Below is a list of mayors of Topeka, Kansas, compiled based on available historical records up to the current date, April 5, 2025. Topeka was incorporated as a city in 1857, and its mayoral history spans from that time to the present. Note that this list may not include every single mayor due to gaps in historical documentation, especially from the earliest years, but it covers the known mayors, including recent ones.
- Cyrus K. Holliday (1857–1858) - One of the founders of Topeka and the first mayor; also notable as the first president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
- Loring G. Farnsworth (1858–1859)
- Hiram McArthur (1860–1861)
- Alfred L. Winans (1861–1863)
- W. W. Ross (1863–1865)
- George R. Gordon (1865–1867)
- E. R. Roberts (1867–1869)
- John A. Martin (1869–1871) - Later became the 10th Governor of Kansas (1885–1889).
- James B. White (1871–1873)
- George H. Evans (1873–1875)
- Thomas J. Anderson (1875–1877)
- John Q. Adams (1877–1879)
- M. B. Curtiss (1879–1881)
- Hiram P. Ward (1881–1883)
- James H. Hughes (1883–1885)
- A. W. Clark (1885–1887)
- John C. Douglass (1887–1889)
- Isaiah T. Sharp (1889–1891)
- Samuel B. Miles (1891–1893)
- J. R. Mulvane (1893–1895)
- H. L. Reid (1895–1897)
- F. E. Loomis (1897–1899)
- J. M. Carter (1899–1901)
- A. M. Fuller (1901–1903)
- Charles J. Drew (1903–1905)
- William H. Davis (1905–1907)
- Frank L. Martin (1907–1909)
- Charles W. Thompson (1909–1911)
- J. B. Billard (1911–1913)
- George M. Noble (1913–1915)
- H. J. Corwine (1915–1917)
- Earl Akers (1917–1919)
- M. J. O’Meara (1919–1921)
- E. C. Franklin (1921–1923)
- William H. McKeage (1923–1925)
- J. E. Thomas (1925–1927)
- H. C. Gilbert (1927–1929)
- J. H. Boyd (1929–1931)
- O. B. McClintock (1931–1933)
- Harry K. Allen (1933–1935)
- H. M. Harris (1935–1937)
- E. E. Nicholson (1937–1939)
- Frank J. Warren (1939–1941)
- John L. Kennedy (1941–1943)
- C. A. Severson (1943–1945)
- Frank Warren (1945–1947) - Served a second non-consecutive term.
- R. O. Larson (1947–1949)
- James T. Anderson (1949–1951)
- George R. Schnellbacher (1951–1953)
- Fred S. Ellis (1953–1955)
- George Schnellbacher (1955–1957) - Served a second non-consecutive term.
- Paul V. Beck (1957–1959)
- Charles W. Wright (1959–1961)
- Fred H. Menning (1961–1963)
- Vern Miller (1963–1965) - Later became Kansas Attorney General (1971–1975).
- Charles "Chuck" Wright (1965–1969) - Often listed as Chuck Wright to distinguish from the earlier Charles W. Wright.
- William "Bill" McCormick (1969–1973)
- James D. Hauschild (1973–1977)
- Douglas S. Wright (1977–1985)
- William "Bill" Bunten (1985–1991) - Not to be confused with the later Bill Bunten; this is an earlier mayor.
- Butch Felker (1991–1997)
- Joan Wagnon (1997–2001) - Topeka’s first and only female mayor to date.
- Butch Felker (2001–2003) - Returned for a second non-consecutive term; resigned in 2003 due to a scandal.
- Duane Pomeroy (2003–2004) - Acting mayor following Felker’s resignation.
- James McClinton (2004–2005) - Appointed to finish Felker’s term; Topeka’s first African American mayor.
- William "Bill" Bunten (2005–2013) - Different from the earlier William Bunten; served two terms under the new council-manager system.
- Larry Wolgast (2013–2018)
- Michelle De La Isla (2018–2022) - First Latina and single mother to serve as mayor.
- Mike Padilla (2022–present) - Assumed office on January 4, 2022; current mayor as of April 5, 2025.
Notes:
- Topeka’s government structure shifted to a council-manager system in 2005, reducing the mayor’s executive powers and making the role more ceremonial, with a city manager handling day-to-day operations.
- Terms have varied in length historically but are now standardized to four years for elected mayors.
- Some early records are incomplete, and names or dates might have minor discrepancies in less-documented sources.
This list reflects the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available as of today. If you need details about a specific mayor or era, let me know!
