ED EILERT IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER FOUR DECADES OF ELECTED LEADERSHIP IN JOHNSON COUNTY WHO SHOULD SUCCEED HIM AS LEADER OF THE METRO'S SECOND LARGEST COUNTY THIS WEEK WE PARTNER AGAIN WITH THE JOHNSON COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION TO BRING YOU WHO WILL LEAD THE COUNTY THE JOHNSON COUNTY CHAIR DEBATE PLUS WE DEBATE THE FUTURE OF JACKSON COUNTY AS EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE FACES THE TOUGHEST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF HIS CAREER AGAINST LEGISLATOR THERESA GALVIN IT'S ALL COMING UP ON A SPECIAL HOUR-LONG EDITION OF WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY RSM DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS BOB AND MARLESE GOURLEY THE COURTNEY S TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST JOHN H MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA N A CO-TRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU THANK YOU HELLO AND WELCOME I'M NICK HAINES EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE FIXATED ON THESE BIG ELECTION RACES FOR SENATE GOVERNOR AND CONGRESS BUT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT IMPACT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR POCKETBOOK ARE MADE BY LOCAL LEADERS FROM HOW MUCH YOU PAY IN YOUR TAXES TO WHAT RULES YOU HAD TO FOLLOW DURING THE RECENT COVID PANDEMIC THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO HOME THIS WEEK LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE LIFT UP THE HOOD ON THE RACE TO BE LEADER OF JACKSON COUNTY BUT FIRST WE TURN OUR SPOTLIGHT TO THE KANSAS SIDE OF STATE LINE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR THIS YEAR AND SAID THEY HAD WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED ED EILERT AS LEADER OF JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOW IT'S DOWN TO JUST TWO PEOPLE AND THEY ARE WITH US MIKE KELLY IS THE MAYOR OF ROELAND PARK CHARLOTTE O'HARA IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO CURRENTLY SERVES AS ONE OF THE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS A JOB INTERVIEW THIS IS A FULL-TIME POSITION PAYS ABOUT 75 000 A YEAR IN RETURN WE EXPECT YOU TO MANAGE MORE THAN 3 THOUSAND EMPLOYEES OVERSEE PUBLIC TRANSIT PUBLIC HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SENIOR SERVICES LIBRARIES PARKS EMERGENCY RESPONSE A SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND A JAIL OH AND A MUSEUM AND AND BE ANSWERABLE TO 465 000 BOSSES THAT'S THE HOW MANY VOTERS THERE ARE IN JOHNSON COUNTY MIKE KELLY WHY DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HIRE YOU OVER THE OTHER PERSON WE'RE INTERVIEWING TODAY WELL NICK THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU TO KCPT AND THE BAR ASSOCIATION FOR HOSTING THIS DEBATE AS A LIFELONG JOHNSON COUNTY ARREST RESIDENT I REALIZE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY I'M PROUD TO BE RAISING A FAMILY HERE IN JOHNSON COUNTY IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RUN A BUSINESS OR TO COMFORTABLY RETIRE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THE LEADERS THAT WE ELECT AND THE POLICIES THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE SET THE COURSE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AS THE MAYOR OF ROLAND PARK I HAVE THE EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THIS COUNTY FORWARD FROM DAY ONE IN MY TIME IN ROLAND PARK WE'VE LOWERED OUR MILL LEVY THREE DIFFERENT TIMES A TOTAL OF 18 PERCENT WHILE FULLY FUNDING THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE WANT IN JOHNSON COUNTY WE'VE ALSO FULLY FUNDED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EXPANDED IT WELCOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES AND DID OUR PART TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME THIS INFLECTION POINT IN JOHNSON COUNTY'S HISTORY I THINK WE NEED TO REJECT TOXIC RHETORIC AND FOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITIES THAT REALLY CONNECT JOHNSON ONIONS I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THEM WITH YOU HERE TODAY THAT'S ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THIS JOB INTERVIEW THE OTHER IS CHARLOTTE O'HARA WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU CHARLOTTE THANK YOU NICK AND IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU DO YOU REMEMBER ME COMING IN YOU'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES YES ABSOLUTELY AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND I WOULD BRING YOU IN TOMATOES TO SHARE DURING UH DURING THE HARVEST ANYWAY UH YES I AM CHARLOTTE O'HARA AND I HAVE BEEN IN JOHNSON COUNTY SINCE 1972.

I AM THE MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN AND SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN I DID SERVE IN THE STATE HOUSE IN 2011 AND 2012.

I HAVE I AM NOW CURRENTLY THE THIRD DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND WE HAVE FOUR OVER FOUR THOUSAND EMPLOYEES INSTEAD OF THREE THOUSAND IT'S THIS IS A HUGE OPERATION WE HAVE WE HAVE GONE FROM A BUDGET OF 815 MILLION IN 2013 AND NOW IT IS AT 1.64 BILLION FOR 2023 OUR PEOPLE ARE REALLY SUFFERING UNDER THE HIGH PROPERTY TAXES THE FOLKS IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND I AM GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT A LID ON PROPERTY TAXES I DO HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH MY OPPONENT'S MATH ON ON THE REDUCTION OF THE MILL LEVY I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION HERE THAT IT'S ONLY 3.5 PERCENT AS OF 2022.

MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE ED ISLET OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS HE'S SORT OF BECOME THE FACE OF JOHNSON COUNTY ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE POLITICAL LEADERS HOW WOULD YOU BE DIFFERENT THAN ED ISLET IF YOU'RE LEADING JOHNSON COUNTY WHAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WE WOULD SEE THIS DIFFERENCE WILL BE IS THAT THAT I WILL GUIDE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO BE A POLICY MAKING BOARD CURRENTLY IT IS A RUBBER STAMP WE JUST FOLLOW THE STAFF AND A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THAT LAST WEEK WE HAD A VOTE ON APPROXIMATELY 7 MILLION DOLLARS AND I SAID NO BECAUSE WE NEED THOSE FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER THESE ARE ARPA FUNDS AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS THAT WE ARE WE ARE THROWING MILLION HERE 10 MILLION HERE AND I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS ARPA MONEY LIKE DRUNKEN SAILORS OKAY WHAT WOULD YOU WHAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE WE WOULD NOTICE MIKE KELLY IF YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH ED ISLET OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS WELL FIRST OF ALL I THINK WE NEED TO CONGRATULATE ED ISLAND FOR NOT ONLY 12 YEARS THE SERVICES CHAIR BUT MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE IN PUBLIC PUBLIC SERVICE TO JOHNSON COUNTY IF YOU INCLUDE HIS TIME IN OVERLAND PARK I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIS SUPPORT IN THIS RACE AS WELL AS A BROAD BIPARTISAN GROUP OF NOT ONLY LAWMAKERS BUT COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THESE GREAT INSTITUTIONS IN JOHNSON COUNTY THEY'VE BEEN BUILT FOR DECADES BY NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC SECTOR BUT ALSO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY PROTECT THOSE INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE ENJOY LIVING IN JOHNSON COUNTY IT'S ONE OF THE PROMINENT COUNTIES IN OUR NATION BUT WE ALSO GOT TO BE WILLING TO INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE TO LOOK AT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND FIND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THOSE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND TAKE ADVANTAGES OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE DAY WHAT IN YOUR JUDGMENT MR KELLY IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING JOHNSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW I THINK THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING JOHNSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS THE TOXIC RHETORIC THAT'S LEECHED ITS WAY FROM THE FEDERAL OR STATE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE'VE NOW FOUND IN OUR LOCAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IT THREATENS OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH MERITLESS LAWSUITS IT MAKES BUSINESSES WANT TO THINK TWICE ABOUT FOCUSING ON JOHNSON COUNTY AS A TARGET IT PUTS OUR COUNTY ELECTED UH NOT ELECTED BUT STAFF ON ON TRIAL WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSION NO MORE SO THAN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS OR OUR ELECTION OFFICERS AND IT IT EQUATES RHETORIC OR CONSPIRACY THEORIES FOR THE COMMON BASIS OF FACT UPON WHICH WE NEED TO AGREE UPON TO MAKE