Introducing Quinton Lucas

Quinton’s story begins with a rise from a difficult childhood on Kansas City’s east side, where he lived with his single mother and at times knew homelessness and extreme poverty. However, thanks to his mother’s dedication and Quinton’s own academic prowess, he achieved a scholarship at our very own Barstow School, where he worked hard and achieved high academic honors. Throughout his adolescence, his sister recalls that he always acted with a uniquely mature and intelligent demeanor for his age, which helped him succeed at the Barstow School and set him up for more success at Washington University and Cornell Law School. 

After law school, Quinton spent time representing defendants in the depths of the criminal justice system before taking a job at respected Kansas City law firm German May. He kept busy by volunteering in Kansas prisons where he taught law classes for prisoners before finally following through with his political dreams by running a successful campaign for the Kansas City City Council in 2015. As Quinton was elected to the council in 2015, Mayor Sly James won his 2nd term, allowing the two to come together over the next several years as they worked closely at times, and at times went in different directions. While Sly has embraced numerous tax incentives for new corporate development throughout the city, Quinton has remained more skeptical of corporate handouts and has pushed for meaningful change in regards to his district: the historically segregated and underserved East Side.

As Mayor, Quinton promises to continue to focus on this meaningful change for the troubled communities that he grew up in. Most importantly, Quinton will put forth his best efforts to reduce the vicious cycle of crime which consumes the city’s East Side, earning Kansas City the 5th-highest per capita homicide rate in the United States. Aspects of his plan to address crime include coordinating law enforcement and neighborhood leaders and ensuring law enforcement is diverse and integrated into neighborhoods, in hopes to build a network of trust that many in violent areas have long lacked in the police. 

Still, Quinton has a long road ahead of him in this regard, as his first weeks as mayor saw multiple high-profile murders. However, Quinton is assuredly the most qualified candidate to handle this issue and others, such as affordable housing, thanks to his background and enduring commitment to public service. As such, Kansas City residents are hopeful that meaningful change and competent leadership will characterize Quinton’s term as Mayor of Kansas City.