She was elected mayor on November 8, 2005, after previously serving since 1997 as the vice-mayor under the late Robert Jones. McKinney was mayor at the time that the Kalamazoo Promise was announced, and was also mayor when Kalamazoo's Intermodal Center was dedicated. The current mayor, Bobby J. Hopewell, was elected November 13, 2007, edging McKinney by just 54 votes.
McKinney's tenure as mayor began on November 8, 2005, after previously serving as deputy-mayor since 1997 under Robert Jones. She was in office when the Kalamazoo Promise was launched and also during the dedication of Kalamazoo's Intermodal Center. The current mayor, Bobby J. Hopewell, succeeded her on November 13, 2007, narrowly defeating her by just 54 votes.