DCCC - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Kay Barnes is a fifth-generation daughter of Northwest Missouri. Born and raised in St. Joseph, Kay has never forgotten her roots nor the values she learned from her parents, Fritz and Helen Cronkite. Kay graduated from St. Joseph Central High School, where Fritz had been a coach and teacher. Her mother, Helen, was an English teacher at Washington Grade School and later at Central. Helping to instill in her an interest in public service, her father once worked as chief of staff to northwest Missouri congressman William C. Cole, a Republican. Fritz's brother was the father of CBS broadcaster Walter Cronkite, making him Kay's first cousin.

Barnes graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in secondary education and later worked her way through graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she earned two master's degrees, one in secondary education and another in public administration.

Mother of two, Kelly and Fritz, Kay began her involvement in the community as the first coordinator of the Women's Resource Center at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and later as a staff member of Kansas City's Metropolitan Inter-Church Agency. She also worked as the Director of Volunteers for Cross-Lines, an inter-faith social service agency, and developed multicultural women's speaking panels throughout the western United States.

For twenty-three years, Barnes ran her own small business, a human resource development firm specializing in leadership and public speaking. During this time, Barnes co-hosted and produced "Let's Talk," a talk show focusing on community issues, and co-authored a book published by McGraw Hill, About Time! A Woman's Guide to Time Management.

In 1974, Barnes became one of two women on the Jackson County Legislature, where she joined other county officials, including Ann Richards of Texas and Lynn Cutler of Iowa, to tour the United States to encourage women to run for local office.

Five years later, Barnes was elected to a four-year term on the Kansas City Council, serving the Fourth District At Large.

In 1999, Kay Barnes, seeking the ultimate challenge in her public life to that date, decided to run for Mayor of Kansas City, the largest city in Missouri. Although considered an underdog at the start of the election, she won by a wide margin and became the City's first female Mayor. She served two terms, leaving office due to a two term limit on May 1, 2007.

Mayor Barnes was rated by the media and other independent observers as one of the best Mayors in the City's history. She won acclaim locally, nationally and internationally for her leadership in spearheading the revitalization of Downtown Kansas City and for her ability to work across party lines to get things done. The Kansas City Star wrote in 2007 that Barnes had left "a solid legacy of accomplishments" and that her tenure had "brightened the region's future".

Praise for her work frequently came from across party lines. For example, one week before she left the Mayor's office, Missouri Senior Senator Kit Bond, a Republican, commended Barnes for "putting partisan politics aside" and for her "commitment and dedication" to making Kansas City a "better place to live and work."

The central focus of Kay's life remains her family, especially her mother, children and granddaughter. In her public life, she has been dedicated to improving the lives of those she represents, regardless of circumstance or status.

Frank Barnes, Kay's husband, passed away in June, 2000.

Kay is currently a Distinguished Professor for Public Leadership at Park University, Parkville, Missouri.