Billy Croan Brings Big Heart and Bold Vision to Merriam Mayoral Race

Integrity Intercept

Local Merriam Politics for Mayor

October 30, 2025

Billy Croan, a longtime Merriam resident and passionate civic volunteer, is running for Mayor of Merriam, Kansas, with a platform rooted in transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community pride.

Since moving to Merriam in 2014, Croan has spent nearly a decade serving on local boards and committees, including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (which he chaired), the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and his Neighborhood Association, where he maintained high-quality services without raising dues.

Croan’s campaign centers on preserving Merriam’s unique charm while addressing pressing concerns. “Freedom is a big deal to me,” he says. “I want fewer restrictions so we can all live freely in this historic, gracious community.” Merriam, a 4.32-square-mile city nestled along the old Shawnee Indian trails and Turkey Creek, boasts a rich legacy of frontier travelers, trading posts, and railroad expansion.(1)

Today, Merriam is a commercial powerhouse. “We have the highest commercial density of any city in Kansas,” Croan notes. “Dozens of car dealerships, IKEA, Seaboard Foods, Advent Health, Home Depot, and more—all packed into our small footprint.” The city’s 2024 Annual Report confirms this, highlighting robust economic development and a thriving Merriam Market that draws an average of 615 shoppers weekly. (2)

Croan believes Merriam’s strength lies in its scale and spirit. “We’re not like Shawnee or Overland Park. We don’t have land to expand, and our residents don’t want that kind of sprawl,” he explains. Instead, he envisions a city that invests in its existing infrastructure, supports small businesses, and fosters public safety through data-driven policing.

One of Croan’s key criticisms of incumbent Mayor Bob Pape is what he describes as a lack of engagement and accountability. “I attend council meetings regularly. I’m at community events. I don’t see the same from our current mayor,” Croan says. He also alleges that under Pape’s leadership, over $100 million in tax incentives, financing handouts or TIF moneywere awarded to wealthy landlords, raising taxes for residents and diverting funds which can go toward schools and parks.

Croan is equally concerned about transparency. He claims Pape has interfered with open meetings and public comment and directed city staff to create presentations targeting him, actions Croan calls “despicable and probably illegal.” He also points to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s 2024 Crime Index, which ranks Merriam as having the highest crime rate in the state. (3) “That should be a wake-up call,” Croan says. “We need to act now.”

Croan’s commitment to lawful governance is underscored by his concerns over Pape’s alleged failure to file required campaign finance reports under K.S.A. 25-905, which could disqualify a candidate from holding office for two years. (4)

Despite the heated race, Croan remains gracious. “If Bob moves back to Merriam full-time, I’d welcome him on city committees. But we need leadership that listens, acts, and respects the law.”

With a heart for Merriam’s past and a clear-eyed vision for its future, Billy Croan offers voters a candidate who blends deep local knowledge with a bold commitment to reform. Learn more at croan.org or visit the city’s official site at merriam.org