SOME OF THE MOST CRUCIAL DECISIONS FOR THE HEALTH AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY WHAT TO YOU IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN JOHNSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW OKAY WELL AS I'M GOING DOOR TO DOOR I'M NOT FINDING THIS TOXIC RHETORIC UH I'M FINDING PEOPLE THAT ARE OPEN TO DIALOGUE IN FACT I WAS TALKING TO A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT AT A CHECKOUT SHE WAS A CASHIER THERE AND I ASKED HER IF SHE LIVED IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND SHE SAID YES MY HOUSE PAYMENT HAS GONE IN IN THREE YEARS FROM A THOUSAND AND EIGHTY DOLLARS A MONTH TO FOURTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH SHE'S HAD TO GET A SECOND JOB TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE THAT SHE'S BEEN IN FOR 21 YEARS DO YOU THINK HOUSING PRICE IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN JOHNSON COUNTY RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S PROPERTY TAXES I AM ONE OF THESE ODD PEOPLE WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVES GOING TO THE MAILBOX DURING ELECTION TIME AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THE POLITICAL MAILERS AND POSTCARDS THAT COME MY WAY AND IN BETWEEN THE PRICE CHOPPER GROCERY ADS AND THE CREDIT CARD APPLICATIONS MS O'HARA I SAW ONE OF YOUR POSTCARDS THIS WEEK AND IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE IN BIG RED LETTERS A COMMON SENSE BUSINESSWOMAN WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS BY THE WAY OKAY SO I IN THE 80S I WAS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND SO THE 80S 90S AND INTO THE 2000S I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN UH GENERAL CONTRACTOR THAT I KNOW ABOUT I ALSO OWN A COUPLE OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS UH IN OLATHE AND I AM A BUSINESS PARTNER WITH MY OLDEST SON WHEN A SMALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN OLATHE CAN I READ THE NEXT LINE ON THAT POSTCARD THAT I SAW IT SAYS THE CHOICE IS CLEAR A COMMON SENSE BUSINESSWOMAN OR A TAX AND SPEND SANCTUARY CITY LIBERAL I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE MAYOR OF ROLAND PARK MR KELLY THAT I AM IN 2020 ROLAND PARK BECAME THE SECOND CITY IN KANSAS TO DEVOTE TO LIMIT POLICE AND CITY COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS MORE THAN A HUNDRED COUNTIES ACTUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ADOPTED SIMILAR POLICIES WOULD YOU WORK TO DO THAT IF YOU PICKED TO LEAD JOHNSON COUNTY ROLAND PARK HAS ALWAYS COMPLIED WITH ALL LAWS AND WE ALWAYS WOULD COOPERATE WITH ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THERE'S AN ONGOING PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT OR A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO FIX THE FEDERAL BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM INSTEAD TO FOCUS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ROLAND PARK AND I'M PROUD OF THAT RECORD IN MY TIME IN ROLAND PARK WE HAVE FULLY FUNDED AND HAVE A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT WE'VE ACTUALLY ADDED TO IT BY ADDING A MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER UNIT AS WELL AS A CANINE UNIT AND MADE SURE THAT WE BUILT BONDS OF TRUST BETWEEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY AND IN MY TIME AS MAYOR OUR CRIME RATE ACTUALLY HIT A 10-YEAR LOW AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON BUILDING THAT GOOD RAPPORT NOT UPON POLITICAL STUNTS LIKE SHERIFF HAYDEN'S FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND INVESTIGATION AND ELECTION FRAUD LET'S FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT HERE IN JOHNSON COUNTY IT'S BEING MADE BY THE WAY OF ROLAND PARK A FULL-TIME JOB IT IS NOT WHAT WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT PUTTING ON YOUR MAYOR'S HAT IN ROLAND PARK I AM AN UH ATTORNEY I'M A LITIGATOR AT THE LAW FIRM OF HUSH BLACKWELL I FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT LITIGATION AND I THINK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP GIVES ME A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD JOHNSON COUNTY FORWARD AND THAT CONNECTION TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS VITAL TO MAKING SURE THAT WE FIND THOSE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN FACT MAYBE THOSE PUBLIC PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT CAN BE CATALYTIC FOR THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY I WAS ON YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE CHARLOTTE O'HARA AND YOU WE CAN SEE YOU BELIEVE IN SMALLER AND LESS INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT LOWER TAXES FREEDOM OF SPEECH PARENTAL RIGHTS YOUR PRO-LIFE WHY RUN FOR THIS OFFICE MIGHT YOU BE BETTER SUITED TO RUN FOR KONG CONGRESS OR THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE WITH THAT BASKET OF ISSUES I HAVE A REAL HEART FOR SERVING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THIS REALLY REALLY UM IT SUITS ME IT REALLY SUITS ME AND I HAVE I HAVE THE BACKGROUND POLITICALLY I CAN I HAVE LOTS OF CONTACTS IN TOPEKA IN FACT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO WITH MY FRIENDS IS TO PUT A CAP ON ON INCENTIVES OF 50 BECAUSE THE TAX INCENTIVES ARE ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL WE HAVE INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS IN EDGERTON THAT'S GOT 90 TO 95 PERCENT TAX INCENTIVES ABATEMENTS AND IT'S IT'S JUST TOO MUCH SO I AM WORKING TO LIMIT ANY OF THE INCENTIVES TO 10 YEARS AND NO MORE THAN 50 PERCENT YOUR TOP SELLING POINT IN YOUR MAILINGS UH MR KELLY IS THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE ROLAND PARK THOUGH IS A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF BETWEEN SIX AND SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE JOHNSON COUNTY HAS 600 000 AND PLUS UH PEOPLE WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO CONVINCE US THAT YOU COULD MANAGE THAT SUBSTANTIAL JUMP IN RESPONSIBILITIES BUDGET AND PEOPLE WELL IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT I'M UNIQUELY POSITIONED FOR THIS ROLE THIS ROLE OF CHAIR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN JUST BEING A COMMISSIONER BECAUSE THIS ROLE IS ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE IT LIKE A MAYOR SETS THE AGENDA SHEPHERDS ITEMS THROUGH BUT ALSO RUNS THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT'S A SKILL SET NICK AND I HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE BEING MAYOR OF ROLAND PARK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND IT'S THAT CONSENSUS BUILDING THAT IS IMPORTANT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ELECT A LEADER NOT JUST A CRITIC NOT JUST SOMEBODY WHO TAKES A BURN VOTE BUT INSTEAD SOMEBODY THAT HAS A PROVEN RECORD OF BUILDING CONSENSUS AND MOVING FORWARD AND THAT'S WHY I'M UNIQUELY POSITIONED FOR THE ROLE ANOTHER BIG ISSUE IS AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH ATTENTION ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT'S THE FEAR OF CRIME WHICH WE ARE TOLD NOW IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR VOTERS IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND IT'S NOT JUST VIOLENT CRIME JUST RECENTLY THE OVERLAND PARK POLICE WERE INVESTIGATING THE BREAK-IN OF NEARLY A HUNDRED VEHICLES IN LESS THAN FIVE HOURS IN A SMALL BLOCK NEAR 135TH AND METCALFE WHICH WHICH DIDN'T EVEN SPARE THE RESIDENTS OF THE GATED SENIOR FACILITY MISS O'HARA WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE AS JOHNSON COUNTY LEADER TO REDUCE CRIME WELL WE ACTUALLY DID TAKE THAT ACTION AS AS A COMMISSION AND I WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT FORWARD THE COMPROMISE ON THE PAY FOR OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WE WERE AT THE LOW END OF PAYING OUR DEPUTIES STARTING PAY WAS APPROXIMATELY 48 000 WITH MY LEADERSHIP AND I BROUGHT THE TWO SIDES TOGETHER AND NOW WE'RE AT APPROXIMATELY FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS STARTING PAY AND SO THAT IS GOING TO HELP US BACKFILL THE SEVEN 70 VACANCIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY CURRENTLY THAT WE HAVE AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS FILLED THE OTHER THING IS IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE WHEN WE WHEN WE ARREST SOMEONE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TRIED AND THAT THEY SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCE SENSES FOR THEIR ACTIONS IF IF IT IF WE HAVE LIKE LIKE IN CALIFORNIA NOW THE NO BAIL AND AND ALL OF THESE ALL OF THESE UM TECHNIQUES OF SUPPOSEDLY BRINGING IN EQUITY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HORRENDOUS CRIME RELIEF WAVE AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I AS I GO DOOR TO DOOR I HAD A WOMAN JUST THREE BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE ADMIN BUILDING SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE