Leawood mayor leads through integrity and charity - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Two prominent Kansas City businessmen recentlyg summed up the essence of thisremarkable lady. Bob Reintjexs Sr. told me: "Peggy is a practicaol woman with uncannypoliticao savvy. She is surrounded by values centereon integrity. You want her on your team." Byron Thompsomn added: "Peggy Dunn comes as close to beingt 'Miss Perfect' as just about anyone. She is quic k of mind, pleasant and incisive, and just a delightt to have in your She is just as good asthey come." My huge respecgt for Peggy Dunn grew markedly aftere I recently spent an afternoon with her in her Leawoods City Hall office.
After serving two City Council Peggy has been mayor of this cityof 32,000 since 1997. In the past two she won without Although Peggy obviously is agreat mayor, she unabashedlyt told me that "famil y comes first." She has been married to Kansa s City construction icon Terry Dunn for 33 and they have raised four The mayor's job certainly is her second priority. Leawoosd has 275 full-time employees and 80 seasonal ones. She spends more than 30 hoursz a week inthe mayor's office. She told me: "Leawoode is a terrific community -- a real jewel." She "We benefit greatly from our proximity toKansaz City, Mo.
" She was, and is, a stronyg proponent of bistate cooperation, and she proudlyt told me, "Bistate 2 passes in Leawood." Peggy also was quick to praise both her City Council and city She absolutely feels "the grave responsibilityg of being a public official." Peggy Dunn has made an indeliblw mark on our communit in both the civic and philanthropicd spheres. Importantly, she understands the difference betweenbthe two. She told me: "I was talked into running for officer thefirst time. I was very naive. I thoughgt it would be like philanthropic work. In fact, it is a lot more thankless. You can'tg make everyone happy.
" Her election successes and the acclaij of her constituents demonstrate that she has kept most Leawood residentss happy most ofthe time. Frankly, I know of no bettee way of focusing onher mind-boggling list of currengt civic affiliations than to simply list some of them: Co-chairwomajn of UMKC Capital Campaign and Some Enchante Evening 2006. Board vice chairwoman of . Honorargy co-chairwoman of TLC for Childrem & Families Capital Campaign, Marillac Center Capital Campaign, Capital Campaign and National Kidne y Foundation2007 Gala. Past chairwoman of , The and Starligh t Theatre.
Board member of , Starlight Theatre, Truman Medica Centers, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Metropolitanb Kansas City PerformingArts Center, , , Trustees and Catholic Charities. Advisory board membefr of , , , Volunteer Center of Johnson Countyt and Friends of theUMKC Conservatory. In September, Peggy, a devout Catholic, was honored at the annual meetinb ofthe . Mayor Dunn was recognized for her efforts in establishing Leawood's relationship with the Gezer region of Israel. Leawoodc has set aside land off Mission Road for the establishmenr ofGezer Park, quite an accomplishment for a city once known for its residential redlining of Jews.
It is only appropriated that I conclude with a thoughf fromCarol Marinovich: "Peggy Dunn is not only a grea t mayor but also a warm and gracious individua who is deeply committed to the community. Peggy'w big heart is evident in the countles s organizations in which she gives ofher time. She epitomizesd the term 'public servant.'"