Barnes a candidate for mayor

During the past few years Barnes has been very involved in making sure that companies receiving tax breaks hire minority, women and local contractors or employees. He also has helped with efforts to provide an amnesty program for people with traffic tickets. He was a factor in the recent expansion of new homes in the Quindaro neighborhood of Kansas City, Kan.  

Barnes also was outspoken about the Google Fiber project in Kansas City, Kan., wanting more assurances that low-income and remote areas would be served.  He was concerned that the minimum connection fee would mean that some people would not be able to afford it.  

Barnes holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas and is a real estate developer and owner of Nefertiti Ballroom.  

He has served on many UG committees and is a past chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City, Kan., Advisory Board and a past chairman of the Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee. In 1997 he was named to the Friends of Yates Black Men of Distinction. He has served on the National Black Caucus of Elected Officials.  

Barnes also has served in the past on the board of Avenue Area Inc., on Mid-America Regional Council committees and as an alternate to MARC board. He has been a member of the PIC-LEO Board, an elected officials board for the Workforce Investment Area III, and a member of the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce business programs and services committee. He is married.