CARJACKED IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE SHE WILL GO NOWHERE WITHOUT HER DOBERMAN PINSCHER NOW AND THAT'S SAD THAT'S SAD SO MORE MORE POLICE MORE UH SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BACKING THE BLUE AND WHAT WOULD YOUR APPROACH BE MY KELLY MY APPROACH WOULD BE THE SAME APPROACH THAT I'VE TAKEN IN IN ROLAND PARK AND THAT'S FULLY FUNDING A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP NOT ONLY THEM BUT OUR COMMUNITY SAFE PUBLIC SAFETY TO ME IS PERSONAL I HAVE A BROTHER WHO'S IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HERE IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION SO EVERY DECISION THAT I WANT TO MAKE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS I'VE GOT HIM IN MIND WHEN I'M DOING IT SO WE FULLY FUNDED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDED THOSE COMPETITIVE WAGES FOR OUR DEPUTIES AND WE CREATE A GOOD CULTURE WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT LIKE I SAID A MENTAL HEALTH CORRESPONDER UNIT WAS KEY MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY HANDLE DIFFICULT CALLS THAT THEY HAVE A RESOURCE THAT'S PROPERLY TRAINED TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION IN A WAY THAT A POLICE OFFICER MIGHT NOT PERSONALLY BE TRAINED FOR WE ALSO GAVE HIM THE TOOLS OF A K-9 UNIT AND A BIKE UNIT AND WE MADE IT A REWARDING WORK ENVIRONMENT AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT BEING A COUNTY CHAIR IS WE NEED TO SET THE TONE FROM THE TOP WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED THAT THEY FEEL LIKE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY'RE NOT PUT IN THE STOCKS BEFORE WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND THEN WE HAVE THIS REWARDING WORK ENVIRONMENT BEING IN PUBLIC SERVICE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR TO THE PRIVATE MARKET BUT THE ADVANTAGE WE DO HAVE NICK THAT'S IN THE PURPOSE ADVANTAGE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT REWARDING WORK ENVIRONMENT IN THAT TONE OF LEADERSHIP AND BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THE 4 000 PEOPLE THAT WORK IN JOHNSON COUNTY THAT'S THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTY IT'S THEIR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE UPON WHICH WE CAN DRAW IN THE DECADES OF SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT GIVE US THIS AMAZING PUBLIC SERVICE AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE'VE COME TO EXPECT IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND IF WE TURN THOSE PEOPLE OVER ANNUALLY OR SEMI-ANNUALLY WE LOSE ALL OF THAT EXPERIENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE DECADES TO REBUILD THE KANSAS CITY STALL EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSED YOU MR KELLY AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY DID ON ONE OF THE REASONS THEY LISTED WAS THAT YOU SUPPORTED A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND YOUR CAMPAIGN FLYERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO CLAIM YOUR OPPONENT IS AGAINST A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT ROLE IF ANY DOES THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION HAVE IN DECIDING MATTERS RELATED TO ABORTION WELL I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN THIS RACE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHERE MY VALUES ARE AND AS A KANSAN THAT IS PART OF THE FOREVER THE FREE STATE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING MORE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES TO PEOPLE NOT TAKING THEM AWAY AND IN THAT CRUCIAL MOMENT AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND AND ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DOBBS DECISION SETS A PRECEDENT THAT COULD CHALLENGE OTHER IMPORTANT FREEDOMS AND PRIVACY RIGHTS THAT PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY ENJOY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY NICK THIS IS ALSO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO MR O'HARA YOU YOU'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION ALREADY SO UH HOW DOES ABORTION PLAY INTO WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR WORK AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION HEADQUARTER BUILDING NONE THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY ABORTION ISSUE THAT HAS COME BEFORE THE BOARD UH THE THE THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THE BOARD AS AS BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAS SHUTTING DOWN OUR ECONOMY AND CLOSING OUR SCHOOLS AND MASK MANDATES I SUPPORTED NONE OF THOSE I I DID NOT WEAR A MASK AT THE ADMIN BUILDING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE HAVE FOUND THE FALLACIES OF WHAT THE EXPERTS SAID INITIALLY AND I IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE THAT YOU NEED TO YOU NEED TO OBVIOUSLY RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE BUT NOT TO BOW DOWN YOU MENTIONED COVID THE CITY OF ROELAND PARK WAS ONE OF THE MOST CAUTIOUS CITIES IN THE METRO DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC LONG AFTER JOHNSON COUNTY DROPPED ITS MASS MANDATE YOUR CITY MR KELLY CONTINUED TO REQUIRE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO WEAR MASKS AND IMPOSED A 25 DOLLAR FINE ON THOSE WHO DIDN'T WEAR ONE IN THE INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES IN YOUR JUDGMENT DID JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT GET IT RIGHT OR WRONG ON COVID AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY WELL I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD A VERY DIFFICULT LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC UH NO MORE SO THAN THE FAMILIES OF THOSE 1300 JOHNSON COUNTIANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND NOW AS AN EXECUTIVE OF A COMMUNITY THERE WAS REALLY A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH THAT I OBTAINED DURING THIS TIME WORKING WITH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF VARIOUS HOSPITALS AND LISTENING TO AND HEEDING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND ICU CAPACITY LOWER BUT ROELAND PARK WAS A LEADER WE MADE SURE THAT WE WERE THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY TO PROVIDE FREE PPE TO OUR RESIDENTS TO OUR BUSINESSES AND TO OUR GUESTS WE WERE THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY TO UTILIZE OUR ARPA FUNDING TO PROVIDE FREE AT-HOME TESTING KITS WE WERE THE FIRST COMMUNITY TO PUSH FOR AND HOST A TESTING FACILITY WITHIN THE 435 LOOP AND AS WE MENTIONED THIS BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT CRUCIAL ROLE AND WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO LISTEN TO THOSE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS WHO BELIEVES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE EFFICACY OF VACCINATIONS SOMEONE WHO VALUES THE MEDICAL DEGREES OF THOSE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS OVER CONSPIRACY THEORIES OR GOOGLE SEARCHES THIS ELECTION YEAR CHARLOTTE O'HARA WE ARE TOLD THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON VOTERS MINDS IS RISING PRICES IF YOU'RE ELECTED JOHNSON COUNTY CHAIR WHAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST ACTION YOU WILL TAKE TO HELP YOUR CONSTITUENTS PAD THEIR POCKETBOOKS OR LOWER THEIR HOUSEHOLD BILLS THIS IS THIS IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY UH DIFFICULT AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE THE NELSON WASTEWATER PLANT THAT'S WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THAT AND WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2021 THE ESTIMATE WAS 425 MILLION AND NOW IT'S 574 MILLION AND I'M SURE THAT IT WILL INCREASE PEACE AND THAT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT IS GOING TO LOOK AT EVERY EXPENDITURE AND GO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PRIORITIZE AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING SO BUT THAT MEANS CUTTING DOESN'T IT OR ELIMINATING THERE'S 450 DIFFERENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT JOHNSON COUNTY OFFERS IS THERE ONE PROGRAM THAT YOU WOULD ELIMINATE OR CUT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE UM THE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STILL HAS SEVEN EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ON STAFF WE HAVE INCREASED EXPENDITURES AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT 41.5 SINCE 2019 AND SO THOSE THOSE EXPENDITURES NEED TO BE ROLLED BACK WERE WERE POST COVETED AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T EXPENDING DOLLARS UNNECESSARILY WE HAVE WE HAVE NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE UH HIRED A NEW HEALTH EQUITY UH POSITION AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF EQUALITY ABSOLUTELY MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS OF AFRICAN AND KOREAN DESCENT SHE CAME TO MY HOME WHEN SHE WAS 10.

