City Manager Staff

Craig Owens
City Manager

Craig Owens oversees the City Attorney, City Clerk, Communications & Community Engagement, and Economic Development departments.

He began serving as City Manager of Lawrence on July 1, 2019 after serving as City Manager for the City of Clayton, Missouri for 11 years. Over the past 25 years he has served similar positions for the cities of Rowlett, Texas, O’Fallon, Illinois, and Hazelwood, Missouri.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and an ICMA Credentialed Manager.

Craig is a former president of the Missouri City/County Management Association and the St. Louis Area City/County Management Association.

Craig is married with three children.

Casey Toomay
Assistant City Manager

Casey Toomay oversees departments of Equity & Inclusion, Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology, along with the Lawrence Police Department and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical. She also serves as the LGBTQ+ Liaison in the City Manager’s Office.

Casey holds dual degrees, with a Master of Public Administration and Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas. She began her public administration career in the City of Lawrence serving as an intern in the City Attorney’s Office. After briefly serving as Assistant to the City Manager in Rye, New York, she returned to the City Lawrence, serving in several other positions before becoming an Assistant City Manager in 2014.

Brandon McGuire
Assistant City Manager

Brandon McGuire oversees departments of Municipal Services & Operations, Parks & Recreation, Planning & Development Services, Sustainability, and Lawrence Parking & Transit.

He began serving the City of Lawrence as Assistant to the City Manager on May 27, 2014. Previously, he worked as a Budget and Management Analyst for Sedgwick County and a City Management Fellow with the City of Wichita. 

Brandon was born in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a Master of Public Administration degree both from Wichita State University.