Wisdom Wednesday: Ballot Positions, Accountability, and the Fight for Our Republic

As we head into the final stretch of this critical midterm election, voters are facing pivotal choices that will shape the future of our county, our state, and our nation. Below are my official stances and reasoning on the constitutional amendments and propositions on your ballot, followed by a shocking revelation regarding local transparency.

Ballot Measure Positions & Rationale

• Amendment 3 — YES
• Reasoning: As a solid Pro-Life Christian Conservative, a "Yes" vote returns necessary restrictions to abortion, protects minors by limiting transgender procedures, and returns vital parental consent. This measure corrects the path by overturning the previous Amendment 3—which was heavily fueled by outside dark money and organizations using confusing language to promote unlimited abortion access.
• Amendment 6 — NO
• Reasoning: This amendment threatens our representative republic by undermining our duly elected legislature, opening the door to outside influences within and beyond Missouri, and effectively installing mob rule.
• Amendment 7 — YES
• Reasoning: While I have my healthy doubts on this amendment, investing surplus taxes to grow and build a permanent state endowment fund makes sound fiscal sense in theory. If it fails to deliver as promised, future legislatures and voters can always revisit the issue and rescind it.
• Amendment 8 — NO
• Reasoning: I am fundamentally opposed to any rule, statute, or amendment that strips power away from the people. While Amendment 8 constitutionally mandates the office of County Sheriff, it carves out several specific regional exemptions. No other county office is constitutionally mandated; they are appropriately established through RSMo Statutes, as far as I know. I could be wrong.  Most concerning, it strips the right of a County Prosecutor or an ordinary citizen to file a Writ of Quo Warranto against a corrupt, locally elected sheriff, handing that exclusive power solely to the State Attorney General. Power should remain closer to the people, not centralized further away.
• Proposition A — YES
• Reasoning: I stand behind our duly elected General Assembly and its fair redistricting map, which undoes a heavily gerrymandered 5th Congressional District designed to perpetually elect a Democrat. This map reflects authentic Missouri values far more accurately.

A Bombshell Receipt on Candidate Transparency

During this campaign cycle, voters have heard plenty of rhetoric about candidate backgrounds. A prime example of deception has come to light regarding Kathy Dusenbery, who is featured in a TV ad opposing Proposition A.

In a stunning display of hypocrisy, her official Facebook page lists her explicitly in her Intro under her name as:

"Member of the Platte County Democrat Party since March 3, 2024."

So how can she claim in the ad “I am a registered Republican”?  She cannot and she isn’t according to 2026 voter roles.

She herself admits she is a lifelong, active Democrat—not the independent conservative voice she tries to project—which explains why she is working so hard to protect Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's seat! You simply cannot make this up.

A Final Word on Our Republic

I pray Platte County sees a massive voter turnout. This midterm election is vital to the future of our county, our state, and our nation. We are at a critical crossroads—perhaps closer to losing our Republic than ever before.

This morning it was discovered that the Platte County Republican headquarters had been vandalized with awful graffiti spray painted all over the windows.  I would consider this an act of violence against a political party.  If anyone is aware or heard folks boasting they did this, please do the right thing and report it to the local law enforcement.  The left is escalating the provocations.  Let’s quell this now and keep a civil society!

As Benjamin Franklin famously warned, we have a republic—"if you can keep it." The saddest part today is that the assault is coming from within. Your vote is the most sacred of rights and our fundamental duty as citizens to ensure our voices are heard and our government is held accountable.

We must prevail.

Don't think the Left and the Socialist Destructive Democrats have come to Platte County?  Think again!

These are thugs and the Platte County Democrat Central Committee needs to condemn these actions and seek out who of their flock did this and get them under control.  It is this sort of behavior after the left accuses Republicans and Conservatives of being Nazis and Pedophiles and Fascists and all manner of other slurs and slander yet they prove to be the real Fascists and thugs.

If you believe you know who committed or promoted this behavior, please report it to the local authorities!  Many call for civility and unity.  This vandalism will only divide us further!

