Voter ID… SAVE America Act

It’s time Congress passed the SAVE America Act.

Why do political elites and Washington Democrats keep fighting against mandating photo voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote in American elections?

Why?

Because they want the ability to manipulate the system. And guess what, folks? Too many establishment Republicans are also quietly against mandating strict safeguards for free, fair, and secure elections.

BECAUSE THOSE IN POWER WANT TO DETERMINE ELECTION OUTCOMES AGAINST THE VOTER’S WILL.

That is the bottom line. Nothing else makes sense. We call it the “Uni-party” for a reason. Entrenched politicians in both parties want to control the results to keep themselves in power, raking in campaign money, controlling legislation, and dictating our everyday lives.

We need new blood in politics. We need firebrands willing to fight the greed and power brokers who stand in the way of progress and conservative principles. The political left is united in pushing policies that make it increasingly difficult for hard-working Americans to work their way up the socio-economic ladder—from poor to middle class to self-sustaining.

Self-sustaining folks scare the hell out of leftists and machine politicians. Why? Because they are original thinkers. They think for themselves. And the powers-that-be cannot stand for citizens to know the facts, vote with their hearts and minds, and pick the best candidate over party labels.

Write your congressman today and urge full passage of the SAVE America Act to ensure our elections are fair and strictly limited to legal U.S. citizens!

Real Reform Starts Locally

Let’s put election integrity FIRST:

• Hand-counted paper ballots observed and verified by all parties equally.
• Transparent counting: Count the votes at a local gym or civic center where the public can attend and watch in the open. Livestream the count. What is there to hide? Hiding only fuels distrust and suspicion. The ballot box is private, but the count must be completely public!
• Prohibit ballot harvesting and restrict unchecked mail-in voting. Bring back Election Day instead of a "voting season."

Folks, even within our state, committee insiders aren't pushing hard enough for true ballot transparency. Contact state leadership soon to push for fair, unbiased, and open election procedures.

Elections are often decided by thin margins. Your vote DOES count—let's make sure it’s protected!

Happy Monday y'all!

Ol' Russ is moving on with life to an extent and devoting time getting back to projects put on the back burner during the campaign. One thing is clear, there are issues evolving that will need exposed to the voters and great citizens of Platte County. The utter greed, power hungry at all cost factions that are taking over Platte County must have spotlights shined on them.

I fear some of our elected will wind up being beholden to these factions and suffer greatly if and when the elected try to do the right thing which may be in contrast to the agenda these political factions are promoting.

I will not be so vague in the coming days and weeks as the political chess game plays out, news hits and people are stymied at what the heck is going on in Platte County.

Yes, I am aware I take a risk, not sure how great a risk, to expose and name names. But I will when I am certain of the facts, the players involved and if able, highlight their motivations. I do not think they will be in the best interest of Platte County.

In the meantime, watch for a new app I have developed for the tourism industry that has been literally years in the making while technology caught up to allow one of my pet projects to see the light of day.

I now look forward to a Fall season of travel, Fall gardening, remodeling projects reignited and attending my 50th class reunion.

Living life is important. Also promoting the cause of keeping this Republic free and intact is also important. I won't make promises, predictions or veiled threats. I will prove by actions. As Lee Iacocca said: "Lead, Follow, or get out of the way!" I have come to appreciate that quote over the years.

Stay safe in this heat. Stay hydrated. And smile! Wave to that neighbor.

