Jermaine Reed

Jermaine Reed
Member of the Kansas City, Missouri City Council
In office
2011–2019
Constituency3rd District
Member of the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 12, 2020
ConstituencySubdistrict 2
Personal details
EducationUniversity of Missouri (B.A., Political Science)
University of Missouri–Kansas City (Executive M.P.A.)
OccupationPublic official

Jermaine Reed is an American public official who served on the Kansas City, Missouri City Council, where he represented the city's 3rd District from 2011 to 2019. Reed unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Kansas City in 2019.

Early life and education

Reed grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Reed experienced homelessness as a teenager, later becoming involved in civic groups and student media. Reed earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Missouri.

Career

Kansas City Council (2011–2019)

In 2011, Reed was elected to represent the 3rd District on the Kansas City Council at age 25 and was described by KCUR as the youngest councilman to serve in elected office. He was re-elected in 2015.

Reed supported development initiatives. After his election, Reed worked to attract full-service grocery stores to "food desert" neighborhoods. In 2014, an Aldi Süd grocery store was opened at 39th Street and Prospect Avenue, with Reed voicing approval. Later, a Sun Fresh grocery opened at the Linwood Shopping Center.

In 2017, Reed announced his candidacy for mayor of Kansas City in the 2019 election to succeed Mayor Sly James.

Reed participated in the selection and approval process for the new Kansas City International Airport terminal as a member of the selection committee and later voted with the City Council to approve Edgemoor for the project.

Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees

Since 2020, Reed has served on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees (Subdistrict 2).

Reed was reelected to the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees for Subdistrict 2 in April 2026.

Election results

2011 City Council election

General

2011 Kansas City Council General – 3rd District
Candidate Party Vote % Votes
Jermaine Reed Nonpartisan 64.98% 5,156
Sharon Brooks Nonpartisan 35.02% 2,779
Total votes 100.00% 7,935

Source: Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners, Municipal General Election Official Results, March 22, 2011.

2015 City Council election

Primary

2015 Kansas City Council Primary – 3rd District
Candidate Party Vote % Votes
Jermaine Reed (incumbent) Nonpartisan 57.04% 2,752
Jamekia Kendrix Nonpartisan 17.45% 842
Rachel Riley Nonpartisan 11.09% 535
Bryan Dial Nonpartisan 7.52% 363
Shaheer Akhtab Nonpartisan 6.61% 319
Write-ins — 0.29% 14
Total votes 100.00% 4,825

Source: Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners, Past Election Results (see "April 7, 2015 — Municipal Primary & School Board Election").

General

2015 Kansas City Council General – 3rd District
Candidate Party Vote % Votes
Jermaine Reed (incumbent) Nonpartisan 72.05% 3,701
Jamekia Kendrix Nonpartisan 27.95% 1,436
Total votes 100.00% 5,137

Source: Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners, Past Election Results (see "June 23, 2015 — Municipal General Election").

Education

Reed holds a degree in political science from the University of Missouri and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jermaine Reed – Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "City Councilman Jermaine Reed wants a day off from being Jermaine Reed". The Pitch KC. The Pitch. June 6, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Coffee with the Candidates: Jermaine Reed". KSHB-TV Kansas City. KSHB-TV. March 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ Olson, Ryan (April 2, 2012). "City Councilman Jermaine Reed Reflects On First Year". KCUR. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Northeast Newscast Episode 44 – Conversation with 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed". Northeast News. Northeast News. February 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ Collins, Leslie (October 15, 2018). "Proposed city resolution would give $900K to new innovation district". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ Horsley, Lynn (February 2, 2014). "New grocery store at 39th and Prospect aims to be oasis in food desert". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ Henneberger, Melinda (February 27, 2019). "KC mayoral candidate Jermaine Reed 'the chosen one' from a young age". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ Greenstein, Melissa (May 21, 2017). "Councilman Jermaine Reed Announces Run for KC Mayor". KSHB 41 Action News. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mayoral Candidates Talk Downtown: Councilman Jermaine Reed". Flatland KC. Flatland KC. March 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ Zeff, Sam (August 14, 2017). "KCI Committee Reviews Proposals For A New Terminal". KCUR. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  12. ↑ Rodriguez, Lisa (September 21, 2017). "Kansas City Council Approves Edgemoor For KCI Terminal Project". KCUR. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Reed reelected to Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees". Metropolitan Community College. April 8, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Municipal General Election Official Results, March 22, 2011" (PDF). Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Past Election Results". Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Jermaine Reed". University of Missouri Alumni Association. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Jermaine Reed Receives Alvin Brooks Award". The Community Voice. October 14, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.