under his leadership he promised the treasurer report the town has not been publishing in the local paper for at least nine consecutive years will not happen again.
“The public needs to know the people they elected are doing things the right way,” he said.
Burke also said he has gotten to know the city auditor —- the Loyd Group — pretty well which will help with Kansas statutes being followed.
“I believe they will steer us in the right direction, but we need to heed the information they are telling us,” he said. “There are things we can do, that I think we can.”
Burke worked in the trucking industry for 30 years and the water and sewer in Peabody for seven years.