Carl R. Gerlach

Carl R. Gerlach is a former Mayor of Overland Park, Kansas.

Gerlach was first elected as mayor in 2005, replacing Ed Eilert. He ran unopposed in his next two elections in 2009 and 2013. Gerlach then beat his first challenger for mayor in 12 years, when he ran for a fourth term in 2017. Gerlach did not run in the city's 2021 mayoral election and was succeeded by Overland Park city council member, Curt Skoog.

Prior to that, he served on the city council from 1995 to 2005. He is a Republican.

Gerlach earned his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1976 from Kansas State University, where he also played on the men's basketball team. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1976, but was released from his contract due to an injury suffered during training. Soon thereafter he started a career in the promotional products industry.