Outrageous!

Another great factoid from Patriot Rachel Kautz -

On this day, October 28th, 1776, The Battle of White Plains.

The Battle of White Plains took place on October 28, 1776, during the New York campaign of the American Revolutionary War.

Following major defeats in New York (including Long Island and Harlem Heights),General George Washington retreated northward into Westchester County, New York, attempting to preserve his struggling Continental Army. British General Sir William Howe pursued him, determined to trap and decisively crush the rebellion.

Though tactically a British victory, General Howe failed to trap or destroy Washington's main army. Heavy rainstorms stalled the British advance for a few days, allowing Washington to successfully pull his forces back to safer higher ground at North Castle.

By refusing to be cornered, Washington preserved his army to fight another day—ultimately keeping the revolution alive ahead of crossing the Delaware later that winter.

There are four more events that happened during 1776 all the way through December. I hope you will come back for the November 16th, and December 12th, 19th and 25-26th Events.

The Mask Slips: Establishment Alignments and Party Realities

For years, figures like Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose and former County Commissioner Kathy Dusenberry marketed themselves under a Republican banner. But actions speak louder than party labels.

Mayor Rose is actively promoting the entire slate of Independent candidates for county office. This is the same mayor who hosted a political gathering for Dale Brouk and has publicly endorsed him, and who years ago squawked loudly against Platte County lowering its road tax levy, claiming Riverside "needed the money" to maintain their roads. Mayor Rose is listed on county voter rolls as “Unaffiliated”.

Let's look at the math on Riverside's road claims, because it doesn't add up:

• Riverside pulls in $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 annually in Argosy Casino tax revenues—roughly $500,000 every single month.
• How do they spend it? On lavish projects like a massive Clock Tower at Gateway and Vivion Road, luxurious City Council chambers, and new police and fire stations.

When Mayor Rose opposed lowering the County Road Tax, she didn't want county citizens paying for county roads—she wanted county taxpayers to subsidize City of Riverside roads while Platte County taxpayers outside city limits got squeezed. Mayor Rose is a tax and spend politician—tax your money and spend your money. Larger, more expensive government. Definitely not a conservative.

Platte County needs to move to completely eliminate any road funds going to the City of Riverside. If Riverside wants to sit on millions in casino revenues that the rest of the county doesn't share, they can pay for their own infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Kathy Dusenbery is out running video ads actively opposing Proposition A—the voter initiative designed to establish fair district lines that prevent Gerrymandered carve-outs favoring career Democrats like Representative Emanuel Cleaver. After an entire political career built on a Republican ticket, surfacing in video ads to protect a Democrat-aligned congressional map lays bare where establishment loyalties truly sit. Dusenbery claims in the ad to be a Registered Republican, but the 2026 Platte County voter data shows her party affiliation column is blank. So she is lying about being a Republican and lying that she is a registered Republican. So perhaps she is not telling the truth about Proposition A?? I believe that to be the case.

We need you to get out and vote! Early voting is now going on. You can vote early until November 2nd. You must go to the Platte County Board of Elections. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Additional evening voting hours are Tuesday October 27 until 7pm and Saturday October 31 from 8am to 12pm (noon). November 3rd, 29 polling stations across the County will be open 6am until 7pm.

To locate your polling precinct and location use this link:

https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal/

For a PDF of all polling sites, use this link:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/561e88cee4b06543191f1ad2/t/67b8c1a6c6ae8d210bd3c033/1740161446907/Polling+Sites.pdf

There are 79,507 registered voters in Platte County, or at least that is the number on the rolls. Not all are accurate and the Board of Elections needs to glean and purge the list after November 3rd, as I got several returned mailers to voters this past July during my campaign for County Clerk. A 30% voter turnout is only 23,852 voters. Let’s see if we can get above 50% turnout this election!

