Emails reveal what was discussed in Shawnee mayor case. Did it violate Kansas law? Steve Vockrodt, The Kansas City Star Dec. 24—An email chain that ultimately led to a perjury charge against Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler started with an activist who was upset about her refusal to break a tie for the city council president. Mike Egan, a former Shawnee resident who now lives in Missouri's Ozarks but still uses email to regularly chime in on Shawnee civic affairs, sent a March 5 email to Distler, four council members and others who keep tabs on City Hall. Egan's email, obtained by The Star through a Kansas Open Records Act request, blasted Distler for not breaking a 4-4 tie to choose a council president in January. Distler said at the time that she didn't want to insert herself in the vote, fearing "it would make the Council appear even more divisive."