City of Wichita Government Relations Director Mike Taylor is leaving his job at City Hall for a newly created management position with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City Kansas. Taylor will be doing government and public relations, legislative lobbying and public information for Kansas City and Wyandotte County.
Taylor, 47, joined the City of Wichita in 1995. His duties include media relations, crisis communications, lobbying the Kansas Legislature on behalf of City issues and advising the City Manager, Mayor and City Council on community issues.
Taylor played key roles in several major projects including the Fair Fares campaign which lowered airfares at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, the battle for fair and equitable electric rates which is saving Wichita residents and businesses $50-million a year, and helped secure $100-million in state, federal and private funding for the Central Rail Corridor.
“The work at Wichita City Hall has been challenging and rewarding. Now I have the opportunity to serve the citizens of another Kansas community which is also accomplishing amazing things on behalf of its citizens,” Taylor said. “It’s is an opportunity I was not looking for, and in fact, one I initially turned down, but the more I learned about the exciting things happening in Wyandotte County and the more I talked with County Administrator Dennis Hays and his staff, I realized what great opportunity it really is.”
“As I leave the City of Wichita organization and move away from my hometown, I sincerely hope my colleagues at City Hall and citizens across Wichita believe I served them well and helped accomplish some things which will continue to benefit the community long after I am gone,” Taylor said.
Before joining the City of Wichita in 1995, Mike spent 15 years at KAKE-TV. He was Senior Reporter, covering government and politics. Prior to that, he worked for KWCH-TV, KFH Radio and NPR. He has reported for ABC News as well, covering the Oklahoma City bombing, the Andover tornado and the visit of Boris Yeltsin to Kansas. Mike has a degree in Journalism from Wichita State University and has completed advanced coursework at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St Petersburg, Florida.
Taylor’s last day will be September 5. The City of Wichita wishes him well in his future endeavors.