Bill Bunten

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bill Bunten (born 1930) is a Kansas politician and the current mayor of Topeka, Kansas, having been elected to a four-year term in 2004. Prior to becoming mayor, he served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1962 to 1990 and in the Kansas Senate from 2002 to 2004. He previously ran for mayor in 2001 and in a special election in 2003. Bunten is a Republican.

Bunten was the first mayor to be elected in Topeka under the new council-manager government, which stripped most of the powers of the office of mayor. (Instead, the city council and appointed city manager holds most of the power.) As such, Bunten's role will be limited to leading city council meetings, promoting economic development, and being the "ceremonial head" of the city. He replaced former-mayor James McClinton who did not seek a second term after the powers of the office were reduced.

In 2005, after receiving a letter from a school child, Bunten was alerted to a local law which banned the throwing of snowballs in the city. He has admitted to throwing snowballs himself (an assault charge) and is reported to be getting that portion of the law repealed.