Former Wichita mayor Carl Brewer has died at age 63. An official cause of death has not been announced, but Brewer was reported to have had ongoing health problems in recent months.
Brewer serves as mayor from 2007 to 2011 after serving two terms as the District One council member. He was the 100th mayor of Wichita and the city’s first African-American mayor. He ran for the Kansas governor’s office in 2018 and came in second in the Democratic primary behind Laura Kelly.
Brewer is survived by his wife Cathy, two sons and two daughters. He was a long-time employee of Spirit Aerosystems, retiring in 2017.
Brewer’s family issued a statement after the news of his death was reported:
“Former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer passed away Friday morning. There are no details available for a memorial service at this time but we will provide an update at a future date. The family appreciates the support they have received from the community. They ask for privacy at this time.”
Governor Laura Kelly also issued a statement:
“I was deeply saddened to hear of Carl’s untimely passing this morning. Carl was an outstanding Mayor, served for more than two decades in the Kansas National Guard, and was a strong supporter of the Kansas Labor community. I have no doubt the impact of his contributions to our state will be felt for generations to come.
“I’m also grateful for his service in my administration, both during our transition, and later when he played an integral role on the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform.
“Carl truly embodied all of the best qualities of what it means to be a Kansan, and he will be dearly missed.”
Spirit Aerosystems also released a statement on Carl Brewer:
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mayor Carl Brewer. We were fortunate to have his leadership throughout his 24-year career with Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. Carl had the ability to take charge and ensure projects were completed successfully, but he is also remembered by his colleagues as a leader who took the time to listen. These same traits marked his two terms in public office as Mayor of Wichita, where he was known for consensus building that led to significant improvements to the city. Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Mayor Brewer’s ability to establish trust among a diverse constituency serves as a model of leadership that will be a lasting legacy.
