Filing for Office

The Overland Park Governing Body includes the mayor, elected by the city at-large, and 12 councilmembers, elected by wards. Each of the six wards is represented by two councilmembers who serve staggered terms.

All city elected officials serve four year terms. Elections are non-partisan.

Qualifications to file for office:

  • Must be a citizen of the United States.
  • Must be 18 or older and a registered voter of Overland Park.
  • Mayor candidates: Must be an Overland Park resident at the time of filing, and, if elected, for the duration of the term.
  • Councilmember candidates: Must be an Overland Park resident and reside in the ward at the time of filing, and, if elected, for the duration of the term unless removal from the ward is the result of reapportionment.

Filing forms/fees

Candidates must complete the filing forms at City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive:

  • Declaration of Intention - This form must be signed in the presence of the City Clerk and filed in that office during regular business hours. The city will forward a copy of the form to the Johnson County Election Commissioner and the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.
  • Statement of Substantial Interests for Local Office - Each candidate may complete, sign and file this form when filing the Declaration of Intention, or they may complete and return it to the City Clerk's office no later than 10 days after the filing deadline. This form remains in the city's files.

First class cities collect a non-refundable $50 filing fee and $35 report fee in two separate checks:

  • $50 - payable to the election commissioner.
  • $35 - payable to the city and then forwarded to the state treasurer's office.

Candidates also may file by petition, if the petition is signed by 100 qualified electors of the ward or by a number of such qualified electors of the ward equal to not less than 1 percent of the ballots cast in the ward at the last general city election, whichever is less.

  • Filing by Petition - Any candidate may file by petition in lieu of a filing fee. All listed directions must be followed to ensure your petition is valid. After the form is completed and properly signed it must be filed in the City Clerk's Office by the filing deadline. City candidates filing by petition also must pay the $35 report fee.

If elected:

The Governing Body generally attends three City Council meetings per month. Agenda packets are distributed to councilmembers' mailboxes by 5 p.m. the Thursday before the meeting. They also are online.

Councilmembers also serve on goal committees that generally meet once a month. Agenda packets are distributed the Friday before the meeting. They also are online.

The Governing Body does receive compensation:

  • Mayor: $24,000 per year.
  • Council President (elected every April): $14,400 per year.
  • Councilmember: $12,000 per year.
  • Compensation is paid monthly.
  • Travel expenses are reimbursed according to city policy.

More information about filing for office can be found on the Johnson County Election Office Web site.