I HAVE TWO HISPANIC GRANDCHILDREN I I MEAN OUR FAMILY WE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT RACE AND THIS IS NOT NECESSARY YOU DON'T THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY ON RACIAL TRAINING NO OKAY I WANT TO GO BACK TO MIKE KELLY ON THIS QUESTION YOU KNOW SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM RISING PRICES CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PAT PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS OR REDUCE THEIR HOUSEHOLD BILLS WELL NICK I RECOGNIZE THIS AND I FEEL THAT TOO WITH MY WIFE AND I OWNING OUR HOME IN ROLAND PARK AND WE TALK TO FRIENDS WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUY A HOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY GREW UP IN WE WANT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR NURSES AND OUR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPRAISAL PROCESS IN OUR COUNTY NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ACCURATE NOW IN ROLAND PARK WE TRIED TO MEET THEM WHERE WE WERE WE DID LOWER OUR MILL LEVY A TOTAL OF 18 YOU CAN GO TO ROLANDPARK.NET TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND I ASKED MY OPPONENT OR OTHERS TO POINT TO ANOTHER CITY THAT'S BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE IN LOWERING THE MILL LEVEES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS NOW WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY SO WHAT WE DID IS WE TRIED TO BE INNOVATIVE WE CREATED A PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN UTILIZING THAT PROGRAM WHICH WAS SOLELY INCOME BASED WE PAID THE ROLAND PARK SHARE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THOSE MOST VULNERABLE A LOT OF TIMES THAT WAS SENIORS ON A FIXED INCOME WE ALSO STARTED A NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS PROGRAM THAT MADE SURE THAT WHEN THERE WAS BLIGHT ISSUES OR MINOR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS WE WORKED WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WE WORKED WITH NEIGHBORING HIGH SCHOOL TO STUDENTS WHO NEEDED SERVICE HOURS TO HELP FIX THOSE ISSUES BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO ALSO IS WELCOME NEW BUSINESS CREATE A RISING TIDE THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A BIGGER PIE IT'S NOT A ZERO-SUM GAME NICK WE CAN FOCUS ON CREATING THIS BROADER BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP TAKE OFF SOME OF THE WEIGHT ON THE SHOULDERS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS YOUR WEBSITE TALKS ABOUT THAT YOU WILL WORK TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY COMPANIES IN HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRIES THAT OFFER GOOD PAYING JOBS YES SIR TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL WOULD YOU APPROVE PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING ON THE MISSOURI SIDE OF STATE LINE TO ENTICE THEM TO MOVE INTO JOHNSON COUNTY WELL I RECOGNIZE THAT TIFFS AND TAX INCENTIVES ARE A TOOL IN THE TOOL KIT AND AT CERTAIN TIMES YOU DON'T NEED IT LIKE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER AND JONATHAN DRIVE AND ROW WE WERE ABLE TO WELCOME TWO WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL FACILITIES TO ROLAND PARK AND WE DID SO WITHOUT THE USE OF ANY INCENTIVES BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT AT TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S SET VACANT FOR DECADES OR A CATALYTIC OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN NEW JOBS AND NEW ECONOMIC STIMULUS INTO YOUR COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR INCENTIVES AND LET'S BE FRANK NICK WE'RE NOT JUST COMPETING WITH KANSAS CITY MISSOURI WE ARE COMPETING AT A NATIONAL LEVEL FRANKLY AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL IN JOHN JOHNSON COUNTY TO ATTRACT THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS THE PANASONIC FACILITY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IN WESTERN JOHNSON COUNTY THE SINGLE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF KANSAS IS COMING TO JOHNSON COUNTY AND IT TOOK A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY PANASONIC WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMING BUT ACCORDING TO PUBLISHED REPORTS IT SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER JOB THAT'S HOW MUCH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THOSE TAX INCENTIVES AND YET JOHNSON COUNTY ADDED TO THAT BY PROVIDING ANOTHER 15 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX INCENTIVES IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE STATE OF KANSAS OFFERED IF YOU WERE ON THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME WOULD YOU HAVE NOT SUPPORTED THOSE TAX INCENTIVES I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THESE INCENTIVES BECAUSE IT'S FOUR THOUSAND NEW JOBS AND A HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRY HOW DO YOU DIFFER ON THAT QUESTION MISS OHIO OH WELL I DO NOT SUPPORT THE NEARLY BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS THE 15 MILLION THAT WE SENT OUT TO DE SOTO FOR THE PANASONIC BATTERY PLAN I DID NOT SUPPORT AND THEN DESOTO ALSO ADDED TO THE GOODIE BAG AND AND THEY INCREASED THE POT BY 202 MILLION DOLLARS ON A TAX INCREMENT FINANCE DISTRICT AND THEY WILL AND PANASONIC WILL BE BACK FOR APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 200 MILLION ON AN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND SO THEY WILL PAY NO SALES TAX ON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS EQUIPMENT OR FIXTURES AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT TAX INCENTIVES THERE'S A POST-LEGISLATIVE STUDY IN 2013 THAT DEBUNKED THIS MYTH THAT TAX INCENTIVES WORK I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OVERLAND PARK THEIR MILL LEVY IN 2001 WAS 7.6 MILLS IT IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 14.5 MILS PRIOR TO SPRINT OVERLAND PARK WAS NOT IN THE RACE FOR TAX INCENTIVES THEY HAD A GREAT TAX BASE THEY HAD A LOW MILL LEVY AND PEOPLE WANTED TO COME THERE WELL NOW WE WE HAVE MORE THAN WE HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED THE MEAL LEVY PLUS ALL THE INCREASE IN VALUATIONS AND AND OVERLAND PARK DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ASPHALT STREETS THE TAX INCENTIVES AND THE CERTAINLY THE PANASONIC PLANT HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RECURRING HEADLINES IN THE MEDIA ANOTHER ONE IS THE JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF HE'S BEEN MAKING LOTS OF HEADLINES AFTER SHERIFF CALVIN HAYDEL ANNOUNCED HE WAS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO WIDESPREAD ELECTION FRAUD AND PLEDGED TO DEPLOY HIS DEPUTIES TO BLOCK PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NEW ARMY OF IRS AGENTS FROM INVESTIGATING COUNTY RESIDENTS ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER PROPOSED APPOINTING RATHER THAN ELECTING THE COUNTY SHERIFF IF YOU'RE THE JOHNSON COUNTY SHARE UH JOHNSON COUNTY CHAIR WOULD YOU SUPPORT ANY STUDY ANY PANEL OR COMMISSION TO CHANGE THE WAY JOHNSON COUNTY PICKS ITS SHERIFF ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY MIKE KELLY THAT'S A DECISION THAT WAS ALREADY MADE BY THE CHARTER COMMISSION LAST YEAR WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN THESE NEXT FOUR YEARS MS O'HARA YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE SAYS ONE WAY TO SAVE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT IS TO QUOTE STOP FUNDING THE FAILED SYSTEM OF TRANSIT IN WHICH WE'RE QUOTE DRIVING EMPTY BUSES AROUND JOHNSON COUNTY SHOULD JOHNSON COUNTY GET OUT OF THE TRANSIT BUSINESS I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT STOPPING DRIVING THE EMPTY BUSES AROUND AND THIS IS THIS HAS BEEN A JOKE IN JOHNSON COUNTY FOR YEARS TO TARGET OUR MONEY ON THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT IN OUR MEETING LAST THURSDAY AND THAT WAS ONE ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TARGETING OUR DOLLARS FOR THEM WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE THEN WITH REGARDS TO THAT THEY SHOULD STILL HAVE A BUS SERVICE IN JOHNSON COUNTY IT SHOULD BE DONE WE REALLY HAVE TO CUT IT BACK AND REALLY FOCUS WHERE THE NEED IS RIGHT NOW WE ARE WE'RE JUST RUNNING EMPTY BUSES AROUND THERE IS A THERE IS ONE ROUTE THAT GOES FROM JCCC UP TO KU THAT IS WELL THAT IS THAT THAT FUNCTIONS WELL HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THAT ISSUE DIFFERENTLY WELL WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE A GROWING COUNTY AND WE NEED TO BE CONSIDER ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN ROLAND PARK UH I LOOK AT MY RECORD OF WHAT WE DID ON ROAD BOULEVARD TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS AND STATE FUNDING TO CREATE