Quinton Lucas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quinton Lucas
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Lucas in 2021
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| 55th Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Assumed office August 1, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Sly James |
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| Born | August 19, 1984 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Katherine Carttar |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Washington University in St. Louis (A.B.) Cornell Law School (J.D.) |
Quinton Donald Lucas (born August 19, 1984) is an American politician and lawyer. On August 1, 2019, he became the 55th mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. He was the city's third African-American mayor and one of its youngest ever. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Lucas grew up in a poorer part of Kansas City. He sometimes faced challenges like not having a permanent home. He earned a scholarship to a private high school because of his excellent grades. He later went to Washington University in St. Louis and Cornell Law School. He became a law professor at the University of Kansas School of Law.
In 2015, he was elected to the Kansas City Council. As mayor, Lucas has focused on making the city safer and creating more affordable housing. He also worked on improving roads and buildings. A major project during his time as mayor was the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport. He was first elected mayor in 2019 and won reelection in 2023.
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Early Life and Family
Quinton Lucas was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and was raised by his single mother, Quintanella Lucas. He was the youngest of three children.
When he was young, his family moved around a lot. They lived in Hutchinson, Kansas, for a while before returning to Kansas City. Growing up, his family often struggled with money and sometimes didn't have a stable place to live.
Even with these challenges, Lucas was a very focused student. His family nicknamed him "the professor" because he loved to learn. He was so responsible that he would sometimes use his own money to buy groceries for his family. He also encouraged his mother to become a voter. His mother said he was a fair-minded child who cared about people from all walks of life.
Education
In third grade, Lucas received a scholarship to attend The Barstow School, a private school in Kansas City. A scholarship is an award that helps pay for school. He did very well and became class president.
After high school, he went to Washington University in St. Louis. While in college, he studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. There, he learned about the effects of apartheid, a system of racial segregation. This experience helped him understand inequality and inspired him to work in public service.
Lucas then attended Cornell Law School to get his law degree, which is called a Juris Doctor (J.D.). His classmates chose him to be the speaker at their graduation ceremony in 2009. He was also an editor for the Cornell Law Review, a respected legal journal.
Career Before Becoming Mayor
Law and Teaching
After law school, Lucas worked as a law clerk for a judge on a federal court. He then worked as a lawyer for a private law firm in Kansas City. At the same time, he volunteered to teach law to inmates at a prison in Kansas.
In 2012, the University of Kansas School of Law hired him as a professor. He continued to teach there even after he started his political career.
Kansas City Council
In 2015, Lucas decided to run for the Kansas City Council. He won the election for the 3rd district-at-large seat.
On the council, he helped create a plan to repair roads and bridges. He also supported the project to build a new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport. He worked to make it easier for businesses to grow in the city's poorer neighborhoods. Lucas also focused on creating more affordable housing for people in Kansas City.
Mayor of Kansas City
First Election in 2019
In 2019, Lucas ran for mayor of Kansas City. His campaign focused on important issues like reducing crime and making housing more affordable. He won the election on June 18, 2019.
He was sworn in as the 55th mayor on August 1, 2019. While serving as mayor, he continued to teach law at the University of Kansas. His students enjoyed having a sitting mayor as their teacher.
Time as Mayor
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As mayor, Lucas has worked on many important issues for Kansas City.
- Public Safety: In 2020, he announced a plan to reduce violence in the city. The plan included working with community groups and providing mental health services.
- Housing: He has supported policies to create more affordable housing. In 2020, he helped pass a rule to give legal help to people who were at risk of being evicted from their homes.
- City Improvements: He oversaw the completion of the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport, which opened in February 2023.
- Social Policies: In 2020, he supported removing the name of J. C. Nichols from a city fountain and parkway. Nichols was known for creating housing rules that were unfair to people of certain races. Lucas also supported making Kansas City a safe place for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care.
Reelection in 2023
Lucas ran for a second term as mayor in 2023. He campaigned on his successes from his first term. These included the new airport terminal and his work on affordable housing.
On April 4, 2023, he won the primary election with over 81% of the vote. He was reelected in the general election on June 20, 2023, with over 80% of the vote. His second term as mayor began on August 1, 2023.
Personal Life
Lucas is a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. He enjoys watching all of Kansas City's sports teams.
On April 9, 2021, he married his longtime partner, Katherine Carttar. They have two sons. Their first son, Bennett, was born in April 2021. Their second son, Quinton Carttar, was born in June 2024.
See also
- List of mayors of Kansas City, Missouri
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
