I have spent my whole life working with my hands. I started out on roofs when I was a young man and learned early that showing up, doing your part, and looking out for your crew matter more than anything else. For most of my life, I have worn a toolbelt. I have worked in the heat of July and the cold wind of January, and I have learned that the only way to get a job done right is to do it together. Those lessons of hard work, accountability, and respect shaped me as a tradesman, a union leader, and now as a candidate for Mayor of Independence.
I grew up here. I went to school here. I raised my family here. Independence is home, and like a lot of working people, I have watched our city change over the years. I have seen our factories close, our downtown lose good businesses, and too many families struggle to stay here. Some of that change has been good. We have strong neighborhoods, a proud history, and people who still look out for one another. But too much of what happens at City Hall feels distant from the lives of the people who make this city run.
I spent decades with Roofers Local 20, serving as Business Manager and fighting for fair wages, safe jobs, and dignity on the work site. In that role, I saw what real leadership looks like. It is not about titles or politics. It is about showing up for your people, keeping your word, and making decisions you can stand by at the end of the day.
That is the kind of leadership Independence needs.
Too many of our buildings sit empty. Families are being squeezed by rising costs. Decisions get made out of sight, and people don’t trust that. When working people feel shut out of government, trust breaks down. Independence deserves leadership that listens, not leadership that hides behind closed doors.
As Mayor, I will focus on rebuilding trust and restoring our city from the ground up. City Hall should be a place where questions get answered, where budgets are clear, and where residents have a real voice. Working people must be at the center of every decision we make. We need policies that grow jobs, strengthen our infrastructure, and make Independence affordable for the next generation.
Our local economy should reward work, not connections. When we invest in skilled trades, small businesses, and public services, we build a stronger foundation for everyone. That is what drives me to run: to make Independence a city where people can build a life, raise a family, and retire with dignity.
When I look around this community, I see potential everywhere. I see it in the apprentices learning their craft, in the teachers guiding our kids, and in the small business owners opening their doors every morning. These are the people who keep Independence alive. They deserve leadership that works as hard as they do.
I am not a politician. I am a tradesman, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. I have spent my life fighting for working families at the bargaining table, on job sites, and in city halls across Missouri. I know what it means to stand shoulder to shoulder and get something done. I’ve been on enough job sites to know that if you don’t look folks in the eye and tell the truth, they will not follow you. That is how progress happens, not through speeches but through teamwork, honesty, and follow-through.
The challenges facing our city are real. So is our determination. We have the determination. We have the know-how. What we need is leadership that believes in us.
I am ready to do the work.
If you believe, like I do, that Independence deserves leadership that shows up, listens, and tells the truth, I invite you to join our campaign. Together, we can build a city that works for everyone.
Kevin King is a lifelong resident of Independence and former Business Manager of Roofers Local 20. He is running for Mayor of Independence in 2026. Learn more about the campaign at KevinKingforMayor.com or follow him on Facebook @KevinKingforMayor
