photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry speaks with staff members before Tuesday's Lawrence City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.

At City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry’s first City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Mike Courtney called on the community “to provide him a warm Kansas welcome.”

And Al-Ghafry said he’s already felt that in his first days on the job.

“I will tell you, I’ve absolutely been welcomed in this incredible city,” Al-Ghafry said. “… Love the place, love the organization, love the community. I think it’s a winning combination for me.”

“Very excited to have you on board,” City Commissioner Kristine Polian told him. “I think you’re going to be pivotal for the future of this city, and I look forward to seeing what you do.”

Al-Ghafry, as the Journal-World reported, was hired in June to succeed former City Manager Craig Owens, who wrapped up his career in city administration in the spring.

Most recently, he was city manager of DeSoto, Texas, a suburb of Dallas with a population of around 57,000 people. Before that, he was the assistant city manager and chief economic development officer for Dallas, and he has also served as the director of public works for the City of Las Vegas and worked in various city leadership roles in El Cajon, California, San Antonio, Texas, and Lemon Grove, Calif.

Al-Ghafry is starting work in the middle of the city’s 2027 budget process, which has been led by Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay for the past several months. Courtney also thanked her for “your steady hand, your leadership, professionalism” during that process, and Toomay thanked the commission for the opportunity to fill in as acting city manager.

“Welcome to Majed,” Toomay said. “We’re already hitting the ground running.”