Monday Memo: Facts Matter, Statutes Matter, and True Leadership Requires Competency

Happy Monday, Platte County.

When you are running to be your next County Clerk, you aren't just running to manage an office—you are asking voters to trust you with the precise, legal execution of county administrative law. In local government, accuracy is everything. When candidates don't understand the law, they spread bad information, create unnecessary panic, and do a profound disservice to the taxpayers they are trying to represent.

Recently, a public Facebook post from one of my primary opponents caught my attention. In it, it was stated that the Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) “brought forth an order to increase values by at least 15%” for 2027. I believe my opponent “shared” or copied and pasted another post stating these inaccurate facts.

The post is fundamentally and profoundly incorrect.

Spreading a rumor that the state is ordering a massive, mandatory 15% minimum hike on your property values in 2027 is fearmongering. Yes, many of us—including myself—received notice that our real property valuations would likely exceed 15% in the 2027 reassessment cycle. But as an engineer, my career has been built on looking at hard data, checking the source, and following the precise schematics. Let's look at the actual law and set the record straight for Platte County taxpayers.

Fact-Checking the "15%" Rumor: What the Law Actually Says

The State Tax Commission (STC) has not ordered a blanket 15% increase for 2027 assessments, nor is there any state mandate or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) requiring our County Assessor to hike values by that specific percentage.

So, where is this confusion coming from? My opponent has fundamentally misunderstood a statutory cap and mistaken it for a mandatory floor.

• It’s a Cap, Not a Target: Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 137.115.10, the number 15% is actually a legal ceiling designed to protect you. By state law, a local assessor cannot increase a residential property’s assessment by more than 15% in a two-year cycle unless they conduct a physical, exterior inspection of the property. If they fail to inspect it, your increase is capped at 15% as a matter of law.
• The Neighboring Context: This issue has been all over the news because the STC recently cracked down on neighboring Jackson County after their messy 2023 reassessments. The STC stepped in and officially ordered Jackson County to retroactively cap their non-inspected assessment increases at 15% and issue tax credits. They did so by RSMo 138.390.
• The Senior Freeze Safeguard: Remember also, if you qualify, have applied, and received the Senior Tax Credit, your assessments are “frozen” for each subsequent tax year. While your property assessment will be recorded as adjusted in the Assessor’s files, your actual taxes should NOT increase!

The State Tax Commission isn’t mandating a rate hike for 2027 as it did in the 2025 MOU directed at what I am fairly certain was 88 Missouri counties. Platte County did not sue the STC as several other counties did; instead, due to clerical mishandling at the time, we were forced to negotiate the increase down to a 6.835% compromise.

In my next Wisdom Wednesday post, I will elaborate on how the STC bases its authority to issue those MOUs and mandate true market value assessment ranges. I will also address whether our local taxing districts must roll back tax levies when assessments increase.

Why This Points to a Fundamental Lack of Qualification

Understanding these distinctions isn't just semantics; it goes directly to a candidate's qualifications to hold the office of County Clerk.

The Clerk serves as the secretary to the Board of Equalization (BOE)—the very board where citizens go to appeal their property assessments. If a candidate running for Clerk does not even understand the basic state statutes governing property assessments, how can they be trusted to precisely oversee the administrative process of your tax appeals?

We cannot fix the courthouse with leadership that operates on rumors instead of reading the actual statutes. When leadership lacks a grasp of the facts and the law, it leads to the exact kind of administrative confusion, hidden calendars, and manufactured red tape we are trying to clear out.

Real Leadership Based on Precision, Not Panic

True compassion for taxpayers isn't measured by how much panic a candidate can generate; it’s measured by the competency, precision, and level-headed discipline they bring to the office. A leader, not a follower.

Platte County taxpayers deserve a Clerk who acts as a true Taxpayer Advocate—someone who knows the laws inside and out, stands as a wall against administrative bloat, and ensures the system operates with absolute transparency and legal accuracy.

