Spencer Duncan sworn in as Topeka mayor; council elects Hofer deputy mayor, opens District 8 application period

Spencer Duncan was sworn in as mayor of the City of Topeka on Jan. 6, taking the oath to support the U.S. and Kansas constitutions and to discharge the duties of mayor for the city.

The council then conducted routine organizational business, approving the consent agenda of street, stormwater, alley and sidewalk projects and a cereal malt beverage application for Doughboys Pizzeria. The council voted 8–0 to carry the consent agenda.

Under city procedures the council held a paper-ballot election for deputy mayor. Councilmember Hofer, who was automatically nominated under the body's rules, received eight votes and was declared deputy mayor. The presiding official noted rules require a written ballot for that election and that the council allowed a remote (Zoom) vote from a member in keeping with a one-time accommodation.

Mayor Duncan outlined priorities for the start of his term, saying he planned to use the early weeks to lay groundwork for the long term. "What you wanna do the first hundred days is make sure that the next 1,400 are successful," he said, adding his intention to work with city staff and other elected officials.

The city clerk announced that the District 8 council seat—vacated upon Duncan’s swearing-in—will be open for applications from Jan. 12 through Jan. 26 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants may file with a $50 fee or submit petitions with 50 signatures of registered voters from District 8; qualifications include being at least 18, a resident of the district, a U.S. citizen and a registered voter. Interview packets will be distributed Jan. 30 and public interviews are planned for Feb. 3, with appointments to fill the seat thereafter.

The meeting ended after brief remarks from several council members and the mayor.

The council’s actions at this meeting were procedural and organizational; no new ordinances were adopted at this session.