IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Jackson County Counselor’s Office to pursue litigation or other legal strategies on behalf of the Jackson County Legislature in the event that redistricting of the 5th Congressional District occurs, for the purpose of opposing such redistricting.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 6017, August 25, 2025
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV and Donna Peyton, County Legislators
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WHEREAS, congressional redistricting is intended to occur once per decade, following the U.S. Census, and is to be grounded in objective demographic data, transparency, and community integrity rather than partisan manipulation; and,
WHEREAS, any attempt to redraw congressional boundaries outside of this cycle—without constitutional mandate, population shifts, or court-ordered correction—constitutes a violation of the public trust and a misuse of governmental authority; and,
WHEREAS, recent public reports indicate that Governor Mike Kehoe is considering redistricting action at the urging of President Donald J. Trump, with the express goal of targeting Missouri’s 5th Congressional District for political retribution; and,
WHEREAS, such action would constitute blatant political gerrymandering, threatening the democratic representation of hundreds of thousands of Jackson County residents and undermining the constitutional principles of equal protection and fair representation; and,
WHEREAS, the current 5th Congressional District has been historically and demographically aligned with the communities it serves—including large portions of urban, working-class, and minority populations whose voices would be diluted or silenced by improper redistricting; and,
WHEREAS, the current representative of the 5thDistrict is a senior, nationally respected member of Congress, a civil rights leader, and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus with a demonstrated record of bipartisan effectiveness, including substantial federal investment in Jackson County infrastructure, education, public health, economic development, and public safety, as documented in his annual congressional reports; and,
WHEREAS, Jackson County formally opposes any non-decennial, politically motivated redistricting of the Fifth Congressional District that lacks a data-driven or judicial rationale, and considers such actions illegitimate and potentially unlawful; and,
WHEREAS, if the State of Missouri initiates any redistricting process designed to diminish or manipulate the political power of Jackson County residents—particularly in response to political directives rather than constitutional or demographic necessity—Jackson County shall pursue all available legal remedies, including litigation in state and federal courts; and,
WHEREAS, the County Counselor is hereby directed to prepare preliminary legal analysis and coordinate with outside counsel as necessary to protect the political representation of Jackson County residents; and,
WHEREAS, the Legislature affirms that this ordinance is not about preserving any individual’s political career, but about preserving the lawful representation of Jackson County and its access to effective federal advocacy; and,
WHEREAS, this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, and an emergency clause is hereby enacted to ensure the legal and constitutional protections of Jackson County residents are in place prior to any legislative action by the State of Missouri; and,
WHEREAS, any redistricting attempt meant to sideline such a voice would not only be unlawful but would erode the region’s ability to advocate for federal resources and legislative priorities critical to Jackson County’s future; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED, that the Legislature authorizes the Jackson County Counselor’s Office to pursue litigation or legal strategies on behalf of the Legislature, pursuant to the Jackson County Home Rule Charter Article 5, Section 7, including seeking outside counsel, if necessary, to oppose such proposed redistricting.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached ordinance, Ordinance No. 6017 introduced on August 25, 2025, was duly passed on September 8, 2025 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______6________ Nays ______1_______
Abstaining _____1______ Absent _____0_______
Excused ______1_______
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
____________________ ____________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 6017.
____________________ _______________________________
Date Frank White, Jr., County Executive