By ERIN BOWLEY | July 8, 2026

Six months into his term as mayor of Linn Valley, Lister Potter Jr. is focused on increasing transparency, improving infrastructure and preserving the qualities that make the small community unique.

Potter’s journey to Linn Valley began in Pleasanton, where he lived before he and his wife, Kimberlee, moved to Kansas City. The move allowed Kimberlee to be closer to her workplace while providing Potter with new career opportunities in the software industry, where he advanced from developer to manager; and eventually, director.

In April 2020, the couple purchased property in Linn Valley as a weekend camping retreat. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic changed daily life, the property quickly became their full-time home.

Family has always been an important part of Potter’s life. He and Kimberlee have a daughter, Jennifer, and Potter has two children from a previous marriage, Lister III and Taylor. Together, they enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren, 6-year-old Ryla and 2-year-old Lance, the children of Jennifer and her husband, Brice. Potter is also an avid animal lover and shares his home with three beagles, a cat and a deaf blue heeler.

His path to becoming mayor came through the encouragement of friends and fellow residents, who believed he would be a strong leader for the community.

Since taking office, Potter has made government transparency one of his top priorities. He has added several resources to the city’s website, including pages explaining the city budget, tax revenue, budget-versus-actual comparisons and budget workshop information. He has also improved the city’s livestreams of council meetings by incorporating PowerPoint presentations to help residents better follow meeting discussions and understand the decisions being made by city officials.

Looking ahead, Potter’s priorities include the city’s lagoon expansion, continued water infrastructure improvements, expanding community amenities and supporting economic development. He also hopes to work closely with the Property Owners Association to organize more community events and celebrations that bring residents together.

Potter said he would like to attract additional businesses that provide everyday necessities, including a grocery store and a gas station. At the same time, he said he wants to be thoughtful about future development. Rather than bringing in large chain retailers or encouraging rapid commercial growth, Potter believes Linn Valley should maintain the small-town atmosphere that attracts residents to the community in the first place.

He also sees community festivals and special events as an opportunity to showcase Linn Valley to visitors. Bringing more people into the city for celebrations and recreational events could increase interest in the community, boost local visibility and generate additional revenue from visitors, helping spread part of the city’s tax burden beyond its residents.

Another project Potter is pursuing is the development of tiny homes, which he believes could provide more affordable housing options for current and future residents. He said expanding housing opportunities would encourage responsible growth while increasing the city’s tax base, helping distribute the cost of maintaining city services among more property owners.

As mayor, Potter said he is committed to listening to residents, maintaining transparency and making thoughtful decisions that preserve Linn Valley’s small-town character while preparing the community for future growth. By balancing infrastructure improvements with responsible development, he hopes to ensure Linn Valley continues to grow without losing the sense of community that residents value.