Alderman Bob Bennett has officially announced his intent to run for reelection to the Parkville Board of Aldermen, saying “I’m for Parkville. This is my home and my community, and I want to help build a safer, stronger, and smarter Parkville. I’m excited to continue the work we’ve started during this transformative period in our history.”
Bennett’s first two terms focused on collaboration and practical decision-making. Bob helped the city team transform management systems to reflect best practices, plan for the future and improve operations. Based on the 2024 audit message, the improved processes empowered the city to grow the budget and expand operational efficiencies despite significantly decreased federal fund infusions into the city. Bennett’s direct contribution for the city would exceed $75,000 based on the hourly rates he charges other cities for similar services.
Bennett mentioned three specific goals for a third term.
Redefine Route Nine: Safer Street, Economic Growth, A Better Parkville. Bennett plans to shape improvements including new crosswalks, a traffic signal, turning lanes, street lighting and other traffic and pedestrian improvements.
Win the World Cup (for Parkville). Bennett is leading the city/chamber of commerce collaboration team that will ensure that Parkville residents and businesses take advantage of the opportunities presented to our community
Infrastructure Today and For the Future: the city, and Riss Lake specifically, will face infrastructure maintenance and growth challenges during the next two years. Bennett will represent Riss Lake residents’ concerns regarding the needs of the neighborhood’s sewer system and ensure that roads and water infrastructure leverage best practices and technologies available to local governments.
In his campaign news release, Bennett said he is a globally recognized expert in ethical city practices and effective civic technology applications.
In 2024, he became an Amazon Best Selling author when he wrote Changing the World, One City at a Time. He is frequently asked to lecture at conferences, city strategic planning meetings and corporate technology boards.
Lt. Col. (Ret) Bennett said, “I bring strategic leadership skills developed over the course of a 25- year career in the US Army and a decade of professional experience in local government. Over the course of these experiences, I developed a holistic approach to city operations, technology integration and civic innovation. This is unique for Parkville, and it is a skill set many cities do not have internally. Every day I provide these same services to many other cities as a contractor. I am committed to ensuring that the community in which I live and have raised my children should be the first city to benefit from my work.”
Bennett has been active in the Greater Parkville Metroplex for over three decades. While serving as a lieutenant in the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley in 1992, he met and began dating Tara Fickle Bennett, whose family helped establish Parkville in 1844. During the Flood of ’93, Bob and several friends from his battalion at Fort Riley helped fill sandbags on Main Street. The Bennetts served three assignments at Fort Leavenworth and made their home in Parkville during those years.
All three of the Bennetts’ children learned to walk in Parkville and their youngest child is a senior at Park Hill South, from which both of his siblings graduated in 2020.
In addition to his work as an alderman, Lt. Col. (Ret) Bennett owns a consulting company that supports local governments around the world, chairs an international think tank for civic technologists, and plays bass in “Parkville’s House Band,” The Alley Cats.
The Parkville municipal elections will take place on April 7.
Alderman Bennett has posted more information about his history, governing philosophy and goals for a third term at https://bob4parkville.com/
