Mayor Bob Pape

Why did you join City Council? 

I have lived in Merriam since 1966. I grew up in this city and worked for the City’s fire department for 38 years. I love serving this community. I have seen many positive changes over the years, and, when I retired, I decided that I wanted to continue shaping its future. It seemed that joining the City Council would afford me that opportunity. 

What are your goals for the City?

My goal is to leave the City better off than when I started. I would like to see the old Kmart site redeveloped into something we can all be proud of. I would like to see both sides of the Shawnee Mission Corridor from Antioch to I-35 redeveloped. I want to see downtown Merriam Drive redeveloped and the entire Merriam Drive corridor from Merriam to KCK be more uniform in nature; allowing for all modes of transportation. 

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

I consider myself an automotive enthusiast, which was instilled upon me by my dad at a very early age.