#PlatteCounty #MissouriPolitics #LocalGovernment #VoterTurnout #PropositionA #Accountability

Fiscal Friday Post: Tax Relief Wins and Election Realities

1. Big Win for Seniors: Senior Tax Credit Update

There is great news on the property tax front for Platte County seniors. Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker just dropped an update confirming that thanks to action from the Commission (alongside Commissioners Allyson Berberich and Joe Vanover, pressure from Mike Jones for State Senate, and County Administrator Wes Minder getting the MOU signed), the rules have been changed to deliver real relief.

The County successfully pressured the school districts to return the money. In addition to a $1 million pool, Kansas City has sent a check for $67,000, with Platte R-3 and North Platte soon following. As Fricker put it: when everyone rows in the same direction, seniors get some much-needed property tax relief. This is a massive step forward for affordability in the county.

2. Update on the Homestead Act Lawsuit

Speaking of tax relief, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Judge Flock held a hearing on the lawsuit brought by Jason Maki and Jim Bosch against Platte County Collector Sheila Palmer to force her to implement the Homestead property tax relief ordinance on 2026 tax bills. Judge Flock stated he will issue his decision at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

We pray he enforces the ordinance passed by the Platte County Commission and overwhelmingly approved by voters in April, forcing the Collector to obey the law, deliver immediate tax relief to thousands of property owners this year, and bring real "affordability" to Platte County during this mid-term election. Stay tuned—we will have a full report on Wednesday following the judge's decision.

3. Election Integrity and Early Voting Realities

We are now less than two weeks from Election Day, and early no-excuse voting opened in Missouri this past Tuesday, October 20th. I expect we'll see upwards of 25% of the electorate cast ballots early.  Kansas is reporting record early voting turnouts!

My stance hasn't changed: voting should be restricted to a tight 1- to 3-day window where citizens physically go to a polling place and cast their ballot. If you have a legitimate, qualifying excuse requiring an absentee ballot, it needs to be done strictly in-person at the Board of Elections and dropped directly into a secure ballot box. No mail-in ballots. No ballot harvesting by “volunteers”.

Given the state of the USPS, your vote is far too precious to get lost, show up late, or be subjected to system vulnerabilities. Furthermore, all vote counting must be entirely public, live streamed, and open for citizens to observe. Let's gather at a local arena or stadium and watch the judges count every single vote. What is there to hide?

The Bottom Line: Now is the time we, as loyal citizens—not loyal subjects—must demand straight answers and fiscal sanity. If this Republic is to survive, complacency is not an option.

Have a great weekend, keep an eye on your tax dollars, and we'll see you at the ballot box!

Monday Memo: From Doorstep Drama to Tax Bill Realities

Good morning, Platte County!

This week, our post showing doorbell footage of campaign literature removal has now been viewed by 8,094 of you as of this morning!  WOW!  Thanks All!  And two more folks are following this blog, making 114 followers—though one is the Democrat nominee for Presiding Commissioner.  Guess she wants to keep tabs on me!

If you missed KSHB 41’s coverage interviewing Collector candidate Jim Bosch about the incident and the ongoing police report, you can watch the segment here:

👉 Watch the Channel 41 News Segment Here

While video of door-front behavior gets immediate attention, it points to a much bigger question for taxpayers: If candidates act this way on your front porch, what will they do with your wallet at the courthouse?

Let’s talk about what’s actually at stake for Platte County's bottom line this fall.

1. Property Taxes & New Tax Proposals

As property values remain a top concern across the county, the fiscal direction of the Presiding Commissioner seat and Commission bench will shape your annual tax bill:

• Tax Levy Caps vs. Resets: Proposals floating among Independent and Democratic slates lean toward restoring county property tax levies up to the full 6% mark.
• New Tax Initiatives & Mental Health Funding: Debates continue surrounding sales tax initiatives. Frankly, now that Platte County is establishing its own local management path (following its exit from the tri-county mental health structure) with dedicated property tax-backed funding coming online for mental health services, Platte County does not need competing, overlapping boards. Adding extra funding layers can easily result in unnecessary bureaucratic bloat and heavy tax burdens. 