REALLY THE ARTERY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO LOOK AT PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT FOR THE ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK THROUGHOUT JOHNSON COUNTY BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER 100 000 PEOPLE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WE'RE GOING TO UN ADD TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE IN THE COMING YEARS THERE ARE MORE JOBS WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS OF COLLEGE AND METCALF THAN THERE ARE DOWNTOWN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING INTO JOHNSON COUNTY EVERY DAY FROM JACKSON COUNTY BUT ALSO FROM WYANDOTTE COUNTY IN MIAMI COUNTY IN FRANKLIN AND ANDERSON AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN WELCOME PEOPLE INTO JOHNSON COUNTY AND THAT INCLUDES A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WELL RIGHT NOW A STUDY IS UNDERWAY THAT WOULD FOR THE FIRST TIME BRING THE KANSAS CITY STREET CALL LINE INTO KANSAS ALONG A ROUTE CONNECTING THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY WITH THE SPORTS STADIUMS I'M ASSUMING MS O'HARA THAT YOU WOULDN'T SUPPORT EXTENDING THAT LINE INTO JOHNSON COUNTY NO WHAT ABOUT YOU MIKE KELLY I THINK IT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY YOU LOOK AT STUDY AFTER STUDY OF INVESTMENT IN DOLLARS NEXT TO FIXED RAIL AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR JOHNSON COUNTY YOU LOOK AT THE RIDERSHIP THAT TOM JARON AND THE TEAM AT THE KCATA HAS DEVELOPED THROUGH THAT STREETCAR IT'S ONE OF THE MOST USED IN THE NATION SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SO WE SEE FOR INSTANCE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD BE AS A STRATEGIC LOCATION IN WYANDAL COUNTY WHERE WOULD IT MAKE SENSE IN YOUR VIEW TO HAVE THAT IN JOHNSON COUNTY WELL IT WOULD BE A STUDY THAT WE WORK ON WITH RESIDENTS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO IS UH IN ROLAND PARK IS WHEN WE WERE CREATING THESE NEW OPPORTUNITIES THESE VISIONING OR PLANNING SUSTAINABLE PLACES UH OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WELCOME FOLKS IN AND THERE'S PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT DENSER IN THE NORTHEAST THAT WOULD PROBABLY REALLY LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FIXED RAIL TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DOWNTOWN FOR WORK ON A DAILY BASIS NOW THERE'S PARTS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO MAKE SENSE BUT I WANT TO MEET THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE FUTURE AND INNOVATE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE JOHNSON COUNTY ONE OF THE BEST COUNTIES IN THE NATION AND THAT DOES TAKE OPPORTUNITIES AND IT MEANS BEING OPEN TO NEW INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES DOES IT ALSO MEAN YOU'RE WILLING TO COMMIT JOHNSON COUNTY TAX DOLLARS TO AN EXTENSION OF THE STREETCAR LINE IN JOHNSON COUNTY WELL THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS OF ANY PLAN NICK BUT I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'LL LOOK AT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THAT CAN IMPROVE THE LIVES AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF JOHNSON COUNTY THERE'S TALK OF BUILDING A DOWNTOWN BASEBALL STADIUM MAYOR LUCAS SAYS HE WOULD SUPPORT THAT IF THE KANSAS SIDE WOULD SHARE THE COST WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO SUPPORTING A NEW BI-STATE TAX TO SUPPORT A DOWNTOWN STADIUM CHARLOTTE O'HARA ABSOLUTELY NOT MIKE KELLY I THINK AGAIN DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS YOU LOOK AT BI-STATE AND WHAT IT IS DONE FOR UNION STATION THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLAY SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY NOW BY STATE TWO DID NOT MAKE SENSE AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT IT BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JOHNSON COUNTY WHO'S A LEADER FROM THE METROPOLITAN REGION TAKES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE THE FUTURE AND THAT MEANS LOOKING AT PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THEY MAKE SENSE FOR THE PEOPLE OF JOHNSON COUNTY WOULD YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY MS O'HARA IF THERE WAS A BRICKS AND MORTAR PROJECT IN JOHNSON COUNTY TO GO ALONG WITH THIS DOWNTOWN BALLPARK IN ON THE MISSOURI SIDE WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY WE HAVE TO GET OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER AND START REDUCING OUR BURDEN OF TAXES ON OUR ON OUR ON OUR RESIDENCE AND WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER TAX AND ANOTHER TAX I HAD RECOMMENDED THAT WE TAKE OUR ARPA FUNDS AND PAY OFF THE COURTHOUSE SO THAT IT WOULD REDUCE THE SALES TAX BY A QUARTER PERCENT BUT OF COURSE THAT WAS JUST NOT GOING TO FLY SO NOW I'M SAYING WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING THOSE ARBOR FUNDS ON A A SPECIFIC PROJECT LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER BOX YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE MISS O'HARA AND YOU WRITE THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT EFFORTS TO WORK ACROSS COUNTY LINES WITH OTHERS AND PROMOTE AN IDEA KNOWN AS REGIONALISM JOHNSON COUNTY YOU SAY SHOULD NOT HAVE KANSAS CITY MISSOURI TELLING US HOW TO RUN OUR COUNTY SO IS THERE ANY ISSUE OR PROBLEM THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO COLLABORATE WITH MISSOURI'S SIDE COUNTIES AND CITIES IF YOU'RE ELECTED JOHNSON COUNTY CHAIR ABSOLUTELY THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN FOR CONVERSATION TO TO WHAT TYPE OF ISSUE YOU THINK UH IT WOULD HAVE TO IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE ISSUE BUT I WILL TELL YOU I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT KANSAS CITY MISSOURI COMING OVER AND IMPACTING JOHNSON COUNTY IS THAT THE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HAS FOUND THEY THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY HAS FOUND THE RIGHT TO COME OVER TO KANSAS SIDE USE THEM IN A DOMAIN TO TRANSFER PRIVATE PROPERTY TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER AND PUT UP APARTMENT COMPLEX PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH CONDUIT BONDS AND AND THIS WOULD BE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPT FOR THE TERM OF THE BONDS UP TO 30 YEARS AND THAT IS JUST AN ABSOLUTE NO-GO AND I HAVE SUPPORTED LEGISLATION UH THAT WOULD WOULD PROHIBIT THE KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO DO THAT WELL INCREASING LOW WE'RE HEARING ONLY THE RICH WE'RE TOLD CAN NOW LIVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND THERE'S NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WORKING FAMILIES WITH MORTGAGE RATES GOING THROUGH THE ROOF RENT PRICES TOO MR KELLY WHAT ROLE IF ANY SHOULD THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION PLAY IN MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE WELL I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE THAT'S FACING A LOT OF FOLKS ESPECIALLY IN MY VINTAGE WHO ARE TRYING TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME OR BE ABLE TO ADD A BEDROOM OR A BATHROOM FOR A GROWING FAMILY AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY GROW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR NOW LIVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY GREW UP AND LIKE I SAID WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A JOHNSON COUNTY THAT HAS A DIVERSE UH HOUSING STOCK SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR FIREFIGHTERS YOUR POLICE OFFICERS YOUR TEACHERS BE ABLE TO LIVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY YOU KNOW ROELAND PARK WAS AN EARLY PARTICIPANT IN THE UCS HOUSING STUDY AND AS PART OF THAT HOUSING STUDY THEY CREATED A WHOLE TOOL KIT OF OPTIONS THAT WE COULD UTILIZE ONE OF THOSE IS MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING REALLY FIND THAT MISSING MIDDLE NOT EVERYTHING IN JOHNSON COUNTY NEEDS TO BE SO POLARIZED OF FOUR MILLION DOLLARS HOMES OR APARTMENTS WE CAN UTILIZE A MULTITUDE OF STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP PEOPLE ALL PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY IS THERE A STRATEGY YOU WOULD HAVE AS CHAIR IN TERMS OF TRYING TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN IN JOHNSON COUNTY OR SHOULD THAT NOT BE A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WELL I WILL TELL YOU THAT PRAIRIE VILLAGE IS GOING THROUGH UH THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PUT DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES AND OTHER BUILDINGS WITHIN THEIR ARE THEY'RE DOING AWAY WITH R1 ZONING AND UH THEY ARE RUNNING INTO A FIRESTORM OF CRITICISM