Mike Padilla
Mike Padilla | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Topeka | |
| In office January 4, 2022 – January 6, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle De La Isla |
| Succeeded by | Spencer Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1948 or 1949 (age 76–77) Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Washburn University (BA) |
Michael Padilla (born 1948/1949)[1] is an American politician who served as the mayor of Topeka, Kansas from 2022 to 2026. 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
[edit]Padilla is a second-generation Mexican American.[2] 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.[3]
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,[4] 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.[3][2]
Padilla was elected to Topeka's city council to represent District 5 in 2017.[5] In January 2021, the members of the Topeka City Council elected Padilla as deputy mayor.[6] After mayor Michelle De La Isla decided not to run for reelection in 2021, Padilla announced his candidacy for mayor.[2] Padilla defeated Leo Cangiani in the non-partisan election with 60.9% of the vote (9,209 to 5,862) on November 2.[5] He was sworn in as mayor on January 4, 2022.[7] Padilla chose not to seek re-election to a second term.[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ Hrenchir, Tim (October 28, 2017). "2017 Voters Guide: Mike Padilla Bio". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Mike Padilla is running for mayor of Topeka. Here are his priorities". Cjonline.com. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ Bickley, Madison (February 25, 2025). "Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla announces he won't seek re-election". WIBW. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- 1940s births
- 21st-century mayors of places in Kansas
- American municipal police officers
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- Hispanic and Latino American city council members
- Hispanic and Latino American mayors
- Kansas city council members
- Kansas Democrats
- Law enforcement officials from Kansas
- Living people
- Mayors of Topeka, Kansas
- Washburn University alumni