| Mike Padilla | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Topeka | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle De La Isla |
| Member of the Topeka City Council | |
| In office April 2017 – April, 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1948 or 1949 (age 75–76) Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Washburn University (BA) |
Michael Padilla (born 1948/1949) is an American politician who is the mayor of Topeka, Kansas, serving since January 2022. Prior to becoming mayor, Padilla was a member of the Topeka Police Department for 33 years and served one term on Topeka's city council.
Career
Padilla is a second-generation Mexican American. He graduated from Hayden High School and Washburn University. He worked for Adams Business Forms but left the job in 1970 to become a police officer for Topeka's police department.
In 2000, Padilla, then a police captain, ran for sheriff of Shawnee County as a Democrat. He won the Democratic Party's primary election in August, but lost the November general election to the incumbent, Republican Richard Barta. Padilla retired from the Topeka Police Department in 2003 at the rank of major.
Padilla was elected to Topeka's city council to represent District 5 in 2017. In January 2021, the members of the Topeka City Council elected Padilla as deputy mayor. After mayor Michelle De La Isla decided not to run for reelection in 2021, Padilla announced his candidacy for mayor. Padilla defeated Leo Cangiani in the non-partisan election with 60.9% of the vote (9,209 to 5,862) on November 2. He was sworn in as mayor on January 4, 2022.
References
- Hrenchir, Tim (October 28, 2017). "2017 Voters Guide: Mike Padilla Bio". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ "Mike Padilla is running for mayor of Topeka. Here are his priorities". Cjonline.com. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "2017 voters guide: Mike Padilla bio". Cjonline.com. October 29, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- "Meneley Loses Comeback Bid". Council Grove Republican. August 2, 2000. p. 1.
- ^ "Mike Padilla defeats Leo Cangiani for Topeka mayor". Cjonline.com. November 2, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- "Councilmember Mike Padilla elected deputy mayor by Topeka City Council".
- "Mike Padilla sworn in as new Topeka Mayor | KSNT 27 News". Ksnt.com. January 4, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byMichelle De La Isla | Mayor of Topeka 2022–present |
Incumbent |