Candidate Maloney says Grandview, Hickman Mills forgotten by county rep

Jackson County Legislator: 4th District

Candidate Maloney says Grandview, Hickman Mills are forgotten by county rep

By Kathy Feist

“I’m not running against Dan Tarwater,” says Jackson County District 4 candidate John Maloney, “I’m running for Jackson County.”

The 32-year-old Grandview native and resident has been active in politics since he ran for state office at age 24. He has since spent the past eight years as a Grandview city councilman and says he has a relationship with the county from a municipality perspective.

Here is what he would like to improve if elected:

Fiscal Responsibility – Maloney says the county’s number one job is the budget. “And they’ve lost control of it,” he says. He points to the county’s recent request for a state audit as a specific example. He says he would demand accountability.

Clear and Transparent – Maloney would like to see evening meetings rather than afternoon ones, so that the public can more easily attend. Maloney believes the Charter Amendments, which seek to strip the county executive of certain powers, impose term limits and increase county officials’ pay by 43 percent, also have an unspoken agenda:(1) to strip Frank White–the person–of his powers and not necessarily the office and (2) to give soon-to-retire long term legislators a healthier pension check.

Community Partnerships – Maloney would like to see the county more involved in city activities and partnerships. He says the east side of the district which includes Grandview, Hickman Mills, parts of Raytown, feel “passed over or forgotten.” He says the county should be “present at the table”  when attracting new businesses to the area. “We should be able to say ‘Here’s the mayor. Here’s the city council. Here’s the economic development committee. And here’s the county representative from this area.’”

Computer System – Because Grandview is the south district’s only Department of Motor Vehicles, Maloney would like to see the county invest in better computer infrastructure to process personal property taxes. He says the systems are often down and the information incorrect or outdated.

Maloney says he’s not trying to be a negative campaigner. “I don’t want to get in the weeds,” says Maloney. “But the county is operating so quietly in the weeds that people just don’t know about some of these things.”

Maloney is newly married and works for People to People International.