Full Statement On Recall From Jackson County Executive Frank White

Without any more prelude, for www.TonysKansasCity.com it seems important to document this response to a 2025 election that remains under negotiation as of this writing . . . Here's the word: 

Jackson County Executive issues statement ahead of legislative vote on recall election

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As the Jackson County Legislature prepares to vote today on whether to place a recall election on the ballot, Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. has issued the following statement: 

“I understand the immense political pressure and difficult position that our legislators are being placed in. I’ve stood with them in moments like this before, most notably when this Legislature was pressured to place a stadium sales tax on the ballot. That proposal would have obligated taxpayers to pay billions of dollars over the next four decades, required no firm commitment from either team and was overwhelmingly unpopular with the public. 

“Now, that same kind of pressure is back. But this time, it’s about punishing an elected official who stood up for taxpayers and said no to a bad deal. 

“This recall effort is being funded, staffed and driven by many of the same political forces that backed the failed stadium tax campaign. After spending upwards of $10 million trying to convince voters to approve a blank check for new stadiums – and losing – they’ve now turned their attention to forcing a costly recall election. Much of the funding for this recall has come through a dark money political action committee that shields the identities of its donors from public view. That PAC has paid out-of-state contractors to gather signatures, making this anything but a grassroots effort. 

“Now, the Legislature is considering a resolution and ordinance to place the recall on the ballot, even though doing so would directly violate Ordinance 5782, which this very body passed less than two years ago. That ordinance clearly states: ‘If no legal election date is available within sixty days, the election will occur at the next available election after certification of the Petition.’ 

“Disregarding that ordinance today would not only be legally questionable but would also be a betrayal of their own law and set a dangerous precedent. The County Charter gives the Legislature authority to call elections, but only ‘in conformity with the Constitution’ and ‘applicable law.’ 

“Even more concerning is the financial impact. This special election will cost Jackson County taxpayers an estimated $2 million, money that is neither budgeted nor available. It would mark the third time since this Legislature took office that an unbudgeted, unnecessary election has been placed on the ballot. 

“In their first year, the Legislature placed a tax increase before voters over my objection – an initiative that was defeated 59% to 41%. Then came the stadium tax, which voters rejected 58% to 42%. And now, this recall – another attempt to override the will of the people through a rushed, costly and legally dubious process. 

“Despite the complexities of this issue, the many legal and procedural questions still unanswered, and the immense cost to our taxpayers, not one legislator has requested a formal legal opinion on these or other issues from their own legal counsel, even though they have both the right and the duty to do so. 

“This isn’t about one vote or one official. It’s about whether we respect the rule of law and the taxpayers we serve. If the law doesn’t apply when it’s inconvenient, then it doesn’t really apply at all. 

“No matter what happens next, I will continue to serve the people of Jackson County with integrity, transparency and an unwavering commitment to using their resources wisely – for housing, healthcare, public safety and opportunity – not for political theater.”

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