Fai Beal
Community Contributor

Appearing at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (2657 Independence Blvd.) on Wednesday, October 1, 2025,  Jackson County Legislators Venessa Huskey, Manuel “Manny” Abarca IV, and Sean E. Smith, with a guest appearance from Chairman DaRon McGee, spoke with civic leaders, neighborhood organizers and concerned residents. The future of home ownership and the county’s financial decisions were the foundations of  questions residents asked of the legislature. Attendees got an overview of the plan going forward, and a chance to state what residents need in new leadership, during this Town Hall event.

What happens now that Frank White, Jr. was overwhelmingly voted out of office?

According to First District County Legislator Manny Abarca, the next 60 days are crucial.  The recall election on September 30, 2025, must be certified and expected to be completed Wednesday, October 8. White will remain in office as County Executive only as a placeholder. Safeguards are already enacted to ensure he cannot use his final days in office sabotaging county business. Protections include being stripped of his ability to issue executive orders, appoint new people to positions, release finances, or issue pay raises while in this transition.  

It has already been announced that the interim, temporary, County Executive will be Kay Barnes.  She can only hold the position for 30 days, according to the County Charter.

During this time, the county legislators must meet, deliberate, and vote on a new county executive, who will hold the office until the next election for Jackson County Executive.  This election will be held in November 2026 and that new executive will take office in January of 2027. Voting is essential to prevent a repeat of these events.

The county assessor position poses another critical aspect to the next 60 days for legislators. They must define what is needed in a new county property assessor and vote to fill the role.  As another historical change, the county assessor will become an elected office. The charter for this new election of an assessor states it must be held in the same year and time as a presidential election.  This means upon voting for United States President in 2028, Jackson County residents will also be voting for the person who controls county property assessments.  It will directly affect the residents and business owners’ future in connection to property taxes and development.

Then, the meeting turned to a cooperative conversation between residents and legislators.  Legislators spoke of what they needed in a new county executive and asked residents what they wanted to see.  

Senior citizen Kathy Taylor discussed her frustration around the uncertainty of budgeting and knowing what will happen to their property taxes year to year. 

Another citizen stated her disapproval and burden of attempting to communicate with legislators.  The county office’s phone line closes at 5 PM with few after-hours options and no voicemail.  Multiple people stated dissatisfaction with lack of response to emails. This lack of access to officials was a general concern for attendees. 

Legislators replied that the county executive forced all funding to be released exclusively through the county executive.  To this point, White had refused allowance of funds for communication and public relations.  Chairman McGee spoke of the perceived in-fighting of county legislators, stating,“So many believe we don’t get along.  The truth is, we [the county legislative board] agree on, I would say, 85% of issues.” The disconnect and hostility are between White and the board of county legislators, they reflected.  

Keeping all of this in mind, residents and legislators both were calling for better communication between the legislators and the next county executive in tandem with better public relations and access to our elected officials consistently.  Legislator Huskey stated, “We need a county executive willing to collaborate and cooperate. Legislators are the direct contact to residents.  They need a county executive who is approachable for more than just signing a baseball.”

Transparency was next on the list of stated needs in a new county executive. Legislator Abarca added, “Frank White and his staff have recently been taking $20,000 and $30,000 raises from each other without oversight [from the legislators]. There is evidence of malfeasance.”  Residents at this Town Hall emphasized the absolute requirement for honesty and oversight in the upcoming county leadership.  

Accountability is also a priority.  According to Legislator Abarca, “The expectation is more accountability from all the staff, from the top, down.  We [the county legislature] want more consideration of how the residents are being treated by county and city employees.”

Financially, the county legislators spoke on the fact the county has not appropriated even one single dollar to the FIFA World Cup preparations. They have applied for financial assistance from the federal government.  It was also revealed there is over $750 million of deferred maintenance needed across the county. The Jackson County health system needs $100 million of that for an overhaul and to directly assist residents.

It was a historic event for Jackson County voters to recall executive Frank White, Jr. Now, county legislators are tasked with creating a plan to correct Jackson County’s path to be more equitable through communication, accountability, and transparency in new leadership.  It is the imperative work of the people to vote and continue guiding the leadership in the direction needed for improving quality of life for us all.

Lykins resident Fai Beal presented opening remarks during the Oct. 1 Town Hall event at the Chamber of Commerce’s Community Room. Left to right: Manny Abarca, Sean Smith, Venessa Huskey, Fai Beal. Photo by Dan Bethe.