2. The 30% Salary Increase Elephant in the Room

Earlier this cycle, county leadership approved a controversial 30% salary increase—set to take effect in January 2027 for newly elected officials, with remaining offices adjusting in January 2029.

• The Procedural Reality: Under Missouri law, the County Clerk is the official statutorily responsible for calling a Salary Commission meeting to evaluate and set elected officials' compensation.
• The Silence Across the Board: Neither candidate for County Clerk has put forward a concrete plan to impanel the Salary Commission to review or roll back these increases. While the Republican nominee noted that 30% was excessive, there has been no commitment to initiate a statutory review. Meanwhile, the Democratic candidate continues to support broader budget expansions.

Taxpayers deserve clear answers from every candidate on whether they intend to use their statutory authority to revisit these pay levels should they be elected to office.

3. The Power of an Informed Electorate

As voters navigate a crowded ballot featuring party nominees and Independent candidates who previously held party alignments, dynamic choices are emerging in key watchdog roles like Collector, Treasurer, and Auditor.

While yard signs don't vote, visibility, track records, and clear policy positions do. Whether it's standing up for homestead property tax credit implementation or maintaining strict budgetary discipline, voters shouldn't have to guess where candidates stand.

The Republican candidates for County office are: Jason Maki for Presiding Commissioner; Laura Waldon for County Auditor; Jim Bosch for County Collector, Krysten Jury for County Treasurer; Mary Calvillo for County Clerk.  The rest of the county candidates are unopposed in the General Election.  This is the link to the Platte County Board of Elections sample Ballot: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/561e88cee4b06543191f1ad2/t/6aa304205c50e57900fd5e8b/1789068320262/Election_Proof_Report_136.pdf

I urge voters to educate yourselves. Several candidates are posting their positions and updates regularly on their Facebook pages—go look them up. An informed electorate is essential to keeping our local government accountable and protecting our community!

The Bottom Line:

Don't let doorstep distractions pull your focus from the fiscal math. When you fill out your ballot, look past the political theater and ask: Who is going to keep my property taxes low, control county spending, and demand accountability from county officers?

We’ll keep tracking the numbers, reviewing the filings, and reporting the facts.

Have a great week, stay engaged, and keep an eye on your tax dollars!

Silence on the Surface, Movement Underneath

Good morning, Platte County!

While things may seem quiet on the surface as we head into the fall, there is plenty moving behind the scenes.

We can confirm that multiple active inquiries—spanning both state and federal law enforcement levels—are quietly underway regarding potential county-level public corruption, specifically centered on allegations of honest services bribery and budgetary leverage.

Because official inquiries require discretion to ensure integrity and due process, we are not naming specific individuals, candidates, or offices at this time. But the questions being asked behind closed doors are serious, and the answers will eventually have to come to light. We will let the official processes play out and report the facts as they are formally documented.

A Telling Contrast

At the same time, it is worth noting what isn’t getting traction.

Despite detailed public documentation and formal referrals regarding ballot petition harvesting practices inside local senior living and memory care facilities, there has been a remarkable lack of movement. Neither local mainstream media nor regional investigative agencies appear eager to pull on that thread or examine how those signatures were gathered from vulnerable residents.

It raises a fair question for local citizens: why do certain election integrity issues get immediate top-tier coverage, while direct, documented allegations involving our most vulnerable neighbors get met with a shrug and radio silence?

When "Minor" Acts Reveal Major Patterns

Consider this week’s doorbell video footage showing candidate Dale Brouk removing opposition literature off a resident's front door. The incident prompted a police report with Platte City Police and made regional television news as harmed candidates spoke out.

When candidates feel entitled to disregard basic property rights and campaign boundary lines on camera, it begs the question: what else gets bypassed when no one is watching?

Surely if an act of casual door-front literature theft draws official police intake and news coverage, the systemic and documented allegations surrounding memory care petition harvesting deserve that same level of urgent, serious investigation!

We’ll continue keeping our ear to the ground, verifying facts over rumors, and bringing you the truth when it’s solid.

Have a great rest of your week, stay engaged, and take care of your neighbors!