AND I SUPPORT I SUPPORT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE THAT ARE STANDING UP AND SAYING ABSOLUTELY NOT THIS IS REALLY VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GOOD FOLKS IN WESTERN JOHNSON COUNTY WE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THEY PLAYED BY THE RULES AND NOW THEIR WORLD IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND PRAIRIE VILLAGE GOOD FOR THEM THEY'RE FIGHTING BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CALLED WHEN THEY PUT A STOP REZONING SIGN IN THEIR YARD BY THE MAYOR OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE RACIST THAT'S RIDICULOUS YOU TALK ABOUT DIVISIVE LANGUAGE THAT'S RIDICULOUS SO THE THE THE I KEEP TELLING MY COLLEAGUES I SAID WE HAVE TO STOP RAISING PROPERTY TAXES WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM AND WHEN GOVERNMENT CREATES THE PROBLEM AND THEN COMES RUNNING IN AND SAYING OH WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND FACT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER WE HAVE TO PUT THAT TYPE OF OF INSPIRATION INTO OUR WORKFORCES TO TELL US HOW CAN WE DO BETTER WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER FUNCTIONING LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO FILL THE SHOES ABOUT ISLET AND HE'S ACTUALLY ON A RETIREMENT TOUR RIGHT NOW I SEE ALL THESE PARTIES HE'S GETTING LOTS OF ACCOLADES AWARDS FOR ALL HIS WORK HE'S BEING HERALDED FOR THE STEADY LEADERSHIP GIVEN SPECIAL KUDOS FOR TURNING THE OLD KING LOUIS BOWLING ALLEY INTO AN IMPRESSIVE ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER BUILDING A BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART COURTHOUSE TURNING A FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED PRIVATE GOLF COURSE INTO THE NOW HEAVILY TRAFFICKED MEADOWBROOK PUBLIC PARK IF YOU'RE ELECTED MR KELLY AND WE BRING YOU BACK TO THE SAME PODIUM FOUR YEARS AGO FOUR YEARS FROM NOW SHOULD I SAY WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY YOU WILL BE BEST REMEMBERED FOR I WANT TO BE BEST REMEMBERED FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECTED THESE INSTITUTIONS IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND THAT WE MADE SURE THAT WE PROTECTED NOT ONLY THE PLACE TO WORK FOR THE 4 000 JOHNSON COUNTIONS BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DAY WE'RE AT AN INFLECTION POINT A REALLY CRITICAL TIME IN OUR COUNTY'S HISTORY AND AT THIS TIME WE CAN UTILIZE EXISTING FUNDING LIKE ARPA FUNDING TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES OR CHILD CARE CENTERS WHICH MY OPPONENT JUST VOTED AGAINST LAST WEEK WE CAN FOCUS ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH PUBLIC IN PRIVATE ENTITIES TO CREATE THINGS LIKE MEADOWBROOK THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS FOR JOHNSON COUNTY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES THAT MATTER MOST TO JOHNSON COUNTIES NOT RHETORIC OR PARTISANSHIP BUT REALLY WITH THE VENN DIAGRAM OVERLAPS AND WE FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO MOVE THIS COUNTY FORWARD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION WE'VE COME BACK FOUR YEARS LATER AND WE'RE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AND I'M GOING TO SAY THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR IN YOUR FIRST TERM THERE AS THE COUNTY CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE CHAIRPERSON THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT EACH DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND IMPACTS INDIVIDUALS THAT I AM FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THE THE SMALL BUSINESSES I'M I AM A SMALL BUSINESS I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THAT I THAT I TRULY DID PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND THAT WE HAVE THE CRIME RATE IS GOING DOWN AND UM THAT I TAKE MY FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY AND THAT IS THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED BY I HAVE I HAD SOMEONE CALL ME A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND SAID COMMISSIONER O'HARA MY PROPERTY TAXES ARE SO HIGH I CAN'T BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR SO I HAD TO PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES BEFORE I BUY A NEW REFRIGERATOR I WANT THE GOOD FOLKS OF JOHNSON COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AND NOT BE OVER TAXING THEM AND YES WE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 PERCENT OF THE 10 TAX BILL BUT WE CAN SET THE TONE THE TONE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE I'M SURPRISED YOU COULD ACTUALLY SLEEP AT NIGHT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE CALLING YOU ALL THE TIME IT'S NOT TRUE I MEAN WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THOSE TODAY ONE OF THESE TWO PEOPLE BY THE WAY WILL BE FILLING ED ISLET SHOES AS THE NEXT LEADER OF JOHNSON COUNTY WILL IT BE MIKE KELLY OR CHARLOTTE O'HARA ONLY YOU WILL DECIDE WITH YOUR VOTE ON ELECTION DAY THANKS AGAIN BY THE WAY TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION FOR HELPING US PUT THIS EXCHANGE TOGETHER WHILE JOHNSON COUNTY IS PICKING A NEW LEADER JACKSON COUNTY VOTERS ARE ALSO DECIDING WHO SHOULD LEAD THEM FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FOR THE LAST MONTH I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE TO JOIN US IN OUR STUDIO TO DEBATE HIS OPPONENT FELLOW LEGISLATOR THERESA GALVIN BUT THIS WEEK WE OFFICIALLY GIVE UP ON THAT MISSION AFTER HIS CAMPAIGN REJECTED EVERY DATE AND TIME WE OFFERED HIM FRANK WHITE STANDING IN ONLY FIVE MEN IN PLAYOFF HISTORY HAVE EVER HIT 500 OR BETTER THIS ONE HAS HIT DEEP TO LEFT FIELD IT'S GOING TO BE GONE HOME RUN FRANK WHITE FRANK WHITE IS CONSIDERED A KANSAS CITY SPORTS LEGEND WHO HELPED THE ROYALS WIN THE WORLD SERIES BACK IN THE 80S CHANNEL 41 WENT EVEN FURTHER IN THE NEWS PROFILE CALLING HIM KANSAS CITY ROYALTY BUT THE SPORTS STAR TURNED POLITICIAN IS NOW AVOIDING THE MEDIA DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT IT I DON'T IF YOU ASK REGULAR QUESTIONS I'LL TALK TO YOU BUT NOT LIKE YOU NOT LIKE YOU'RE ASKING AS HE RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION WHITE HAS REJECTED EVERY DEBATE HIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE STILL SAYS COMING SOON EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK FROM ELECTION DAY BUT THERE IS ONE BUTTON ON THE PAGE TO DONATE TO HIS CAMPAIGN AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BEING ELECTED WHITE EVEN DECLINED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD A REST APP FOR ONE OF KANSAS CITY'S TOP LEADERS FRANK WHITE HAS HAD PROBLEMS ON THE JAIL ON PROPERTY VALUATIONS I THINK HE'S IN MORE TROUBLE THAN PEOPLE KNOW AND HE ALMOST GOT BEAT BY NO NAME DOING NO MONEY REFUSING TO YOU KNOW TO TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES DOES KIND OF TAKE THE OXYGEN AWAY FROM HIS OPPONENT THIS WHOLE IDEA OF POLITICIANS DUCKING A SEMI-HARD QUESTION IS COWARDLY AND EXCEPT FROM OUR RECENT WEEK IN REVIEW SHOW TRACKING LOCAL ELECTION RACES ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE BUT JUST BECAUSE FRANK WHITE WON'T DEBATE WE HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR TO DEPRIVE AS OPPONENT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO STATE HER CASE WITH US NOW IS THE SECOND NAME ON THE JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE BALLOT THERESA GALVIN SHE HAS SERVED ON THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS I HAVE TO ASK YOU DID YOU HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY TO YOU WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU THINKING AS WE JUST SAW IN THAT SEGMENT THIS IS A SPORTS LEGEND EVEN GOING AS FAR AS I SAY THIS IS KANSAS CITY ROYALTY YOU HAVE NO CHANCE QUITE THE OPPOSITE YES FOR ACTUALLY SEVERAL YEARS NOW I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT THEY WANT ME TO DO THIS THAT I NEED TO DO THIS THAT I AM PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN BEAT HIM SO I'VE GOT COMPLETE SUPPORT WAS THERE A SPECIFIC INCIDENT A SPECIFIC MOMENT THAT SAID TO YOURSELF I'M GOING TO PUT THE REST OF MY LIFE ON HOLD AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND RUN RUN IN THIS RACE SO THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK FOR ME WAS THE PURCHASE OF THE ARGUS BUILDING THIS IS A BUILDING THAT'S THREE MILES FROM THE STATE LINE AND HE'S GOING TO MOVE ALL OF ADMINISTRATION IN THERE SO HE PURCHASED A BUILDING FOR NINE MILLION DOLLARS IT ASSESSED FOR SIX MILLION DOLLARS IT NEEDS 16 MILLION DOLLARS NOW IN REPAIRS AND A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH FOR MAINTENANCE SO AFTER WE JUST DID IT ALL WE DID OR HE DID ALL HE DID DURING THE