Public welcome organized for newly hired Kansas City, Kansas administrator Monday

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas is planning to introduce newly hired County Administrator David Johnston with a public meet-and-greet Monday.

The public, government staff and elected officials, including Mayor Tyrone Garner, are expected to be on hand as Johnston takes over the UG’s top hired position. It is scheduled to begin after a brief press conference at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Municipal Building at 701 N. 7th Street Trafficway.

On the menu will be light refreshments and a chance to “officially welcome Mr. Johnston to the Dotte,” the UG announced in a news release Wednesday.

Johnston will take the helm from Cheryl Harrison-Lee, the interim County Administrator for the past year.

Johnston is the long-term hire to replace former County Administrator Doug Bach, a controversial figure in Wyandotte County politics who spent eight years in the top spot. Bach retired in late December 2021 under a separation agreement worth about $800,000.

Prior to being picked to lead Wyandotte County government, Johnston was the city manager for Covington, Kentucky, a city of about 41,000 residents. He resigned in June 2021, the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported at the time.