Article — Katherine Bontrager | Photography — Russell Walker
As Leawood residents, we readily appreciate and take advantage of all the wonders the city has to offer. Yet we often fail to think about the individuals who help make Leawood the amazing place it is. Here’s a peek at the unsung volunteers who make up the City Council, sharing their time and talent to ensure Leawood is the place to work, play, and live.
Gregory Peppes, D.D.S.—Ward 1
Gregory Peppes, D.D.S., has based his life—and his business—in the heart of Leawood. With his wife, Mickie, and their three children, Steve, Matt, and Sara, Dr. Peppes has lived in the city for 21 years. He has owned his own dental practice in Leawood for 23 years, opening the Peppes Dental building five years ago. First elected to the City Council in 1995, Peppes retired in 1999 but returned in 2004 and served until 2010. Andrew Osman was elected to serve Ward 1 in the April 6th election.
Debra Filla—Ward 1
“My husband, Andrew and I moved here in 1986 with our almost-one-year-old daughter Alison, when I accepted a management position with IBM. We thought we’d be here two, maybe three years, and then move back to St. Louis. But we fell in love with K.C. and stayed. Another daughter, Emily, and 24 years later, Leawood is truly home.” Having moved often while growing up, it’s a double treat for Filla to have raised her family in Leawood. She’s been a member of the City Council for six years, after her neighbors asked her to run for the position upon Pat Dunn’s departure in 2004. “They said, ‘we’ll get you elected.’ And they were true to their word!” Although recently retired, Filla doesn’t believe she’s finished learning—or working for that matter, as she turns her attention to her business, Inside Out. She finds time for meditation and spiritual practice, and, thanks to her husband, fly fishing. “I love walking in my neighborhood, saying ‘hi’ to neighbors and kids on bikes and scooters, walking the dogs, and enjoying block after block of mature trees and beautiful landscaping.”
Jim Rawlings—Ward 2
Jim Rawlings was born in Kansas City, but his parents moved to Leawood in 1951, making him a true native. As an adult, he’s had his roots firmly planted in the city for 35 years, splitting his energies between work in human resources management in the banking industry and his wife, two children, and six grandchildren. A member of the City Council since 1999, Rawlings enjoys traveling—ocean locations are a favorite—vegetable gardening, music, community service, and gourmet cooking. “Leawood has become the restaurant destination place in the Kansas City area,” he says. “We do our best to patronize all of them. We tend to like smaller plates. My favorite hot spot is tasting the free samples at Dean & Deluca’s.” And his pride in Leawood is readily apparent. “Everywhere I go, I see a feeling of community spirit and pride displayed by our fellow citizens. That’s nice to come home to.”
Lou Rasmussen—Ward 2
The longest-running member of the City Council, Lou Rasmussen has been working on improving Leawood for 20 years—and admits, he’s “enjoyed every minute of it with some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of associating with.” Rasmussen has called Leawood home for some 30 years. “We built our Georgia Colonial home—my gorgeous wife is a Georgian—on land previously occupied by long-horned cattle and a variety of Bermuda grass that has been the bane of my existence ever since.” The family’s four children, long gone from the nest, have been replaced by a variety of dogs. Rasmussen counts some 40 years of experience and education in engineering, business, and law in his background, though finance and politics currently take up much of the retiree’s time. As for his favorite part of Leawood? “It’s seeing generations of children returning to raise their children in the same environment and, in many cases, having them educated in the same schools. It’s for that reason that I encourage the younger members of the community to volunteer to use their talents to help govern the City so that their grandchildren will have the same opportunity.”
Mike Gill—Ward 3
While Mike Gill may be an alum of the University of Missouri, he’s been a faithful Leawood resident for the past 20 years. Formerly a lawyer with the firm that is now Stinson, Morrison & Hecker, Gill left the private practice of law in 2004 and joined Accenture LLP, where he currently works as the Director of its global projects legal team. Married to Ellen for 23 years, the two have three children, Jeff, Lisa and David—not to mention Maggie, their Golden Retriever. Aside from time spent with his close-knit family, Gill revels in travel, sports, food, and music. An active City Council member for 13 years, Gill has experienced firsthand the beauty of the city and its people. “Leawood is an incredibly well-run city where politics are put to the side and decisions made based on the genuine best interests of the community,” he says. “I respect and truly enjoy each member of the Governing Body. The same is true for Leawood’s unsurpassed administrator and department heads.”
Gary Bussing—Ward 3
Ask Gary Bussing—a City Council member for the past 12 years—what he loves best about Leawood, and he’ll tell you about Greenbriar, his home since 1993. “I enjoy my neighbors; we have a great neighborhood. I enjoy (most of the time) hearing from constituents and working with them on issues of importance, as well as working with residents from all over the city on programs and projects. The city is exceptionally well run by a talented, dedicated professional staff. Leawood has established a reputation for professionalism and quality that makes it a desirable place to live, work, and visit.” As Director of Retirement Plans for the Mutual Fund Store in Overland Park, Bussing manages investment accounts for clients and pension plans for small businesses. His wife, Kathy, is an attorney at Husch Blackwell Sanders. Together they have two daughters—Sarah and Meghan—and two grandchildren, Sebastian and Adelina. The couple stays exceptionally engaged in the community. “I’m the president elect for the Leawood Rotary Club, and Kathy and I are both involved with Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). I also enjoy golf, fishing, and reading. And of course, spending time with the grandkids is always fun.”
James Azeltine—Ward 4
James Azeltine stays busy—and he likes it that way. He’s worked as a financial advisor in the Kansas City area for the last 23 years and is currently a senior vice president at Wells Fargo Advisors in Overland Park. “I’m also a member of the Church of the Resurrection, a former chairman of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District, and former board member of Safehome, Johnson County’s only domestic violence shelter, as well as the Blue Valley Educational Foundation.” With his wife, Debbie, Azeltine bought a home in the Highlands of Leawood in 1993. He was first elected to the City Council in April of 2006. “In addition to the low crime rate, the high level of cultural and other amenities, I’ve always been amazed at the vast array of interesting and successful people who call Leawood home.” Azeltine stays busy even in his free time—fishing, cooking, reading, running, and spending time with his three children. “I love lunching with my family at 810 Zone and dining with friends and clients at the Bristol and Hereford House.”
Julie Cain—Ward 4
Julie Cain has only owned two homes in her lifetime, and both have been in her beloved city of Leawood. And while she’s called the city home for 24 years—alongside her husband of 29 years, John, and their children Matt, Mitch, Stephanie (not forgetting Turbo, their 8-month-old Yellow Lab)—Cain is the newbie on the City Council, having served since April of 2008. Cain sells residential real estate as part of the Total Team of Prudential Kansas City out of the Hallbrook Place office. Her favorite part of calling Leawood home is simply that it’s a great place to call home. “Leawood is a beautiful city, with charming homes and streets, fabulous parks and amenities, undeniably some of the best shopping and restaurants in the entire K.C. metro area, great schools and churches and warm, family-oriented people. And from my short time on the Council, I’ve seen firsthand the hard work, dedication, and thoughtful planning and careful execution by our city staff, government, and large volunteer base. Even now, Leawood is weathering the storm better than most because of all of these wonderful people.”
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