Contact the Lawrence City Commission
We believe it is a healthy and essential function for members of the public to contact the people who are making laws and decisions on their behalf. Therefore, we’re listing contact information and social media pages (although some may not be present or active on all platforms) on our site.
Five Lawrence City Commissioners are elected at large, meaning they serve the city as a whole rather than representing districts.
Three Lawrence city commissioners are elected in odd years. The two candidates who receive the most votes are elected to four-year terms; the third-place candidate has previously been elected to a two-year term. Starting with candidates elected in 2023, all commissioners will serve four-year terms. They are paid about $22,000 per year.
Meeting info
The Lawrence City Commission generally meets the first, second and third Tuesdays of each month in the City Commission room on the first floor of City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. Meetings usually begin at 5:45 p.m. Agendas are available via this link. Meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and on its YouTube channel.
The commission welcomes written public comment until noon the day of the meeting. Comments can be provided via email to ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. The commission also hears live public comment during meetings.
You can sign up to receive notices from the city and agendas for upcoming meetings at this link.
Read our latest Lawrence City Commission news coverage at this link.
Last updated Jan. 17, 2025
City commissioners
Mike Dever, mayor
785-550-4909 • mdever@lawrenceks.org
Facebook page
Elected to a four-year term in 2023 and selected as vice mayor for 2024; previously served from 2007 to 2015 (before The Lawrence Times began publishing). Selected as mayor for 2025.
Brad Finkeldei, vice mayor
785-550-9699 • bfinkeldei@lawrenceks.org
Twitter: @bradfinkeldei • Facebook page
First elected to a four-year term in 2019; reelected in 2023. Served as vice mayor in 2020, mayor in 2021. Selected as vice mayor for 2025.
Lisa Larsen, commissioner
785-331-9162 • llarsen@lawrenceks.org
Twitter: @Lisa_Larsen
First elected to a four-year term in 2017; reelected in 2021. Served as vice mayor in 2022, mayor in 2023.
Bart Littlejohn, commissioner
785-380-9413 • blittlejohn@lawrenceks.org
Twitter: @BartVote4
First elected to a four-year term in 2021; served as vice mayor in 2023 and mayor in 2024.
Amber Sellers, commissioner
785-813-1381 • asellers@lawrenceks.org
Twitter: @AmbrWavz
First elected to a two-year term in 2021; reelected to a four-year term in 2023.
Meeting archives
Find recorded meetings on the city’s YouTube page.
More details about how meetings work are outlined in this resolution.
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Latest Lawrence City Commission news:
Lawrence Historic Resources Commission denies revised plans for downtown row houses
Lawrence’s Historic Resource Commission on Thursday voted 2-2 against a plan to build 15 row houses next to the former Borders book store downtown. The developers can appeal the denial.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence police chief shares new data reports, outcomes from community meetings
Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart shared with city commissioners on Tuesday how the department is trying to improve community relations. He provided new data and said crime is down, yet the fear of crime is up in some areas.
Lawrence City Commission general public comment for April 15, 2025
Here’s the general public comment for the Lawrence City Commission’s Tuesday meeting, as public comment is no longer being broadcast.
