TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! CRITICS CLAIM RECALL OF JACKSON COUNTY EXEC FRANK WHITE FEASIBLE AMID WIDESPREAD PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT FRUSTRATION!!!
Fact: Jackson County Executive Frank White has destroyed every bit of the political capital he once held as popular Kansas City baseball legend.
Now, widespread fear over a dramatic increase in property tax assessments and the Exec's obstinate and callous response in light of community complaints have evoked an outpouring of antipathy from the public.
To wit . . .
CRITICS OF EXEC FRANK WHITE CLAIM RECALL IS ACHIEVABLE GIVEN WIDESPREAD VOTER ANGST OVER HIS RECENT CONDUCT IN OFFICE!!!
Now, let's remember that the Jackson County "home rule" charter is kinda weird and the section on recall doesn't got into a lot of deets.
Here are the relevant passages with a bit of explanation . . .
ARTICLE XIV.INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
Section 1.The people reserve the power to propose and enact all ordinances independent of the County Legislature by initiative, to approve or reject ordinances of the County Legislature by referendum and to recall an elective county officer.
Notice that there aren't any qualifiers about "malfeasance" that appear in other local charters . . . There are also no time limitations. And so, critics claim that voters wanting to recall Exec White are free to do so if they can achieve the election threshold . . .
Section 6.Any ordinance passed by the County Legislature is subject to referendum of the electors, except those set forth in section 2 and section 5 above. Petitions proposing a referendum shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the total vote cast for County Executive in the last election in which a County Executive was elected. The petitions must be filed within sixty days after the effective date of the ordinance. The ordinance shall remain in full force and effect until rejected by the majority of those voting.
Section 7. Petitions demanding the recall of any elected county officer shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least twenty percent of the total vote cast for County Executive, in the district or county, in the last election in which a County Executive was elected.
In the General Election in which Exec Frank White was elected there were 152,209 votes -- An impressive turnout of 67.42%. So, more than 30k valid voter signatures would be required to recall the Exec.
More deets . . .
Section 8. All petitions referred to in this article shall be filed with the offices or officers charged with conducting elections within the county which shall be the judge of their sufficiency.
Section 9. Initiative and referendum issues shall be submitted to the voters at the next regular election held within ninety days after the petitions are filed, or if there is no regular election within such time, a special election shall be held within sixty days after the petitions are filed. A special election shall be held to consider recall of a county elected officer within sixty days after the petitions are filed.
Section 10. If the majority of the votes cast are in favor of recall, the office shall become vacant immediately upon certification of the results by the offices or officers charged with conducting elections in the count
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Accordingly . . .
TKC was skeptical about this fledgling effort but here's the explanation from an insider attempting to garner funds and support to get started:
"Even the failed effort to recall Mark Funkhouser earned more than 15K voter signatures and he was relatively popular at the time. There have been 21,000 appeals of property tax assessment and counting so far. These are people fighting for their homes with families and neighbors. Don't underestimate the power of community disgust with this process. Recalling the Executive would send the right message that this process needs to be fair and legal, not just one politician exercising his will over residents."
And so we ask our blog community . . .
WOULD YOU SIGN THE PETITION TO RECALL JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE?!?!
Developing . . .
Would absolutely sign it.
ReplyDeleteThey could get 20,000 signatures in Eastern Jack alone.
Start it. Get him out of there.
DeleteAnd a recall changes the appraisals and process how?
ReplyDeleteFight the right battles.
^^^ Sends a message to the politicians to do it RIGHT. Everybody but Frank White knows this process is screwed up. If he can't do his job then he needs to be gone. Definitely worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteSome people ware still mad at him for how he is handling the jail. He was popular in the day but I don't think a lot of people remember 85. The 2015 team are the real KC heroes. Frank is just a politician.
ReplyDeleteI’ll sign, just let me know when and where
ReplyDeleteRecalls rarely work. When it fails, the only message received would be 'I am bulletproof'.
ReplyDeleteWork on changing the appraisal process, not collecting signatures.
Where do we sign?
ReplyDelete#FireFrank
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it but the recall did work against Funkhouser. It showed how many people had lost faith in him and that he was in violation of the law. It wasn't a wasted effort. A recall, even if it wasn't successful would demonstrate that Frank doesn't have what it takes to lead.
ReplyDeleteA recall election against Frank White would finally give us some decent alternatives.
ReplyDeleteWill Mike Sanders be out of the can by then?
Considering the last 3 county execs have been indicted and 2 convicted it really doesn't matter because Frank would just be replaced by another crook.
ReplyDeleteI would recall Frank in a second. And everyone in my neighborhood would as well. Let's get this started!
ReplyDeleteBut he's a great baseball player. Doesn't that excuse incompetence?
ReplyDeleteI would not sign, even though I think he's a terrible county executive. I'd need a fuller explanation of what he did that is so wrong that he should be recalled.
ReplyDeleteWhite got the job in the first place by working an inside deal.
ReplyDeleteHe was no more or less incompetent then.
But the voters, given a chance to elect someone else, chose incompetent Frank instead.
Pretty much everything in the county has been handled poorly ever since, the jail operation and now the property assessment being only the worse examples.
And given that those two responsibilities are certainly the most important, and pretty much THE ONLY, things that county government has to do, White's poor performance includes around 100% of his job.
He won't be recalled, and if he were, some other equally inept insider clown would "take the reins".
Maybe none other than Sly James!
In Jackson County, it never changes.
yes we'd all sign.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need to consult with Sly and Quinton.
ReplyDeleteQuinton Lucas @QuintonLucasKC
21 hours ago
Congrats to @MayorSlyJames on a great farewell event today and eight strong years of service to our city. Thanks for welcoming me and I look forward to working with you over the years ahead.
"I look forward to working with you over the years ahead."
ReplyDeleteRuh Roh
The geezer keyboard warriors are out in force.
ReplyDeleteLots of angry online commitments to sign, signifying nothing.
See you at the recall certification!
DeletePut it to a two-part question in a Special Election...
ReplyDeleteA) Recall Frank White
-or-
B) Recall All Other Members of the County Legislature.
Now THAT would be an interesting Vote.
Nope. If we are dumb enough to elect democrats, and they turn around and screw us, (as they always do) our stupidity.
ReplyDeleteI'll say this: TKC did a good job of pointing out the weakness in the charter. Somebody like Clay Chastain could get 30,000 signatures easily. If the voters have that kind of motivation and they think it will help them, then it is their right to do so.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been working on my response for over an hour.
ReplyDeleteCarefully thought out- here are the top 5 things Frank White should thanked for:
1. Played good defense
2.
3.
4.
5.
Over the next several years I hope to complete the next four.