Hays Post

WICHITA — The League of Kansas Municipalities presented the 2017 E.A. Mosher Excellence in Local Government award on September 18 to Kim Thomas, Mayor of Stockton. The award was presented as part of the League’s Annual Conference, Sept. 16 to 18 in Wichita.

Mayor Thomas is the 17th recipient of the E.A. Mosher Award. She was honored for her decades of public service to the City of Stockton and the surrounding community. As Mayor, Thomas has been involved in numerous initiatives to provide quality infrastructure in the community, develop economic opportunities, increase energy efficiency and add affordable housing stock within the city.

Ms. Thomas has served as Mayor since 2003 and has an extensive list of civic accomplishments including the development of a community swimming pool, construction of a new water treatment plant, new recreational initiatives including tennis courts and a pocket park on Main Street, along with the replacement of electric utility distribution lines.

Mayor Thomas has served on the Board of Directors for numerous statewide organizations including the Kansas Mayors Association, the Kansas Municipal Electric Association, the Kansas Hospital Auxiliary and Kansas Municipal Utilities. On many occasions, she has been called a “peacemaker” and strives for mutual cooperation between various government entities on state and local levels. She just completed a year-long term as President of the League of Kansas Municipalities and has been involved with the League in numerous ways including policy development and advocacy.

Even with a full civic schedule, Mayor Thomas still manages to make time to volunteer as a coach for local softball teams and fulfill her passion for the preservation of history. She has served on the board of the Nicodemus Kansas Historical Society for 26 years and has been active in the Nicodemus Buffalo Soldiers organization.

“Kim is a consummate champion for regional cooperation and consistently seeks to ensure her community is doing what can be done for the betterment of the surrounding area,” said Erik Sartorius, Executive Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities. “Senator Jerry Moran has called her the “Rooks County Peacemaker” for her collaborative approach to community governance. Kim is very deserving of this award.”

She attended Emporia State University and has 9 grandchildren.

The E.A. Mosher award is named in honor of Ernie Mosher. Mr. Mosher served the League as Executive Director from 1960 to 1991 and is one of the most respected individuals in the profession. Ernie was a prominent voice in the Kansas municipal community, with the Kansas legislature, and state municipal leagues across the country. His heart and soul was in local government, and he was a strong advocate of cities’ constitutional Home Rule Authority. He played a key role in the constitutional amendment for Home Rule being adopted by Kansas voters in 1960.

In 2001, the League established the Excellence in Local Government Award to recognize the accomplishments of distinguished leaders in the local government community. In 2009, Ernie Mosher’s name was added to this award. This award is presented annually to an elected or city official who has demonstrated outstanding service to their city, promoted positive intergovernmental relationships, and had an active commitment to the League.

Since 2001, the E.A. Mosher Award has been presented to the following local government leaders:

Mayor Bob Knight, Wichita;
Mayor Carol Marinovich, Kansas City;
Mayor Warren Hixson, Colby;
Mayor Ed Eilert, Overland Park;
Commissioner John Zutavern, Abilene;
Commissioner Richard Jackson, Ottawa;
Commissioner Pat Pettey, Kansas City;
Mayor Don DeHaven, Sedgwick;
Councilmember Diane Linver, Lenexa;
Commissioner Bruce Snead, Manhattan;
Mayor Clausie Smith, Bonner Springs;
Mayor Ken Bernard, Lansing;
Mayor Brad Smiley, Canton;
Mayor Carl Brewer; Wichita;
Mayor Joe Denoyer, Liberal; and
Councilmember Andy Huckaba, Lenexa.

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