A view of the candidates on the April 6 ballot

South KC Perspective

By John Sharp

Candidate filing has already closed for local municipal and school board elections that will be held on April 4.

Grandview

In the city of Grandview, Mayor Leonard D. Jones, Jr., Ward 3 Alderman John T. Maloney and Municipal Judge Ronald E. Johnson are all unopposed for reelection.

Ward 2 Alderman Dan Hartman is opposed for reelection by former Alderwoman and State Representative Annette M. Turnbaugh.

Ward 1 Alderman Damon Randolph had filed for reelection but later withdrew.  The two remaining candidates for his seat are Steven Ballentine and Dale Wayne Taylor.

Center School District

In the Center School District, only three candidates filed for the three 3-year positions on its board of education, so there will be no election, and the filed candidates will be seated in April as long as they meet the legal requirements to serve.

The candidates are Sam Cook, the current board vice president, and Ira Boydston, IV, and Marci Calvin.  Incumbent board members Amy Carr and Danielle Quinn did not seek reelection.

Grandview School District

In the Grandview School District, incumbent board members Monica Terry, the current board president, and fellow incumbents Damon Greene and Stacy Wright and new candidates JohnMark Bell and Patricia Smith are running for three 3-year terms. 

Hickman Mills School District

In the Hickman Mills School District, incumbent board members Irene Kendrick and Byron Townsend and candidates Clifford Ragan, III, and Brandon Wright are running for three 3-year terms.  

DaRon McGee who has been serving as board president and was elected to the Jackson County Legislature in November and will be sworn in to that position January 4 has resigned from the board and said he is withdrawing his candidacy for reelection.  Former board president Wakisha Briggs has also said she is withdrawing as a candidate for board election.

Jackson County Public Water Supply District #1

In Jackson County Public Water Supply District #1 which serves the city of Grandview, only incumbent board members Mark Bybee who represents Subdistrict 3 and Michael Lundeen who represents Subdistrict 1 filed for reelection to two 3-year terms, so there will be no election and they will start their new terms in April.

Kansas City Mayor

Candidates running for mayor are incumbent Quinton Lucas and long-time light rail proponent Clay Chastain.

Sixth District City Council

For the Sixth District-at-Large race incumbent Andrea Bough will be challenged by Jill Sasse and Mary Nestel.

Sixth District City Councilman Kevin McManus has termed out. That race has drawn five candidates: Dant Tarwater III, Michael Schuckman, Johnathan Duncan, Cecilia Carter, and Tiffany Moore.

Fifth District City Council

The Fifth District-at-Large seat is losing its longtime councilman Lee Barnes, Jr.  The seat has drawn three candidates: Michael Kelley, Darrell Curls, and Theresa Cass Galvin.

Incumbent Ryana Parks-Shaw will keep her seat as Fifth District City Councilman. She is running unopposed.

Fourth District City Council

Fourth District-at-Large City Councilman Kathryn Shields has termed out, opening the seat to several candidates: Jess Blubaugh, Justin Short, Crispin Rea, John DeCapo and Grace Cabrera.

Fourth District City City Councilman Eric Bunch will be challenged by Henry Rizzo and Crissy Dastrup.

Third District City Council

Third District-at-Large Brandon Ellington will be challenged by Melissa Patterson Hazley.

Third District City Councilman Melissa Robinson will be challenged by Sheri Hall.

Second District City Council

Second District City Councilman-at-Large Teresa Loar has termed out, creating a race between Lindsay French, Mickey Younghanz, and Jenay Manley.

Second District City Councilman candidate Wes Rogers is running unopposed. The seat is currently occupied by Dan Fowler.

First District City Council

First District City Councilman-at-Large Kevin O’Neill is running against Ronda Smith and Pam Mason.

First District City Councilman Heather Hall has termed out. Running for her seat are Nathan Willett and Chris Gahagan.

You will find more information the Kansas City races in the February 1st issue of the Telegraph.