Healing Therapy

Cathartic to start clearing files, shredding documents and wrapping up the failed campaign and try to put aside the grievances that I have against a few players that doomed this campaign. Politics is a very dirty, a very nasty, a very crooked industry. Folks in this arena put personal gain and goals far above the good of society and the proper and fair governing of the people.
Yes, I knew that going in. I did not go in blind but it was easy to still get blindsided.
No, this post and the last has had absolutely no AI help or consulting. AI is becoming a great tool. A resource. And it will need guardrails. Technology does benefit society if properly and ethically deployed.
We need to work on educating voters. But that is impossible when they refuse to listen, to open their minds to alternative viewpoints, look and include the person, not the political party.
During my life in the music business we met all kinds, worked with all kinds and tolerated all kinds. I will slip back into that life.
Sure I may or may not have made my mark but I am proud of the legacy I tried to leave behind. What I will always cherish is that I told the truth. Tried to bring issues to light and explain why and how. Offered solutions, not vague catch phrases and thought I had an acceptable plan for the Clerk's office and Platte County. 3,118 agreed with me and I am humbled and touched that so many did cast a vote and supported me. That's almost 3 times the number of 1,054 who cast a vote for me in 2014 for Presiding Commissioner. I am sure in 2014 I had scared all the wealthier citizens that I was determined to put squatters and trailer courts next to their 10,000 sq. ft mansions. I am not a huge planning and zoning fan.... But my intent was not to affect property values but limit overbearing, HOA style rules this County has in place. I will likely to continue to fight to reform P&Z.
But also this week 7,864 folks didn't believe I had solutions or they did not care for the message I put forth. 3,409 choose to keep the tax and spend RINO incumbent in office. 4,455 chose my challenger who entered after me to cause a 3 way primary and thus likely insure my defeat. We split the anti-incumbent vote and that sector really didn't buy what I was selling. All a targeted campaign just to unseat the incumbent. Not necessarily improve government.
Lesson? Don't tell the truth when you run for office. Be vague. Cheat where you can. Do anything and everything just to attain the office. Make alliances during the campaign and screw them after elected. You do those things and you will usually get elected. I have written the playbook on how to not get elected by being honest and letting your emotions flow from time to time.
I find it a bit hilarious that I had a 103 followers and 2 have abandoned the loser. And more will jump this proverbial ship as time goes on. That's kinda funny. But then few care to tag along to a loser. Eh. So what. Others tag along only if they think there is a winner.
And perhaps folks are correct - a man simply cannot run against women without looking mysogonistic and like a bully. I believed we were overcoming that by the Facebook stats showing viewers were evenly split among the 2 genders. And there are only 2 genders.
I, as well as many, are worried and concerned for our nation. The communists are now out in the open trying to rip our country apart and take control. Immigrants are gaining office without having been here a generation or two or three and enjoying the fruits of opportunity that our system and society provides. But they want to bring to our nation the problems and stupidity that caused them to immigrate to us in the first place. I am a fourth generation immigrant and I saw first hand how each generation bettered itself from the previous. How proud my ancestors were to be "Americans". The sacrifices made to provide for their families and live an impoverished life that was rewarded through hard work and diligence. Real Patriots.
I personally will not tolerate being taxed out of the paid for home I have lived in the past almost 42 years. I don't want anyone else to suffer that fate either. Government and higher taxes to pay for everything is such a wrong direction and completely unsustainable.
I will be blogging on the Platte Valley Politics blog and may start up a Facebook page as well. I've learned new tricks. And the best place to sit is where I can throw darts and give politicians and office holders a whole lot of grief and shit. Along with solutions.
I like the phrase "I am mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Living that life right now. I am sure I am turning off many of my loyal supporters but I am working through anger and disappointment. I am human. Not so sure about some others.
I urge all to stand up and be heard. The socialists are and so we need too also. And they are right here in Platte County trying to win elections. And not all are Democrats. Well they are without the name or party affiliation.
Now back to recycling and shredding and enjoying youtube videos while working in my home office. A big pot of Chicken Corn Chowder being prepared tonight. I now have time to get to attend a few Worth Harley-Davidson Thursday Bike night and Saturday afternoon music acts. It's a wonderful venue. Attend my 50th Class Reunion first weekend of October. Might even get to go out camping a couple more times since I am free of the shackles of campaigning. Gee, throwing a line and hook in the water or walking doors and having angry Democrats tell me what a piece of shit I am and immoral for being a Conservative affiliated with the Republican Party. Hmmm. Not a hard choice. And one that will make me smile as I sip on a cold beer and listen to the water lap against the shore.
Good luck Platte County. To the 7800 I wish you well and pray events don't turn out as bad as I think they are going too that you voted to keep the status quo. Make sure you sign up for the Senior Tax credit or that you find yourself eligible for the Homestead Act. Contact the courthouse for either. Demand answers. Demand transparency. Demand government has to be as disciplined as your personal treasury and ethical life. Start demanding now.
Caio! Folks

3rd in a 3-way race....

