Wichita’s Troy Anderson to become city manager of KC suburb
Wichita Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson has a new job: city manager of Independence, a suburb of Kansas City in Missouri.
Anderson had been a finalist for city manager roles in Sarasota, Florida, and Davenport, Iowa, but was not chosen for either job.
He will begin work in Independence on April 13. He will be formally appointed incoming city manager at the March 16 meeting of the Independence City Council.
Anderson was one of 36 candidates from 17 states to apply for the city manager position, including four finalists, according to the city of Independence.
In a statement released Friday, outgoing Independence Mayor Rory Rowland described Anderson as “the right choice at the right time.”
“Independence is turning plans into progress across every part of our community, and his experience gives us exactly the kind of steady, capable leadership needed to carry that work forward,” Rowland said.
Anderson has been assistant city manager in Wichita since 2022. He helped administer Wichita’s $750-million-plus annual budget, and served on the city’s Capital Improvement Committee, which oversaw a $3 billion capital improvement program.
“Independence feels like home,” Anderson said Friday. “From the City’s rich history to its many assets and significant projects underway, Independence is primed for real growth in the years ahead. I’m excited to be part of what’s coming next.”
Throughout his time in local government, Anderson has focused on attracting businesses and revitalizing commercial areas in the cities he’s served, which made him stand out for the role, according to the city.
“We are at a turning point as a city,” said Council Member At-Large Bridget McCandless, who chaired the City Manager Recruitment Committee and is also running for mayor. “We have momentum economically, structurally, and in our neighborhoods. Troy’s track record in planning and redevelopment will help us turn this momentum into lasting growth.”
To hire Anderson, McCandless and the recruitment committee worked with SGR, a national executive search firm specializing in local government hires.
Independence’s former city manager of nine years, Zach Walker, announced in July 2025 that he would be leaving the city to become city manager of Bloomington, Minnesota, in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Wichita’s Troy Anderson to become city manager of KC suburb."
