Post updated at 11:38 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7:
Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens has announced his resignation, to take effect in May 2026.
Owens has held the position for about six and a half years. He started in the role on July 1, 2019.
“This decision comes with deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve a community I care deeply about and with confidence in the strength and readiness of our organization,” Owens said in a city news release on Friday.
“Together, we’ve built a foundation rooted in strategic planning, organizational clarity, and a commitment to excellence,” Owens continued. “From achieving national accreditation, establishing much stronger financial and administrative systems, advancing infrastructure and making great strides in housing for all, our collective work has positioned Lawrence for a strong future.”
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Mayor Mike Dever said in the release that he appreciated Owens’ dedication and perseverance in navigating “the many challenges our town has faced during his tenure.
“I look forward to the upcoming search for new leadership and the opportunity to find the right fit to meet our community’s current needs and goals,” Dever continued. “I appreciate his efforts and accomplishments and wish Craig and his family well in the future.”
Owens will support city staff through the transition period over the coming months, according to the release.
“His focus will be on empowering the new Commission, ensuring continuity, preserving institutional knowledge, and preparing for the next leader who will carry the community’s vision forward,” according to the release.
Owens said in the release that as he looks ahead, he is “excited to explore new ways to support local governments and other innovative organizations throughout the U.S. through strategic advising and legacy-building work.”
He said his family will continue to call Lawrence home, and he’s committed to the city and public service.
The city has not yet announced how Owens’ replacement will be selected. Owens was hired following a national search. He and one other finalist candidate answered questions during a public panel before city commissioners selected Owens.
Owens, an alum of KU’s Master of Public Administration program, came to the Lawrence job after working in a similar job in Clayton, Missouri for 11 years, according to his bio on the city’s website. He took over following the departure of Tom Markus, who had worked for the city from March 2016 through June 2019.
Over the prior 25 years, Owens served in similar positions for the cities of Rowlett, Texas, O’Fallon, Illinois, and Hazelwood, Missouri, according to his bio.
If local news matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat — get the latest news from the Times delivered to your inbox:
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.
If you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Email us at Hello@LawrenceKSTimes.com (don’t forget the KS!), or find more contact info and a quick contact form at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact.
Follow us so you won’t miss the local news that matters most to you:
Latest Lawrence news:
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