Well, not the outcome we were hoping for, and certainly never thought I would come in last. Yes, I am humiliated. I was asked last night what office I would run for next. My response? You've got to be kidding. I am done. The voters have spoken, again, and they simply do not want me to serve them. I cannot say I have much faith in the direction our county is going or if the culture will change. Don't look for elected salaries to be rolled back or anything changed. It is just not going to happen. The voters want the current status quo and they will get it.
This page will be up for a little while but the campaign is finished. My activism in politics is likely finished. I now have a new life to look forward too, secluded in some woods somewhere in a less costly county, enjoying nature, race cars and praying daily the USA does not fall to the socialists so desperately trying to take down this country from within. The Republican electorate is too apathetic and rudderless to fight the coming storm. And its coming.
I am sure we can look forward to higher property taxes in Platte County and businesses being forced out of business due to exponential tax increases. Budgets will not be trimmed. Staff will not be reduced. Government will only get larger and our wealth increasingly taken from us to pay for their follies.
We did the best we could but as usual, it wasn't good enough nor the correct message just to get elected. The truth rarely is the correct message in politics.
To all who aided in the campaign, I am sorry I could not deliver for you. You all did a wonderful job!
Remember - its your Republic IF you can keep it, said Ben Franklin.

Wojtkiewicz for Platte County Clerk Watch Party

Join us Tuesday, August 4th starting at 6pm for the Wojtkiewicz for Platte County Clerk Watch Party at The Craic, 12 Main St, Parkville, MO.  We will visit and fellowship and watch the election results.

If we have enough of you show and stay, the Craic will remain open later that evening!

Come celebrate with fellow supporters and campaign volunteers and congratulate yourselves on a job well done!

Russ "Wojo" Wojtkiewicz

I was invited along with Platte County Candidates to the Parkville Living Center Candidate Forum last Thursday evening, July 23rd. I am working on posting a video of my speech and my answers during the live forum. Afterwards, the hosts asked if we would answer via email some of the questions that time did not allow to be answered that evening. Below are the questions and my answers I replied to this morning.

To Platte County Clerk Candidates-

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝑆𝑢𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑤 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛. 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑? 𝐼𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑘𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦, “𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑖𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡.” 𝐴𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠, 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: Public information needs to be in the public domain where citizens can access it in this modern era 24/7 without spending time and money on Sunshine requests. Too much information is being blocked behind restricted access and too much time and money is being spent on required Sunshine Law and Freedom of Information Act requests. I will be reviewing all these issues and bringing resolutions that fulfill the laws of Missouri and are fair and just for the citizens.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝐶𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑘’𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡𝑜 2020 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙?

𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: In 2022, the Clerk's budget was $183,000. In 2026 the budget is $389,000. A 212% increase. Staff was increased from the Clerk, one full time and one part time in 2022 to Clerk and 5 full time staff. A request was put in by the Clerk this year for 2 part time staff for 6 weeks at a cost of $70,000. That's some nice part time work. One of my first goals is to audit the entire office, determine staffing needs and make adjustments wherever it is possible to save Platte County taxpayer money. I don't believe it should cost that much to maintain the Clerk's office.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑙-𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛-𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑡?

𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: I do not support mail-voting or early in person voting. I believe mail-in voting is venerable to fraudulent voting and election interference. Absentee voting should be only at the Board of Elections if you have an excuse of why you cannot vote on election day. If one day is not enough time to vote, I would support a 2 or 3 day window to vote. I also am in favor of election integrity laws and each party observing and counting the votes, in public and live streamed for full transparency.

To All County Candidates-

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑥 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑧𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑘𝑦𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑑 15%. 𝐼𝑓/𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛, 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝐼 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑥 ℎ𝑖𝑘𝑒? 𝐴 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑧𝑒 𝑖𝑓/𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙.

𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: This is a myth. There is no attendant estate property tax. And Seniors are not going to have to "repay" the tax credits received through the Senior Tax Freeze. Every dollar saved on property taxes under SB 190 stays in your pocket permanently -- it is not clawed back when the home is sold. Missouri does not have a state real estate transfer tax nor does Platte County have an estate fee or exit tax on real estate sales. So please don't worry about it and DO sign up for the Senior Tax Credit!

I hope you appreciate and respect my answers and hopefully align and agree with them. I look forward to your vote on August 4th!

Monday Memo - Know the Statutes: What the County Clerk Actually Does

With just over a week until the August 4th primary, it is essential that voters have absolute clarity on what the County Clerk’s office is—and what it isn't.

There is often confusion on the campaign trail about election administration. Because Platte County is a First Class County, elections are handled by an independent Board of Election Commissioners. The County Clerk does not run elections.

The Clerk's primary duties are centered on statutory financial oversight, Board of Equalization dockets and administration, tax rate certifications, and county commission records.

Listening to my primary opponents' recent speeches at the Parkville forum reveals a clear contrast in how we approach those core responsibilities:

1. The "Executive Assistant" View of Government

One challenger stated the County Clerk is "basically the executive assistant for the commission," focusing her platform on issuing licenses, swearing in notaries, and extending office hours by 60 minutes.

• The Reality: The County Clerk is an independent, constitutional officer—not a secretarial assistant. The Clerk orders warrants for payments to the County Treasurer on orders approved by the County Commission, serves as secretary to the Board of Equalization under RSMo 138.090, and acts as keeper of public records. Managing this office requires technical system diagnostics, not entry-level administrative routines.

2. The Incumbent: Routine Compliance as "Innovation"

The incumbent spent her time re-branding standard statutory duties—like housing Board of Equalization records—as personal innovations. Meanwhile, she remained silent on her vote in favor of the 30% pay raise for elected officials and claimed voter-approved Homestead tax relief was "too complex" to implement for 2026.

• The Reality: Fulfilling a baseline legal duty is standard procedure, not innovation. When the incumbent requested more staff and budget to deliver Homestead Act tax credits, data-driven analysis proved that over 20,000 eligible property owners can receive automated tax relief on their 2026 invoices—without expanding government spending or adding office bloat.

3. The Engineering Approach: Precision, Law, and Taxpayer Defense

Throughout my 30-year engineering career, my job was to analyze complex systems, read the schematics, and eliminate operational waste. That is the exact discipline I will bring to the courthouse:

• Real Salary Transparency: Using RSMo 50.333 to advocate for a Salary Commission meeting and put elected official compensation back in the public eye.
• Streamlined Citizen Services: Eliminating unnecessary red tape so citizens can efficiently navigate the permitting, licensing, and notary processes overseen by the Clerk's office.
• Board of Equalization Rigor: Ensuring Board of Equalization proceedings strictly enforce property owners' statutory rights, maintain transparent record-keeping, and guarantee every appeal is evaluated fairly under Missouri assessment law.

Choose the Leader Who Understands the Mechanics

Platte County taxpayers don't need administrative excuses or part-time mindsets. You deserve a County Clerk who understands the law, cuts operational waste, and fights for your wallet from Day One.

I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican primary on August 4th!

Let's keep county government accountable. Share your thoughts below!

#PlatteCounty #PlatteCountyMO #TaxpayerAdvocate #HomesteadAct #Accountability #LeadershipNotRhetoric #LocalGovernment #CommonSense

Monday Memo: Real Leadership Leads from the Front, Not the Rearview Mirror

Happy Monday, Platte County.

Leadership isn't about jumping in front of a parade after the work has already been done. It isn't about filing sudden Sunshine requests to sound "engaged" or parroting talking points that other candidates have been researching, publishing, and speaking about for months. Real leadership is being in the room, understanding the statutes, and pushing for actual taxpayer results from Day One.

Major News: 2026 Homestead Act Relief Is Officially Locked In

First, the big victory for Platte County taxpayers: The County Commission has officially passed the authorizing ordinance to implement the Homestead Property Tax Credit Act for 2026!

Furthermore, the Commission ordered that these tax credits appear directly on your 2026 Real Property Tax invoices this fall.

