IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION to utilize Mid-America Regional Council to establish a transparent process for selecting an interim Jackson County Executive.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22073, October 6, 2025
INTRODUCED BY Megan L. Smith, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article III, Section 4, of the 2018 Jackson County Charter, if the County Executive is removed from office, the sitting Chair of the County Legislature shall appoint a temporary appointee; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to that same Charter provision, the Legislature shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the vacancy in the County Executive position to select an interim County Executive, who shall be of the same political party as the outgoing County Executive, by a simple majority vote of the Legislature; and,
WHEREAS, similar to the interim appointment process for the County Prosecutor executed in 2011, a nominating committee shall be comprised of members of the last Jackson County legislative body that served prior to any current members of the Jackson County Legislature 2018 - Garry J. Baker (1st AL), Crystal Williams (2nd AL), Tony Miller (3rd AL), Scott Burnett (1st), Alfred Jordan (2nd), Dennis Waits (3rd), Dan Tarwater III (4th), Greg Grounds (5th), Theresa Galvin (6th); and,
WHEREAS, a request shall be made to members of the former Jackson County legislative body to participate in the nominating committee, with the goal of selecting at least five (5) committee members, including no fewer than two (2) at-large representatives; and,
WHEREAS, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) shall provide support to and oversee the entire process carried out by the nominating committee; and,
WHEREAS, the nominating committee shall conduct public listening sessions throughout the county in an effort to gather community input; and,
WHEREAS, the nominating committee shall be charged with soliciting applications from prospective candidates, screening those applicants, and submitting no fewer than three (3) and no more than five (5) qualified nominees to the Jackson County Legislature; and,
WHEREAS, all candidates shall complete an application process and meet the qualifications for the position as set forth in the Jackson County Charter; and,
WHEREAS, the County Legislature shall interview and select an interim County Executive from among the nominated candidates, with the selection being determined by a simple majority vote of the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, if the County Legislature fails to make the appointment within thirty (30) days, the Presiding Judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court shall appoint an interim County Executive in accordance with the Charter; and,
WHEREAS, once the election results have been certified by the Kansas City Election Board and the Jackson County Election Board in accordance with the Charter, the Legislature shall have thirty (30) days to vote on a nominee from among those submitted by the nominating committee; and,
WHEREAS, any current member of the County Legislature who wishes to be considered for the position of interim County Executive must adhere to the nominating committee’s process and, by doing so, shall forfeit their right to vote in the legislative selection process should they become a nominee; and,
WHEREAS, the process for selecting an interim County Executive shall be completed on or before October 31, 2025; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Jackson County Legislature, pursuant to Article III, Section 4, of the 2018 Jackson County Charter, hereby adopts this Resolution establishing a transparent process for appointing an interim County Executive; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the same Charter provision, the selected nominee shall hold the office of County Executive until January 1 following the next general election.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 22073 of October 6, 2025, was duly passed on ______________________________, 2025 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _________________ Nays ___________
Abstaining ___________ Absent ____________
______________________ ______________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature