Melvern ? When a diving accident 11 years ago left Adam Burnett paralyzed from the chest down, members of his community raised more than $30,000 to help pay his medical bills.

Now, Burnett, 29, is trying to pay back that kindness by serving Melvern as its mayor.

He was elected to lead the Osage County community of 429 last month, winning the job over Jeff Spencer by 20 votes.

“A couple of people I respected in the community had approached me about running,” Burnett said. “I thought about it for a couple of days. And the community had supported me and my family a number of years ago when I was injured, and I thought this would be a good way to give back to the community.”

He succeeds Joe Warner, 71, who did not seek another term after 10 years as mayor. Warner expects Burnett to bring some fresh enthusiasm to the job.

“That’s one thing that he will do, I’m sure,” Warner said. “I know the community has helped him quite a bit, and that’s the reason he wants to be the mayor. I think he’ll be a good mayor. He’s sensible and level-headed.”

Burnett met last week with Warner and other officials, familiarizing himself before he takes over at a City Council meeting Tuesday night.

“I have a list of appointments that I will have to make for next year, city employees and council committees,” he said. “I’m still learning all of this.”

Burnett suffered his disabling injury at Lake Melvern just two days after graduating from Marais des Cygnes Valley High School. He was with friends for an impromptu swimming party and was hurt when he dove into shallow water.

He spent three months in rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo.

Money raised by Melvern residents helped purchase and equip a van that enables Burnett to get around. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas University in 2002 and is now employed as a case worker at the Resource Center for Independent Living in Osage City.