Merriam’s – and JoCo’s – First Black Mayor Passes Away
Published on March 31, 2023
Merriam’s former mayor, Carl Wilkes, passed away this week. He was 80 years old.
Wilkes was a public servant for more than 40 years. Merriam residents elected him as the first African-American mayor in Johnson County in 2001, winning the election by two votes. He was sworn in as the 10th mayor in Merriam and served two terms, from 2001-2009.
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