Poppa calls it ‘huge accomplishment’

• Poppa was also one of the first openly gay city councilmembers to serve in the area when he was first elected to his Ward 4 seat in 2015.
• “I say this a lot but if you don’t see yourself represented, then you’re not,” Poppa said. “I hope this gives other individuals and youth that are looking to serve their community, looking to be in leadership roles, hope that they can do that as well.”

He advocated for 2014 non-discrimination ordinance

• Poppa first rose to local prominence as one of the leading advocates for a non-discrimination ordinance in Roeland Park that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s recognized protected classes.
• “We want all of our residents, all of our community members to feel proud about living in Roeland Park,” Poppa said. “To be proud that we do represent all and we do respect all people, and try to make this a community where everyone feels welcome.”

Poppa says he plans to run for a full term

• He had to leave his city council seat in order to be appointed mayor, and he said he wants to continue to be part of Roeland Park’s governing body.
• His appointed mayoral term expires in 2024.

Former Mission Woods mayor also openly gay

• The Kansas City Pride Community Alliance board of directors told the Post they were not aware of any openly LGBTQ mayors who had preceded Poppa in the metro area.
• However, Robert Tietze, a former mayor and current councilmember of Mission Woods, reached out to the Post to point out that he also has served as an openly gay man.
• Tietze served as mayor of the roughly 200-person community from 2011 to 2019, guiding Mission Woods to passage of its own LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance.
• Tietze told the Post he thinks it’s “wonderful” that Poppa is in the role leading Roeland Park.

Go deeper: Read about Poppa’s priorities for Roeland Park.