Missouri House of Representatives Wick Thomas (center) staff includes Edgar Palacios (left) in Kansas City and Hussein Amari (right) in Jefferson City.

Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Supporters, staff, and well-wishers gathered on the steps of the historic Hobbs building in Kansas City’s West Bottoms district for a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the first-ever in-district office for Missouri’s House of Representatives District 19 on Saturday, March 7.

State Representative Wick Thomas (D) was elected to office in November 2024 and began looking for ways to provide constituents better access to state government services. During a conversation with Bridging The Gap Director Scott Wagner, Thomas stated he learned that Wagner had space available at their office at 1427 W. 9th.

Wagner remarked to attendees that he was pleased to be a small part and had the “joy of being a landlord” to Thomas and in-district liaison, Edgar Palacios.

Palacios, like Thomas, is a Northeast resident and the Founder and CEO for Revolucion Educativa. As the in-district liaison, Palacios stated he will be available to meet with constituents to handle issues at the state level, make connections and provide resolutions, all without traveling to Jefferson City.

On behalf of the Historic West Bottoms Association, Chairman of the Board Bruce Holloway welcomed Thomas and Palacios, joking that the Hobbs building, built in 1905 as a warehouse and distribution center, needed another tenant but also noting that the State of Missouri had a good presence in the West Bottoms, such as MoDOT and the Department of Corrections.

Traveling from Jefferson City for the occasion, District 19 Legislative Aide Hussein Amari told attendees that he mostly dealt with district issues from a desk at the state capitol so was glad to visit the district— for the first time— and the new in-district office.

To complete the outdoor ceremony, a red-white-and-blue ribbon was unrolled and cut by Thomas with a giant pair of scissors while announcing, “Welcome to your district office!”

Attendees then made their way to Suite 204 for a tour of the office and light refreshments.

Legislator Thomas said the goal was to create a space that was not only local but felt welcoming while supporting creative problem solving.

This office is the third state-wide that provides in-district services, with one in Springfield and one in the Ozark area.

Palacios and Thomas will share this office alternatively; Palacios expects to man the office on Monday mornings and Thomas on Fridays. Equipped to assist constituents in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Kirundi and Swahili), staff will focus on accessible, inclusive services in the heart of District 19.

Appointments can be made by email to wick.thomas@house.mo.gov or by calling 573-751-3310.