Byron Townsend faces Lon McDonald for 4th District seat in Jackson County Legislature

In the November 3 general election, voters in south Kansas City and Grandview will vote on the 4th District candidates to decide who will represent them in the Jackson County Legislature. The race pits Byron Townsend, a Democrat and Hickman Mills School Board Member, against Lon McDonald, a Republican and business owner from Grandview.

DaRon McGee, the incumbent 4th District Legislator, did not run for reelection in 2026. The decision came as McGee set his sights on the 2026 Jackson County Executive Race. McGee dropped out of that race in April.

Lon McDonald (R)

Republican Lon McDonald is a business owner who has lived in Grandview for more than 40 years. The owner of Textile Care Group entered local politics after being appointed by Grandview Mayor Leonard Jones to serve on the Jackson County Council for the University of Missouri Extension office.

McDonald has served in managerial positions since he was 18 and is also the founder of KC-area business Textile Care Group. He wants to use his expertise in making organizations more efficient and profitable to improve Jackson County government operations. The county should adequately serve the people it represents, McDonald said.

As a Legislator, McDonald said he would offer more discretion in budget discussions, emphasizing that governments don’t always have to spend all of the money available. It would also include efforts to strengthen the county’s core services and make sure offices are more responsive to residents.

“It’s like the people are working for the government, not the other way around,” McDonald said.

In the wake of the county’s property valuation debacle, McDonald also said Jackson County senior citizens and property owners need to be “treated better.” He said people should feel secure in their properties and not taxed out of their homes.

Byron Townsend (D)

Democrat Byron Townsend is a retired postal worker and longtime member of the Hickman Mills School Board, for which he has also served as President. Townsend could not schedule an interview before press time, but he told the Telegraph in August that he heard about many county problems as a postal worker and thinks he can help solve them.

Ahead of the Aug. 4 primaries, Townsend said he was running for the seat because Jackson County government is no longer working for the people. He said this is a result of high taxes and the public’s inability to communicate with the county government. He wants to fix that by encouraging more citizen engagement.

Townsend also said in August that the county government operates on “gut feelings” during development conversations. As Legislator, Townsend said he would instead create an Urban Development Committee to consult the county on those matters.

Finally, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals prepare to exit Truman Sports Complex, Townsend has also proposed alternative uses of Jackson County’s ⅜ cent sales tax. He has spoken in support of using the tax to fund demolition of blighted properties to make way for new developments as well as a property tax assistance grant program.