There appears to be some confusion in your question. Based on available information, Doug Gerber has not been associated with the city manager position in Mission, Kansas. Instead, Doug Gerber is known for his roles in other Kansas cities, most notably as the former city manager of Shawnee, Kansas, and currently as the assistant city manager and finance director in Edwardsville, Kansas. Mission, Kansas, has its own distinct city leadership, and there is no record of Doug Gerber serving as city manager there. Below, I’ll provide a detailed overview of Doug Gerber’s career and clarify his connection (or lack thereof) to Mission, Kansas.
Who is Doug Gerber?
Doug Gerber is a Kansas native with a long career in municipal government administration. Born in Newton, Kansas, he graduated from Kansas State University, initially pursuing a chemistry major before switching to public administration after discovering his passion for local government. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles in Kansas cities and the private sector, earning a reputation as an experienced municipal administrator.
Career Highlights:
- Early Career:
- Gerber served as city manager in smaller Kansas communities, including Goodland and Beloit, where he gained experience in managing city operations and budgets.
- Topeka Roles:
- From 2014 to 2020, Gerber worked for the City of Topeka. He started as the Financial and Administrative Services Director and later became Deputy City Manager. In 2016, he briefly served as Interim City Manager with a base salary of $175,000, filling the role after Jim Colson’s departure until a permanent manager was hired.
- His tenure in Topeka ended in 2020 when his position, along with two others, was eliminated due to budget cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Private Sector:
- After leaving Topeka, Gerber joined JEO Consulting Group, a Midwestern planning firm, where he worked as a consultant for municipalities across Kansas until early 2023.
- Shawnee City Manager (March 2023 - November 2023):
- Gerber was unanimously appointed as Shawnee’s city manager in February 2023 and sworn in on March 27, 2023, replacing Nolan Sunderman, who resigned in late 2022. His base salary was $190,000, plus perks like relocation expenses.
- Shawnee, a city in Johnson County, Kansas, appealed to Gerber due to its reputation for good finances and manageable size—large enough to be interesting but small enough to make a personal impact.
- His tenure was cut short by a controversy in late 2023. In September 2023, an anonymous third party emailed a sexually explicit video of Gerber to multiple Shawnee city employees. The video, which Gerber did not send himself, sparked outrage when it emerged he hadn’t informed the city council of the incident. After the Kansas City Star reported on it in November 2023, the council placed him on paid administrative leave on November 1, 2023, and fired him with cause on November 13, 2023, citing his failure to disclose the incident. No severance was paid due to the "for cause" termination clause in his contract.
- Gerber’s wife, Michele, claimed the family was targeted by a “criminal scam” related to the video, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was reportedly investigating, though no public resolution has been confirmed.
- Edwardsville, Kansas (2024 - Present):
- In February 2024, Gerber was hired by Edwardsville, Kansas, as a public management consultant. By April 2024, he was appointed Assistant City Manager and Finance Director. Edwardsville City Manager Mark Mathies praised Gerber’s extensive experience in municipal finance and consulting, noting his skills aligned with the city’s needs. Edwardsville, a smaller city near Shawnee in Johnson County, offered Gerber a fresh start after the Shawnee scandal.
Connection to Mission, Kansas
Mission, Kansas, is a separate city in Johnson County, distinct from Shawnee and Edwardsville. As of April 5, 2025, there is no evidence that Doug Gerber has ever worked in Mission, Kansas, or held the city manager position there. The current city manager of Mission is Laura Smith, who has been in the role for several years and oversees a team responsible for the city’s operations, including special projects and public works. Job openings and administrative updates for Mission are regularly posted on the city’s official website (missionks.org), and none mention Doug Gerber.
It’s possible your question intended to ask about Doug Gerber’s general career in relation to city manager roles in Kansas, or perhaps conflated Mission with another city like Shawnee, which is nearby. If you meant a different "Doug Gerber" or a specific event in Mission, no such information aligns with the known public record.
Is Doug Gerber Currently a City Manager?
No, Doug Gerber is not currently a city manager. As of April 5, 2025, he serves as the Assistant City Manager and Finance Director in Edwardsville, Kansas, a role subordinate to the city manager, Mark Mathies. His last city manager position was in Shawnee, ending in November 2023.
Summary
Doug Gerber has had a notable career in Kansas municipal government, marked by significant achievements and a high-profile controversy. While he has worked in several Kansas cities, including Shawnee and Edwardsville, there is no record of him being involved with Mission, Kansas, as a city manager or otherwise. If you have a specific reason for linking him to Mission, feel free to clarify, and I’ll adjust the response accordingly!
