Kansas City has a lot on its plate right now: deciding who will be the next chief of KCPD and getting voter support for a plan to rebuild KCI, among many hot topics.
"I certainly know the challenges we are faced with in Kansas City," Third District Councilman Jermaine Reed says.
Reed sat down exclusively with 41 Action News the day he announced his candidacy for mayor, telling us he wants to be at the helm for these decisions.
He hopes to replace Mayor Sly James in 2019.
Reed's main priorities:
"One of them is public safety and the quality of our neighborhoods, and of course a good education for their children. We want to make sure that we're listening to them, and also developing key priorities for our citizens as we go through the campaign," Reed said.
Reed was born and raised in Kansas City, delved into politics at an early age, and is now on his second term as councilman.
At just 32, he says his youth will be an asset in building on the city's momentum.
"My entire life for the most part has been well-documented in the newspaper and in the press throughout this community, and I know the rigors it takes," Reed said.
He expects the next mayor will be extensively involved in the construction and planning of a new KCI single terminal. The city is following up on a proposal from Burns & McDonnell to fund it. Reed is on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
In the next few weeks he says he'll launch a listening tour to get feedback from residents in the 48 neighborhoods he represents, and across the city.
"This is important. As we build on the next steps of the future of the city, it's important we're listening to each other and not talking at each other. That's what I want to be able to do," Reed said.
Reed says he plans a launch party for June 13.
To learn more about Jermaine Reed’s campaign, visit jermainereed.com.
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