Gerlach grew up in Leawood, Kansas, and graduated fromShawnee Mission South High School in 1972.[1][2] He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1976 fromKansas State University,[3] where he also played on the men's basketball team.[2][4][5] He was drafted by theAtlanta Hawks in 1976,[6] but was released from his contract due to an injury suffered during training. Soon thereafter he started a career in thepromotional products industry.[7]
Gerlach served on the Overland Park city council from 1995 to 2005.[8][3] He was first elected as mayor in 2005, replacing Ed Eilert.[9][10] Gerlach ran unopposed in his next two elections in 2009 and 2013. He then beat his first challenger for mayor in 12 years, when he ran for a fourth term in 2017.[11] Gerlach did not run in the city's 2021 mayoral election[10][8] and was succeeded by Overland Park city council member, Curt Skoog.[12]
^Pechuls, Anne (January 2006)."Taking The Gavel".PPB. Promotional Products Association International. Archived fromthe original on July 15, 2011. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2011.