ASSESSMENT TO THE PEOPLE IN 2019 NOW WE'RE GOING TO START SPENDING MONEY ON ITEMS THAT WE DON'T NEED WE'VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING FRANK WHITE IN THIS ROLE AS JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE WE MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH YOU OF COURSE BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR MIND BETWEEN HOW HE HAS LED JACKSON COUNTY AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO I THINK I TAKE A MORE PERSONAL APPROACH I CAN WORK WITH OTHERS I CAN FIND A CONSENSUS AMONG DIFFERENT LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY I'M IN THE COMMUNITY I'M ACCESSIBLE AND I'M JUST I'M JUST A NORMAL PERSON BUT YOU'LL BE ALREADY BEEN ON THE LEGISLATURE SO SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY WELL YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE WHAT HAVE YOU ACTUALLY DONE AND IF YOU WERE RUNNING INTO SOMEBODY IN YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE YOU'RE GETTING READY TO CHECK OUT THE GROCERIES AND THEY SAY WHAT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN IN 20 SECONDS OR LESS WHAT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL THEM IN THAT LITTLE CONVERSATION YEAH FUNNY BECAUSE I DO RUN INTO PEOPLE IN GROCERY STORES THAT SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR EIGHT YEARS TWO YEARS AS THE CHAIRMAN IN TWO YEARS AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL LIKE I SAID IN FINDING CONSENSUS IN HELPING THE OTHERS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS IS HUGE THE PEOPLE KNOW ME THEY CAN COME UP TO ME THEY CAN ASK FOR HELP AND I DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO HELP THEM MYSELF BUT YOU ARE ONE OF MANY PEOPLE YES WHEN YOU'RE ON THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE UH THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THOUGH BEING THE LAST PERSON WHO HAS TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION MAKE THAT HARD CALL WHAT CAN YOU TELL US AND OUR VIEWERS AT HOME THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON WHO COULD MAKE THAT FINAL TOUGH RUBBER HITS THE ROAD DECISION SO AS I SAID I'M JUST I'M JUST YOUR NEIGHBOR I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE I WANT MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR BEING THE LEADER OF MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT NO ABSOLUTELY BUT BUT THAT'S JUST IT YEAH UM I I'VE WALKED THE WALK I DON'T JUST TALK THE TALK I I CAME FROM NOTHING I WAS HAVE BEEN GIVING NOTHING EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE I HAVE WORKED FOR I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT I AM NOT GOING TO ASK A TAXPAYER TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I WON'T GET MY OWN CHECKBOOK OUT AND I GO TO THE PEOPLE AND I ASK THEM WHAT THEY'RE WANTING I WILL HAVE MORE TOWN HALLS I WILL HAVE MORE MORE CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE AND THEY'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON I WAS ON I WAS POKING AROUND YOUR WEBSITE AND IT'S A PROVEN LEADERSHIP IS ONE OF THE BIG HEADLINES I MEAN YOU WERE IN BUSINESS WHAT WAS THAT BUSINESS SO CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY I'VE SPENT UH 20 YEARS IN STUCCO AND EVE'S BUSINESS AND IN 2016 I OPENED MY OWN BUSINESS I SAID I'D GIVE IT TWO YEARS I WAS ON THE LEGISLATURE AT THAT TIME IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL HAD A GREAT TIME DOING IT BUT I GAVE THAT 100 GAVE THE LEGISLATURE 100 AND I HAVE FIVE GRANDCHILDREN SO SOMETHING HAD TO GIVE AND I WAS KEEPING THE GRANDKIDS SO GOODBYE EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN JACKSON COUNTY MAY REMEMBER SEEING THOSE SCENES FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE PEOPLE ALMOST WITH PITCHFORKS WERE COMING TO FILL THE HEARING ROOMS AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE BECAUSE THEIR PROPERTY APPRAISALS HAD GONE UP SO MUCH IN FACT SOMETIMES IN CERTAIN CASES BY OVER A THOUSAND PERCENT WE HAD THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY SAYING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOMES DID WE FIX THAT MESS NO I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FIXED ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOUSING MARKET WHAT IT'S DONE THIS PAST YEAR I'M VERY VERY CONCERNED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 23.

BUT YOU WERE ON IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE TIME WERE YOU PART OF THAT PROBLEM NO NO I I HOPE I WAS PART OF THE SOLUTION WHAT THEY WEREN'T DOING AT THAT TIME AND I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE THE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSESSMENT AND SHE'S GREAT TO WORK WITH BUT THEY WERE USING PICTURES THAT WERE 10 YEARS OLD OR AERIAL VIEWS THEY WEREN'T DOING PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS AND THERE'S A STATE STATUTE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO A PHYSICAL INSPECTION IF YOU INCREASE THE PROPERTY BY 15 SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY WHAT I WOULD DO HAD I BEEN IN THAT SITUATION AT THAT TIME I WOULD HAVE MET WITH THE DIRECTOR I WOULD HAVE MET WITH THE STATE TAXING ENTITIES AND SAID WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE I AM NOT GOING TO INCREASE EVERYONE'S ASSESSMENT THIS AMOUNT BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO COME UP WITH A FIVE-YEAR PLAN A 10-YEAR PLAN THEN IT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE PEOPLE AND SAID THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE THIS IS OUR PLAN AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK ALSO THIS IS WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER NOW I'D LIKE IN JOHNSON COUNTY WHERE THE COUNTY LEADERS DON'T RUN ON PARTY LABELS IN JACKSON COUNTY WHERE PARTY BADGES FRANK WHITE IS A DEMOCRAT YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN AND THERE WAS A LETTER IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR FROM READER SUSAN WHITE WHO SAYS JACKSON COUNTY VOTERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS DOES IT MEAN YOU BELIEVE JOE BIDEN IS THE FAIRLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ALL THAT HE STOLE THE ELECTION SO THE ELECTION IS OVER IF THEY DO AN INVESTIGATION AND THEY FIND THERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DEAL WITH THAT I'M RUNNING FOR THE JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND I'M GOING TO DO MY DUTIES AS AS OUTLINED IN THE CHARTER FOR JACKSON COUNTY YOU KNOW ONE OF THE BIG RECURRING UH STORY LINES IN KANSAS CITY RIGHT NOW IS THIS POSSIBLE MOVE BY THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS FROM THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX TO A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK NOW EVEN THOUGH THE MELUCOS HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THOSE HEADLINES HE'S IN MOST OF THOSE STORIES IT IS THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE THAT OVERSEES THE SPORTS COMPLEX AND THOSE LEASES IF YOU WERE ELECTED WOULD YOU OPPOSE A ROYALS MOVE TO A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK I WANT THEM TO STAY IN JACKSON COUNTY I WOULD HEAR OUT WHATEVER THEY HAD TO SAY WHAT OFFER THEY HAD I DON'T WANT THE TAXPAYERS TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A MOVE PLUS WE HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL STADIUMS RIGHT THERE YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH THEM SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM PERSONALLY I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM STAY EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE AT BUT YOU WOULDN'T SUPPORT ANY PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS FROM JACKSON COUNTY GOING TOWARDS THAT MOVE NO AT THIS POINT NO I THINK THE TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH YOU KNOW THE WORLD CUP WILL BE COMING TO TOWN IN 2026 AND THOSE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM AND LUCAS SAYS THE STADIUM IS GOING TO REQUIRE ABOUT 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN UPGRADES TO ACCOMMODATE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S PAYING THE BILL IF YOU'RE HEAD OF JACKSON COUNTY WOULD YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR ALL OR AT LEAST SOME OF THAT MONEY I WOULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND I WOULD NOT WRITE A CHECK FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT NO BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO SOME OF THAT I AM OPEN TO SOME OF THAT BECAUSE WE WOULD BE RECEIVING TAXES YOU KNOW TAX REVENUE SO THAT'S WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT THAN GOING TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION RIGHT FOR THE DOWNTOWN OKAY NOT WIDELY KNOWN RIGHT NOW IS THAT KANSAS CITY HAS NO JAIL AND IT'S SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR RIGHT NOW SPEND SENDING DETAINEES TO RURAL COUNTIES MORE THAN 100 MILES AWAY AT A GREAT COST TO THE TAXPAYER APPARENTLY THAT'S BECAUSE JACKSON COUNTY WON'T ALLOW KANSAS CITY INMATES TO USE ITS DETENTION CENTER YOU'RE BUILDING A BRAND NEW ONE WITH 1200 BEDS AND FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD THE COSTS ARE BALLOONING IF YOUR EXECUTIVE WOULD YOU FIND A SPACE FOR KANSAS CITY INMATES TO REDUCE YOUR COUNTY'S COSTS AND SAVE KANSAS CITY TAXPAYERS FROM BUT BUILDING A DUPLICATE JAIL OF THEIR OWN ABSOLUTELY PLEASE DON'T SAY JACKSON COUNTY WON'T ALLOW IT I WILL ALLOW IT UM I'VE ALREADY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR LUCAS AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE A REGIONAL FACILITY I NEED TO BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE KANSAS CITY INVOLVED IN OTHER CITIES I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT NEED BEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHAT HAS BEEN THE SPAT THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABOUT THAT ALRIGHTY WELL KANSAS CITY THIS IS A FUN FACT HERE KANSAS CITY RESIDENTS MAKE UP MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF JACKSON COUNTY YET YOU BOTH RUN SEPARATE ELECTION OFFICES SEPARATE PARKS DEPARTMENTS SEPARATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SEPARATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN YOUR PUSH TO STREAMLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS THERE ANY AREA WHERE YOU WOULD SUPPORT MERGING SERVICES WITH KANSAS CITY TO SAVE TAX-BASED MONEY I WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHICH AREA LIKE I SAID I'VE GOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYOR LUCAS YOU KNOW HE'S THE CURRENT MAYOR WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BUT I WOULD BE I'D BE OPEN TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TOMORROW WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER WE'RE NEIGHBORS WE'RE WE WORK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER IF YOU'RE ELECTED AND I BOUGHT YOU BACK TO THIS CHAIR FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SAID YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HELPED THE PEOPLE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE ASSESSMENT ISSUE I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN THEIR HOMES THE JAIL I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE COMPLETED I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES YOU KNOW PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THAT COULD HELP THE PEOPLE AND THAT FOR ME THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE CRIME WITH THE JAIL WE ARE UH WE KNOW THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES SO CONGRATULATIONS YOU'VE JUST BEEN NAMED THE JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE YOU WALK INTO THAT OFFICE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME YOU SIT DOWN ON YOUR FIRST PRIORITY IS BLANK OH CHANGE THE PAINT IT'S BLUE ALL YOU GIVE YOURSELF OKAY UM YOU KNOW IT'S SO SO QUITE HONESTLY I AND I WAS ASKED THIS THERE ISN'T ANY ONE TOPIC THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE THINGS THAT THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND YOU KNOW WE CAN DO WE CAN DO ALL OF THEM WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT WE NEED TO GET THE ASSESSMENT STRAIGHTENED OUT WE NEED TO GET ISSUES WITH THE JAIL STRAIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT SO MANY ISSUES THERE AS I HAVE BEEN WORKING AND CAMPAIGNING I HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE COUNTY THAT COME UP TO ME AND SAY THAT I DO NOT KNOW THAT SAY THERESA I'VE WORKED HERE FOR 23 YEARS IF YOU DON'T WIN I'M GOING TO QUIT SO WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ASSESSMENT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE JAIL AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER BUT ALTHOUGH THREE OF THOSE THINGS ARE MAJOR PRIORITIES FOR ME THERESA GALVIN WANTS TO BE THE NEXT LEADER OF JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT THE MAN CURRENTLY IN CHARGE FRANK WHITE TO CLYDE EVERY DATE AND TIME WE OFFERED TO APPEAR ON THIS HOUR-LONG DEBATE SPECIAL MISS GALVIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME I APPRECIATE THAT WELL THIS WEEK I WAS IN TOPEKA HOSTING WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STATEWIDE RACES THIS ELECTION YEAR KRIS KOBACH IS CAMPAIGNING TO BE THE STATE'S NEXT TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HE AND DEMOCRAT CHRIS MANN DEBATED AT THE STUDIOS OF KTWU IN TOPEKA MY OPPONENT HAS SPENT DECADES PUSHING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ANTI-IMMIGRATION LAWS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE COST COMMUNITIES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ATTEMPTING TO ENFORCE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU NEED THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE TAKING THIS JOB I HAVE BEEN RECRUITED BY CITIES AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DEFEND THEIR IMMIGRATION LAWS BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT A NATIONAL EXPERT ON IT MY OPPONENT HAS NEVER ARGUED A SINGLE CASE IN FEDERAL COURT YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE TO TAKE THE JOB OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OUTGOING KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL DEREK SCHMIDT JOINS SEVERAL OTHER STATES IN FILING A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THE PROGRAM AT COURSE IS NOW ON HOLD BUT IF YOU WERE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD YOU HAVE JOINED THE LAWSUIT OR DO YOU THINK THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SHOULDN'T GET INVOLVED IN STUDENT DEBT CHRIS MANN YEAH SO MY OPINION ON ALL OF THESE FEDERAL LAWSUITS IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS MORE THAN IT'S GOING TO HURT THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS AND WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE UNLIKE MY OPPONENT I DON'T WANT TO START A NEW UNIT TO SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MY OPPONENT HAS SAID HE'LL WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND FOR BREAKFAST FIND A NEW WAY TO SUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S SIMPLY A WASTE OF OUR RESOURCES WHEN WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON IMPORTANT ISSUES RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CHRIS KOBACH YOUR CHANCE TO RESPOND WELL HE DIDN'T GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER DID HE HE DID SAY THOUGH THAT HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT WASTE OUR RESOURCES AND HE SAID HE'D FIRST ASKED WILL IT HELP OR HURT THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS WELL THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION LOOK THIS IS A CUT AND DRIED ISSUE IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE U.S PRESIDENT BY EXECUTIVE DEGREE DECREE TO SPEND 500 BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS FOR GIVING STUDENT LOANS OUR CONSTITUTION LAYS OUT VERY CLEARLY THAT ONLY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND MONEY AND TAX THE CITIZENRY BUT ALSO THE BIDEN POLICY IS HORRIBLY UNFAIR THINK ABOUT IT YOU MAY HAVE DECIDED TO NOT ATTEND THE MOST EXPENSIVE COLLEGE AND CHOOSE A CHEAPER ONE OR MAYBE YOU DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE OR MAYBE YOU WORKED YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND YOU NOW ARE GOING TO BE SADDLED WITH PAYING THE BILLS TO PAY OFF THE LOANS OF SOMEBODY ELSE WHO DECIDED TO GO TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE COLLEGE AND NOT QUITE SURE HOW HE WAS GOING TO PAY FOR IT SO IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IT IS UNFAIR AND OF COURSE IF I'M ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS WE WILL TRY TO STOP IT WE MUST PROTECT OUR COMPANY THAT'S JUST AN EXCERPT YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEBATE RIGHT AFTER THE REBROADCAST OF THIS PROGRAM SUNDAY MORNING IT'S WEEK IN REVIEW AT 11 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE AT NOON NEXT WEEK IT'S YOUR HANDY DANDY GUY TO ELECTION DAY WE DISSECT ALL THE QUESTIONS ON THE KANSAS AND MISSOURI BALLOTS LOOK AT THE RACES WE'VE MISSED AND THE TRENDS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO ON ELECTION DAY I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US UNTIL THEN I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON