Wichita City Manager Robert Layton to retire
Longtime Wichita City Manager Robert Layton is retiring at the end of the year, according to a city news release.
His 16-year career in Wichita was book-ended by crises.
Layton joined the city in 2009, leading it through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 crisis. He oversaw city government through a number of projects, including the new Wichita Water Treatment Plant, the new baseball stadium, the Multi-Agency Center and the new Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport.
He also oversees the city’s more than 3,000 employees.
“Throughout our years together, it has been rewarding to support your efforts to build a dynamic city through significant infrastructure development,” Layton said in the city’s release.
Before working in Wichita, Layton also worked in a number of other city governments in the Midwest – including a stint as city manager for Urbandale, Iowa, from 1984 to 2009.
The Wichita City Council will lead a national search for a new city manager.
“I decided to announce my retirement plans early to provide the Mayor and City Council with ample time to select a new City Manager,” Layton said. “I know, however, there is a lot of work yet to be accomplished before the end of the year, and I am committed to working with them, and with you, to get it completed.”
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said in a statement that she appreciated Layton’s years of service.
“This is an amazing opportunity for the right leader, and our next steps will be critical to our city’s future,” Wu said. “It’s my sincere hope the next person in this role will respect taxpayers, focus on improving core services, and work alongside our community to make Wichita the best city to live, work, and raise a family.”
Hiring a city manager requires four votes out of the council’s seven members, and conservatives hold a slim majority, with three Republican council members and a Libertarian mayor who aren’t up for election until 2027.
The timing of Layton’s departure sets up a potential political struggle surrounding the hiring process, as the City Council’s three traditionally Democratic seats — Districts 1, 3 and 6 — are up for grabs in November.
The winners of those races won’t be seated until January 2026.
Council members Maggie Ballard and Mike Hoheisel are running for reelection while Brandon Johnson is term limited.
Layton was hired after a contentious and drawn-out selection process in 2008, when the council attempted to hire a new city manager without an open search process or town-hall style meetings with the community to interview candidates.
The council named one finalist and offered him the job after a secret job search. The candidate, Pat Salerno, signed a contract and then reneged at the last minute, re-starting the manager search.
Layton emerged as a finalist later that year and was selected by a 4-3 vote, with council members Jim Skelton, Paul Gray, Jeff Longwell and Sharon Fearey voting to hire him. Former Mayor Carl Brewer and council members Sue Schlapp and Lavonta Williams voted against hiring him; their preferred pick was former Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM.