Monday Memo: The "Chief Certifier"

In Platte County, the Clerk’s office is the "final checkpoint." While the Auditor prepares the budget, the Clerk is the official who must certify tax levies to the State and oversee the disbursement of your tax dollars.

It is a role that requires Absolute Precision and Technical Expertise.

For 32 years as a business owner and Systems Engineer, I’ve specialized in high-stakes environments where "close enough" isn't good enough. Whether it's certifying a levy or processing permits for local entrepreneurs, you deserve a Clerk who treats every county document with the same scrutiny an owner treats their own books.

My Modernization Goal: I will audit all permit applications and payment processes to move them into the 21st century. While some services (like liquor licenses) have finally moved online, government shouldn't be a "dinosaur" when it comes to technology.

I’m running to modernize our records systems and ensure the Courthouse "checkpoint" is as efficient, digital, and transparent as possible.

#WojoForPlatteCounty #PlatteCountyClerk #SystemsAccountability #PlatteCountyMO #GovernmentEfficiency #PlatteCity & #ParkvilleMO

Making the Courthouse the Center of Our Community Again

Happy Saturday, Platte County!

I was recently re-reading an insightful piece by Bill Graham in the Platte County Citizen about the history and future of our beautiful Courthouse. He captured something I’ve felt for a long time: our Courthouse should be more than just a place for tax assessments and legal proceedings—it should be a welcoming center for our community.

Bill made a few points that really hit home for me:

• History at the Forefront: Our post-Civil War structure is a treasure. We should be showcasing our history and our parks right there on the ground floor, making it a "positive attraction" for residents and visitors alike.
• A Friendly Ground Floor: Bill recalled the 80s and 90s when the ground floor felt more "friendly," with the County Clerk and other officials present and accessible.
• Removing the Barriers: While security is a modern necessity, we should strive to make the entrance to our "Justice Center" feel less like a hurdle and more like an invitation to engage with our local government.

The Watchdog Perspective: As your County Clerk, I don’t just want to audit the books; I want to audit the experience. I agree with Bill—we should move administrative offices back into the heart of the historic building and partner with our local historical societies to make the Courthouse a place of pride for every town from Parkville to Edgerton.

Our Courthouse is the "Heart of the County." Let’s make it beat for the citizens again.

Read Bill Graham’s full perspective here: http://www.plattecountycitizen.com/theplattecountycitizen/making-the-courthouse-the-center-of-the-community-once-again31102023

What are your favorite memories of the Courthouse Square? Do you agree it’s time to make the building more accessible and community-focused?

#SaturdayCommunity #PlatteCountyHistory #PlatteCity #OurCourthouse #Watchdog #CommunityFirst #PlatteCountyCitizen #PlatteCountyVeterans #ArmedServicesMemorial #HonorOurHeroes #LestWeForget #PlatteCityPride #MilitaryHistory #PlatteCountyCourthouse #WojoForPlatteCounty #IntegrityFirst #FiscalWatchdog

Who in your family served? My 41 years here have taught me that we owe it to these veterans to manage their tax dollars with the same integrity they showed in service.

Fiscal Friday: Leadership Starts at the Top, Not the Paycheck

As we wrap up a week of looking at the 2025 "tax challenges," one number stands out more than any other: 30%.

Last November, 60% of the voting Salary Commission (which includes the County Clerk) voted to increase the base pay for their own positions by 30%. To put that in perspective for the hardworking families of Platte County:

• The 30% Choice: While property assessments were being hiked by nearly 7% through a "Memorandum of Understanding," six officeholders decided their own roles were worth a massive salary jump.
• The 2.5% Reality: At the very same time, the front-line county employees—the people who actually process your paperwork, maintain our roads, and keep our community safe—were capped at a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment.

The Watchdog Perspective: In my 30 years as a business owner, I’ve learned that you don't reward the "Executives" with a windfall while the "Team" gets the bare minimum—especially when the "Customers" (you, the taxpayer) are feeling the pinch.  I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by my business bank to the Ewing Kaufman FASTTRAC program.  During that program we learned what good corporate ethics were and that Mr. Kaufmann believed that every employee contributed to the owner’s success!  And it was your duty, as an owner, to make sure the employees shared in the success of the company.  Marion Labs was renowned for making millionaires of their employees, including the custodial staff!  These lessons served me well attracting skilled labor to work for my company.

As your County Clerk, my focus will be on:

• Fairness for Staff: Ensuring our budget prioritizes the people doing the work, not just the people holding the titles.
• Fiscal Restraint: Standing against self-serving pay hikes that ignore the economic reality of our residents.  It will also compel me to look at the fiscal structure of the Clerk’s office to save the County General funds when and where state statutes allow.
• Transparent Budgeting: No more "quiet" votes on salary increases. You deserve to know how every dollar is spent.  While I am sure the meeting was open to the public, I was not aware it was going to take place.  I would do my best through use of cost effective social media and county resources to inform the public of meeting where decisions will be made that affect your tax dollars.

I’m running for Clerk to be a Watchdog, not to join a club that puts its own raises ahead of the people it serves.

Do you think a 30% raise for politicians is "conservative" when employees are capped at 2.5%? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

To get this message out, consider a donation to my campaign!!

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#FiscalFriday #PlatteCounty #TaxpayerFirst #Watchdog #PlatteCity #ParkvilleMO #Accountability #CountyClerk2026 #kaufmanfdn 

 Wisdom Wednesday: Was 2025 a "Challenge" or a Choice?

We’ve read that the incumbent claims that 2025 was the "most challenging tax year in history." But for Platte County taxpayers, the real challenge wasn't the paperwork—it was the price tag.

Let’s look at the "Wisdom" behind the decisions made at the Courthouse last year:

• The Assessment Hike: After failing to keep our county in compliance with state standards, the Courthouse "negotiated" a deal that raised your residential assessments by nearly 7% across the board. They called it a "victory." Most of us homeowners called it a state mandated tax hike without opportunity for appeal.  Such a hike should have been contested and delayed to a future assessment period to allow property owners their right to appeal.  Thus likely making the State Tax Commission mandate an illegal order, actually called a “Memorandum of Understanding “.  Hard for taxpayers to understand such an order.

• The 30% Raise: While taxpayers were being told to pay those new assessments, and tighten their personal budget belts, the six of the twelve Salary Commission members (including the Clerk) voted for a 30% pay raise for their own positions. Two of the members did not cast a vote either being absent or abstaining.  Meanwhile, hardworking county staff only saw a 2.5% cost of living increase.

• The Growing Office: With a tripling of the Clerk’s staff since 2022, there should have been adequate personnel to properly advocate for Platte County property owners and contest the State Tax Commission.

From a Watchdog Perspective: In business, when you triple your staff and the results are "unprecedented complications," a business owner doesn’t usually get to reward themselves with a 30% raise. Usually it has cost the business significant funds and you find a better, more efficient way to work and decrease costs and/or improve net revenues.

Platte County deserves a County Clerk who sees your tax dollars as a trust, not a slush fund. It’s time for a Watchdog.

What do you think? The Platte County Citizen has an excellent article after the vote for the salary increase took place. Was a 30% raise a “conservative increase" given the assessment hikes homeowners faced? How have assessment hikes affected your family budget? Let me know in the comments!

To satisfy the curious and those who appreciate accuracy and truthfulness, I have linked the original report from the Platte County Citizen below.  It details exactly who voted for the 30% increase and reactions from the elected who opposed the salary increase.

Do you feel like the officeholders were “conservatively” managing your money?

Read the full article here:   http://www.plattecountycitizen.com/theplattecountycitizen/officeholders-approve-30-salary-increase12112025

#WisdomWednesday #PlatteCounty #FiscalResponsibility #Watchdog #StopTheSpending #CountyClerk2026 #PlatteCity #ParkvilleMO #PlatteCountyCitizen

The Monday Memo: Why "Experience" Shouldn't Cost You 30% More

Happy Monday, Platte County!  Glad we are NOT getting the icy weather that had been predicted!

As we head into March, I want to address a word you’re going to hear a lot this election cycle: Experience. In business, experience is measured by results—better service, lower costs, and increased efficiency. But at the Courthouse lately, "experience" seems to be the justification for the opposite:

• 30% Pay Raises: Approved for incumbents while the rest of the county staff saw a fraction of that.
• Tripled Staffing: Since 2022, the Clerk’s office has grown significantly, yet taxpayers are still facing the most "challenging" administrative hurdles in our history.
• Reactive Leadership: Waiting for the State Tax Commission to mandate hikes instead of proactively protecting our local assessment values.

The way I see it: Experience is only valuable if it’s working for you. My 30 years of business experience has taught me that you don't solve challenges by expanding the payroll and raising your own salary. You solve them with discipline, technology, and a respect for the budget.

This week, I’ll be diving deeper into how we can return the Clerk's office to a "Service First" model that respects your wallet.

Let's make it a great week, Platte County!

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#MondayMemo #PlatteCounty #FiscalWatchdog #CommonSense #CountyClerk2026 #PlatteCity #ParkvilleMO

 Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Platte County 🤝

It was a privilege to stop by and support the Knights of Columbus Food Drive for St. Vincent de Paul this afternoon. I’ve been a member of the Knights since 1989 and a Past Grand Knight, I’m always reminded of the incredible generosity of our community.

Brother Knights volunteering today were Bill Robinette (Chairman), John Luna, Rusty Macy and Dave Tracewell as well as a few St. Vincent de Paul members.  The last KofC Council #7199 Food Drive netted 1,000 pounds of food and $1,600 in cash donations!  Way to go Brother Knights!

Our local food pantries are working hard to meet the needs of our neighbors, and every donation makes a difference.

Mark your calendars: If you missed today’s drive, you can drop off food items again on March 21st, 2pm to 4pm at St. Therese Parish for the St. Vincent de Paul pantry.

Let's keep looking out for one another, Platte County!

#PlatteCounty #CommunityService #StVincentDePaul #KnightsOfColumbus #NeighborHelpingNeighbor #PlatteCity #ParkvilleMO #StThereseParkville #StThereseParish #PlatteCounty #StVincentDePaul #KnightsOfColumbus

 Why the April 7th Election is a "Must-Vote" for Platte County

Now that I’ve officially filed for County Clerk, I’m focused on the issues that hit your wallet right now. On Tuesday, April 7th, we have two major decisions to make that will impact our cost of living here in Platte County.

Here is where I stand:

YES on the Homestead Property Tax: Our homeowners deserve a break. This measure helps prevent people from being priced out of their homes by runaway assessments by limiting property tax increases on primary residences at 5% or the rate of inflation for all homeowners, regardless of age.

NO on the KCMO 1% E-Tax: I strongly oppose the Earnings Tax. Your hard-earned money should stay in your pocket or support our local Platte County economy, not fund more government spending across the city and county lines!

The Clerk Connection: The County Clerk serves as the Secretary to the Board of Equalization.  If I am elected, I will use that seat to fight the "assessment creep" that makes these tax measures so necessary in the first place.  I am personally meeting with the Platte County Assessor to discuss the assessment process and what can be done to protect property owners.

Let’s send a message in April, and then let’s finish the job in August!

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