Mayor Carson Ross

Blue Springs, MO Mayor Carson Ross
 

A Lifelong Leader

Blue Springs is a city on the move and on the right track, thanks to many individuals and organizations working together for a stronger future. We are incredibly fortunate to have a community-focused mayor at the center of it all, actively leading the way. Carson Ross became the first African American mayor of Blue Springs when elected in 2008. He was reelected in 2012 and again in 2016. 

“Take a snapshot of Blue Spring prior to my becoming Mayor and again today and you will see the tale of two cities,” Mayor Ross says. In the past decade under his guidance, our community has undergone tremendous economic growth with a focus on livability and innovation. He has also appointed a more diverse group of citizens to volunteer on the city’s numerous boards and commissions. Prior to his election, he notes, “There was no diversity on city boards or commissions as it relates to minorities.” 

Carson Ross is a US Army Vietnam Combat Infantry Veteran who served in Vietnam from 1967-68. During this service, he received several citations including two Valorous Unit Awards. He is a 44-year resident of Blue Springs who has been elected to numerous governmental roles including Blue Springs Board of Alderman in 1981, Alderman of Districts 2 and 3 for eight consecutive years, and 14 years in the Missouri House of Representatives (55th District), serving as the Republican Whip in 1991-92.

Mayor Ross’ leadership includes a lengthy history of service in local and regional boards and commissions. He presently serves as a Past President and member of the Missouri Municipal League Board of Directors, Board Secretary of the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors and serves as the Missouri CoChair of the MARC Total Transportation Policy Committee. Mayor Ross serves as Co-Chairman of the Eastern Jackson County Betterment Council, and as Chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Board for the Little Blue Valley Sewer District where he also serves as the current Vice Chairman for their Board of Trustees.

His dedication to civic leadership has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, such as: 

  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Black Achiever in Industry Award (1985)
  • Kansas City Globe - Most Influential African American (1997)
  • United States National Guard (NGAUS) Major General Charles Dick Medal of Merit Award (1998)
  • Missouri Deputy Sheriff’s Association State Representative of the Year Award (1998)
  • Senior Service Award from Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder
  • Leaders Honor Roll Award from the University of Missouri Extension
  • Kansas City Globe Lifetime Award of the Most Influential African Americans in the Greater Kansas City Area (2015)
  • Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Municipal League
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award presented by the Olathe, KS Chapter of the NAACP (2017)
  • Arkansas Traveler Award by Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Lifetime Leadership Award (2018)

Mayor Ross has been married to First Lady Eloise Ross for 48 years. They have three adult children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.


To learn more about Mayor Ross and our local elected officials, visit the
Blue Springs, MO official website.

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