I promise to continuously educate myself on the statutes and laws, research how I can protect the taxpayers, and actively advocate to change the laws and statutes that I find unfair or that hinder our community.

Let's stop the misinformation, clear out the insider loops, and bring common-sense engineering precision back to our local government.

Let's keep the conversation focused on facts and real solutions.

#PlatteCounty #PlatteCountyMO #MondayMemo #TaxpayerAdvocate #CommonSense #TransparencyInGovernment #LocalGovernment #Accountability #StateTaxCommission

Fiscal Friday: A Conversation About Affordability, Common Sense, and the Courthouse

Let’s talk about something we all have in common, regardless of how we vote: managing a household budget.

Whether you consider yourself a conservative, a centrist Independent, or a center-left Democrat, nobody likes watching hard-earned money go to waste. In our personal lives, most people—no matter their political leanings—are remarkably disciplined with their own checkbooks. We cut unnecessary expenses, we avoid bad debt, and we demand real value for every dollar we spend.

In fact, think about this: Have you ever met a single person, of any political party, who voluntarily sends extra money to the government above their actual tax bill?

Of course not. Because deep down, everyone understands that family budgets are tight, and we need to protect our own financial stability.

The Disconnect in Government

The real problem arises when the people running our government forget that same basic rule. At the Federal, State, and unfortunately, right here at our local county level, a dangerous culture has taken root. A block of politicians and unelected special interests keep working hard to raise taxes, add new fees, and invent costly new programs—often for services our community doesn't actually need.

They treat the taxpayer like an endless ATM to fund a bloated system. Look at the actual math right here in Platte County:

• The Clerk’s Office Budget: Has increased over 44% in just four years, skyrocketing from $260,000 in 2022 to $373,000 in 2026. Additionally, office renovations totaled $250,000, alongside new furniture expenditures in the neighborhood of $50,000. This is your hard-earned tax dollars at work.
• The Salary Spikes: A block of six out of ten elected officials quietly voted to hand themselves a 30% pay raise. Once re-elected, that translates to an annual raise of $28,000 per year—right after enjoying an 8% pay raise just four years ago. In less than a ten-year tenure, these elected salaries have ballooned from about $68,000 to $100,000 by 2027.

Are you seeing a 44% increase in competency or service at the courthouse? Are you finding it 30% easier to navigate county bureaucracy?

To be fair, most of the courthouse was renovated this past year, some for solid reasons. But structural maintenance shouldn't serve as a blank check for administrative bloat.

To My Neighbors Who Feel Politically Homeless Right Now...

I know there are many lifelong Democrats and Independents in Platte County who are looking at the current direction of their party—and the rapid rise in the local cost of living—and feeling deeply uncomfortable.

You might not traditionally vote for a Republican. But you are watching your grocery bills rise, your property assessments climb, and your hard-earned dollars stretch thinner each year due to out-of-control government budgets.

This isn't about rigid ideology anymore. This is about affordability.

When a government machine stops looking out for regular families and starts looking out for its own growth, it's time to hit the brakes. True compassion isn't measured by how much of other people's money a government can spend; it's measured by how well it protects the financial well-being of the citizens it serves.

Bringing Financial Sanity Back

I am running for County Clerk not as a career politician, but with an engineer’s mindset to run a clean, transparent, and financially disciplined operation.

We need to treat the county budget exactly how you treat your family budget. It's time to stop the manufactured red tape, halt the special-interest tax grabs, and demand an independent audit to see exactly where your tax dollars are going.

You don't have to agree with every single platform of a political party to agree that Platte County should be affordable for the people who live here. Let's clear out the insider loop and bring common-sense fiscal sanity back to the courthouse.

Are out-of-control budgets making life harder for your family? Let's talk about real solutions below.

I want to shout out to my friend and business owner Jim Eaton for our talk this week on this topic.  His comments inspired this post and got me thinking about the real economic impact this election will have depending on who is elected to our county offices.

