Independence Elects Kevin King as Next Mayor

King defeats Councilmember Dr. Bridget McCandless with over 60% of the vote.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:36am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a city hall building or mayoral office, with warm light filtering through the windows and deep shadows cast across the facade, capturing a sense of civic duty and community leadership.The election of Kevin King as Independence's new mayor signals a shift in the city's priorities, with a focus on leveraging development to drive economic growth while also addressing core municipal services.Independence Today

In Tuesday's election, Kevin King, the former Roofers Local 20 Business Manager and lifelong resident of Independence, was elected as the city's next mayor. King defeated Independence Councilmember Dr. Bridget McCandless, securing over 60% of the vote.

Why it matters

The mayoral race focused heavily on the city's support for a proposed data center project, which King said he backed as a way to grow the local economy and tax base. King also campaigned on priorities like public safety, infrastructure investment, and restoring public transportation.

The details

King told a local news reporter that he supported the data center project, saying "This is the kind of project Independence needs if we are serious about growing our economy and strengthening our financial future." He also emphasized the need for strong labor agreements, local hiring, and oversight to ensure the project benefits the community. Beyond the data center, King's other priorities include public safety, road and infrastructure improvements, and bringing back public transportation.

  • The election took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Kevin King

The newly elected mayor of Independence, and former Roofers Local 20 Business Manager who campaigned on a platform of economic development, public safety, and infrastructure investment.

Dr. Bridget McCandless

The Independence City Councilmember who was defeated by King in the mayoral election.

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What they’re saying

“This is the kind of project Independence needs if we are serious about growing our economy and strengthening our financial future. The data center brings long-term investment, expands our tax base, and creates opportunity for our city to compete again.”

— Kevin King, Mayor-Elect

“Public safety comes first. That means making sure our police, fire, and emergency services have what they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Beyond that, we need to invest in the basics that people see every day — roads, infrastructure, and neighborhood stability.”

— Kevin King, Mayor-Elect

What’s next

King will be sworn in as the new mayor of Independence in the coming weeks, and will begin working to implement his agenda focused on economic development, public safety, and infrastructure improvements.

The takeaway

Kevin King's election as mayor of Independence signals a shift in the city's priorities, with a focus on leveraging major development projects like the data center to drive economic growth, while also addressing core municipal services and quality of life issues for residents.