Thursday, March 30, 2023

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BY GREG WALTERS

Ward 1 Race ends in a Tie!
The race for Ward 1 Alderman has ended in a tie. The unofficial count from the Jackson County Election Board show Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters and his challenger Demonte Rochester each received 240 votes.

Because of how close the election was (1% difference), a hand recount of the ballots is required by Missouri State Statutes.

WHAT'S NEXT? According to Sara Zorich, Co-Director of the Jackson County Election Board, the following process is used to determine who won the election in case of a tie.

MILITARY VOTE: Votes cast by members of the Military have until Friday, April 7th, to be counted in the April Election. Those votes (if any) cast in the Raytown Election would be added to the total votes cast per candidate.

VOTES CAST AT JACKSON COUNTY ELECTION BOARD: There were a small number of votes cast at the Jackson County Election Board on Tuesday, April 4th. At this point it is unknown if those votes would effect the Ward 1 race.

If the vote is still a tied at the point the candidates have two options.

They can draw straws, create a lottery, flip a coin, basically whatever they agree to,  with only the two candidates involved. 

Another option would be to schedule a Special Election for the contest to be re-voted if both candidate agree to do so.

Whatever the decision, all should be known by Tuesday, April 11th, when the Jackson County Election Board is scheduled to do conduct the final certification of the April 4th Election.


BY MORRIS MELLOY

For Immediate Release
Contact Information: Rtyncommaware@gmail.com                            

GUEST EDITORIAL BY MORRIS L. MELLOY
RAYTOWN COMMUNITY AWARENESS

Raytown City Hall
Process Revealed
BORDERLINE CORRUPT POLITICS AS USUAL

Days before a General Municipal Election and a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, residents of Raytown, MO learned how Mayor Mike McDonough and his Administration have stacked the deck not only against the residents, but the Alderman elected to represent them.

OCTOBER 22, 2022: An out of State Developer approaches city to rezone 5.29 residential property for a commercial development. For the ensuing months, the Mayor, Administrator and staff work together to develop a staff report regarding the proposal. The residents believe discussion between City Hall and the out of state developer started before October, 2022. At no time were residents notified of discussions nor offered an opportunity to have their voice heard.

JANUARY 24, 2023: The 20 neighbors living within 185 feet of said property are notified of a Developer Meeting at City Hall regarding the plans. The notice is required under Sec. 50-560.01 of the Raytown Municipal Code. The notice was dated January 17, 2023 only providing 7 days notice while this code requires two week notice.

A second meeting of the Developer was held. This time, March 21 after a notice dated March 10, but not mailed until March 15. Again, the developer failed to meet the requirements of the Raytown Municipal Code of a two week notification.

JANUARY 24, THRU MARCH 2, 2023: Local residents have contacted city hall asking for information and been stonewalled with every effort. The residents have called their elected Alderman only to be told the Alderman have no information and most have followed the City Hall directive to “Follow the Process”. The residents continue to meet and will have another meeting April 4, 2023 to continue plans to fight the Mayor, City Administrator, i.e. City Hall, demand better of the “Process”.

FAST FORWARD – MARCH 31, 2023: Five months into the private process, perhaps longer, 139 pages of information on this proposed re-zoning is posted on the City of Raytown Website. This posting shows how extensive the staff of city hall worked with the developer to ensure this development moves forward. Not one page of the information and staff recommendations contained was ever shared with nor allowed vetting of a single resident of Raytown, except the Mayor.

April 4, 2023 Election Results

FOR MAYOR

Michael McDonough.............................2200
Write in....................................................143
Undercount.............................................374       (Undercount is how many people who skipped voting on the race)

FOR ALDERMAN, WARD 1 
Greg Walters..........................................240
Demonte Rochester.............................240

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 2
Jim Aziere............................................363
Jason Sneddon...................................224

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 3
Janet Emerson...................................279
Jeanette Gentry.................................144

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 4
Mary Jane Van Buskirk......................249
Theresa Garza....................................440

FOR ALDERMAN WARD 5
Diane Krizek......................................369
Write-in..............................................18

MARIJUANA TAX (Raytown)
YES.....................................................1833
NO......................................................909

RAYTOWN SCHOOL BOND QUESTION 1    (57% approval required)
YES....................................................3976
NO.....................................................1397

RAYTOWN SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE    (simple majority required)
YES...................................................2832
NO....................................................2507
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POSTED BY GREG WALTERS
League of Women Voters
Forum a Success
On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum for candidates for the Raytown Board of Aldermen. The Forum was held via Zoom which, in our opinion, was a far superior way to conduct the meeting. For the most part candidates seemed to be more comfortable via Zoom.

The meeting lasted approximately one and one half hours. It gave a very good snapshot of the candidates and their positions on different issues affecting all of us in Raytown. Use the following link to view the League of Women Voters Raytown Forum.

USE THIS LINK . . . League of Women Voters Forum

To read more election news continue scrolling down.


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