#PlatteCountyMO #FiscalFriday #CommonSense #TransparencyInGovernment #LocalGovernment #Affordability #Accountability #IndependentAudit #StepUpForPlatteCounty #EatonChemical #RiversideMO #OutlawJimAndTheWhiskeyBenders #LiveLocalMusic #CommunityFirst #SupportLocal #CommonSenseLeadership

 

Wisdom Wednesday: Why We Are Stepping Up to Restore Platte County

When I decided to run for office alongside several other non-politicians this year, I knew our county government was suffering from a lack of focus. I expected to find some bureaucratic inefficiencies and perhaps a few foolish ploys.

I did not expect to uncover what looks like an intentional agenda to keep the public in the dark.

Take a look at what is happening right now in our courthouse, backed by official testimony and citizen correspondence:

Operational Obstruction & Manufactured Red Tape

At a recent Commission meeting, Laura Walden (candidate for Platte County Auditor) testified about the baffling hurdles she faced just trying to appeal her property value and file her candidate paperwork.

• The hurdles: The Clerk's office forced her to fill out unnecessary "Agent Authorization" forms, refused to accept them via email or fax, and actively resisted providing a "Received" stamp until she forced the issue.

• The confusion: When she tried to file her legally required Personal Financial Disclosure (PFD), staff falsely claimed they "don't handle those"—forcing a candidate to educate the office on basic election laws.

• The double standard: A few weeks later, my own candidacy for Clerk was put in jeopardy for not filing a PFD with the County Clerk—solely due to conflicting instructions from the Platte County Board of Elections. So, did the Clerk’s office arbitrarily change their policy in a matter of weeks? What happened to following the statutes and the law?

• The political theater: Amidst this chaos, four incumbents revealed their true colors by abandoning their Republican primaries to attempt to qualify as Independents in the general election. I'll let you make your own observations on what that kind of maneuvering means.

• The Bottom Line: The Clerk’s office budget has increased over 44% in the last four years. We are spending record amounts of tax dollars, yet taxpayers are being forced to jump through more hoops just to get basic competency.

"Opacity at its Finest": Hiding the Calendar

It gets worse.

Just this week, the link to the County Commission Calendar and session items has suddenly been access-restricted from public view.

Despite multiple notices over the months, the county continues to lock down public data. The Clerk has been put on notice that this is unacceptable and is either intentional or shows incompetence.  I do not understand working so hard to resist transparency.

Connecting the Dots: Follow the Money, Follow the Power

This isn't just coincidental bumbling. This is a cultural crisis driven by a specific agenda.

Look at the math: We have a block of six out of ten elected officials who quietly voted to hand themselves a 30% pay raise, prioritizing their own pockets over the taxpayers. At the same time, we are seeing sustained efforts from private economic development insiders to quietly steer Platte County government toward a high-tax, special-interest agenda.

When a government wants to raise your taxes and shift its culture away from traditional accountability, the first thing they do is kill transparency. They stonewall Sunshine requests, they make filing paperwork a nightmare, and they lock the public calendar.

The Fix: It’s Time for an Independent Audit

Government should work like a clean, well-engineered machine. When a machine breaks down or starts drawing power to places it shouldn't, you run a diagnostic.

I am fully joining the call for a comprehensive, independent process audit of these departments. We need to find out exactly where our inflated tax dollars are going, dismantle this manufactured red tape, and throw the doors open to absolute transparency.

We don't need career politicians protecting a closed loop. We need independent, common-sense leadership ready to restore a culture of service, openness, and fiscal sanity to Platte County.

What do you think? Is it time to clear out the roadblock and bring real transparency back to the courthouse? Let me know below.

What a wonderful 4th of July and 250th Birthday celebration in Parkville, Missouri this morning!

Yes, we had a little rain and there were nearly 60 entries, many of them politicians running for office.  Yours truly was there handing out small flags and greeting the folks on the parade route.  Many commented and liked the name and asked how you say “Wojtkiewicz”.  Well easy - “Walk-a’witz”.  But Wojo will also be on the ballot name.  We received some great support and a few “I’ll vote for you” from the great crowd.

A huge thank you to my volunteers - Evan who lent his 1978 Ford F150 and drove; Phyllis Hartley and Rachel Kautz for walking with me!  And to all the supporters who dropped by while walking for area candidates with well wishes and support.

It was wonderful to see all the kids, many in Red, White and Blue.  Some adutls festooned 1776 costumes!  But all braved the rain and were having a great time!

Yes, there were too many politicians.  Me included.  I am sure many in the crowd grew weary of seeing the throng running for office and hearing the endless campaign rhetoric from the reviewing stand.  But we all need to get you, the voter, to know who we are and what we are about.  Many of you are very receptive and take an active part in County Politics and vote at every chance.  That is a Patriot!

Am looking forward to the rain clearing off, sitting down to the ribs I have smoking in the smoker on my deck and enjoying an evening and night filled with fireworks.

Happy 4th Y’all!  And God Bless America!  May she continue to be the beacon of Freedom!

Russ “Wojo” Wojtkiewicz for Platte County Clerk

Another great factoid from our Campaign Coordinator Rachel Kautz -

On this day, July 4th, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence while meeting in Philadelphia at Freedom Hall.

There are seven more events that happened during 1776 all the way through December.

Enjoy today when our nation celebrates 250 years!  Celebrate proudly and safely!  Be thankful we are still in a free society due to the efforts of the Colonial men and women and the generations of veterans and patriots over the last 250 years.  They risked and lost their lives for the cause of Freedom!  Let's honor them by keeping this Republic and our Freedom!

 

💥 𝟒,550 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 & 𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭

Wow. Our Monday video endorsement from local legend "Outlaw Jim" Eaton has blown past 4,550 views!

That tells us one thing loud and clear: Platte County residents are tired of the typical political games. They want common-sense, independent accountability in the courthouse. We are successfully reaching the everyday taxpayers who just want local government to run efficiently and stay out of their pockets.

But to keep this momentum surging all the way to the August 4th primary, we need to keep fuel in the tank.

Unlike the establishment, our campaign doesn't rely on big political action committees or insider money. We are 100% grassroots, funded by citizens who want a watchful watchdog looking out for their tax dollars.

Whether it’s $10, $25, or $100, every single dollar goes directly toward getting our message out to voters, printing signs, and keeping our campaign truck rolling.

If you believe it’s time for an engineer’s eye for efficiency—and a Clerk who works for you, not the bureaucracy—please consider investing in our campaign today.

📩 How to contribute:

You can contribute on line at our WinRed account:
https://secure.winred.com/wojtkiewicz-for-platte-county-clerk/donate-now

Or we accept cash and checks to: Wojtkiewicz for Platte County Clerk, 6324 N. Chatham Ave, PMB 314, Kansas City, MO 64151.  Please include information for MEC records - Name, Address, Employer, Retired or if Self-Employed your occupation.

Thank you for the incredible support this week. Let’s keep pushing forward! See you on July 4th in Parkville!

#WojoForClerk #PlatteCounty #GrassrootsPower #FuelTheTruck #TaxpayerWatchdog #BoringEfficiency #parkvillemo #America250

Another great factoid from our Campaign Coordinator Rachel Kautz -

On this day, July 2nd, 1776, Congress voted in favor of Independence while meeting in Philadelphia at Freedom Hall.

There are eight more events that happened during 1776 all the way through December.

Enjoy this weekend when our nation holds its 250th Birthday Celebration!  Celebrate greatly and safely!  Be thankful we are still in a free society due to the efforts of the Colonial men and women and the generations of veterans and patriots over the last 250 years.  They risked and lost their lives for the cause of Freedom!

Let's honor them by keeping this Republic and our Freedom!