As someone who sat in on the Commissioners' Work Session, listened to the technical updates from County Administrator Wes Minder, and publicly advocated against the bureaucratic stalling tactics coming from the Clerk's and Collector's offices, this is a massive win.

While certain incumbents claimed implementation was "impossible" until 2027 or demanded expanded budgets and more staff to handle it, the Commission proved what I’ve been saying all along: with common-sense data gathering, we can deliver voter-approved tax relief immediately without expanding government bloat.

You can thank the County Administrator along with the County Assessor for providing the data that has qualified over 20,000 property owners for the Homestead Act tax credit—without a single application being necessary.  Furthermore, a clear appeal process will be implemented for anyone who wishes to decline the credit or feels they were inadvertently overlooked.

Copycats, Sunshine Requests, and Catching Up to the Facts

At the end of today’s Commission meeting, my primary opponent stood up during public comments to deliver a speech questioning the 30% elected officials' pay raise, mentioning Sunshine requests, and asking "when the Homestead Tax Act will go into effect."

It was a fascinating display, to say the least.

For two months, my campaign has been publishing detailed breakdowns, hosting discussions, and dissecting the exact mechanics of the Homestead Act, statutory assessment caps, tax rate rollbacks, and courthouse accountability. Now, two weeks before the primary, my opponent seems to have discovered these topics, filing Sunshine requests for emails that commission updates already covered, and repeating the exact concerns I raised months ago.

Here are the blunt realities for Platte County voters:

1. You Don't Need a Sunshine Request to Read the Room: If you attend the meetings, read the ordinance text, and actually understand county administration, you don't need to play catch-up with emergency records requests. The answers were already there for anyone doing the work.
2. Asking Questions You Should Already Know: Asking "when will the Homestead Act go into effect" when the Commission was actively finalizing the 2026 rollout shows a late arrival to the conversation. Taxpayers deserve a Clerk who enters office already knowing the law—not one who needs a recap email to understand basic implementation timelines.
3. Leading vs. Echoing: Voters can easily tell the difference between an engineer who reads the schematics and builds the solution, and a candidate who listens to what's trending and echoes it back into a microphone.

Results, Not Rhetoric

Platte County taxpayers voted for tax relief in April, and they deserve leaders who know how to execute that mandate without administrative drama or performative politics.

Neither of my primary opponents has offered a real, technical plan to modernize this office or navigate state statutes to protect your wallet. One voted to give herself a massive raise while declaring voter-approved tax relief "too difficult" to execute on time; the other is playing catch-up on basic county policy.

I will continue to monitor the Commission, do the heavy statutory lifting, and ensure that your local government operates with absolute efficiency, transparency, and respect for your hard-earned dollars.

Let's stop running out the clock, stop copying the homework, and bring real engineering precision to the County Clerk's office.

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

#PlatteCounty #PlatteCountyMO #MondayMemo #TaxpayerAdvocate #HomesteadAct #LeadershipNotRhetoric #CommonSense #TransparencyInGovernment #LocalGovernment #Accountability

Fiscal Friday: Breaking Down the Bureaucratic Roadblocks on Your Tax Relief

Good morning, Platte County taxpayers! TGIF!

This past Monday, I sat in on the County Commissioners' Work Session. This is an informal session held by our three commissioners in their conference room. It was a small, focused gathering including the commissioners, myself, two other candidates for county office, the county administrator, and the young entrepreneur who runs Weston1news.

We were able to have an open dialogue with the commissioners and listened closely as they provided updates on implementing the Homestead Act—the tax relief measure that you, the taxpayers, overwhelmingly voted to pass this past April.

Here is the good news: County Administrator Wes Minder has nearly finalized the maps and database required to automatically identify properties eligible for the Homestead Act tax credit. This means eligible property owners won't even need to go through a tedious application process.

The Roadblocks: Budget Grabs and Administrative Delays

This automated approach is fantastic news, and it addresses a major concern I've had ever since reading the state law and the local ordinance placed on the April ballot.

Unfortunately, while the administration is finding efficient solutions, other courthouse incumbents are throwing up roadblocks:

• The Clerk's Office: The incumbent County Clerk has been insisting on an increased budget and additional staff to implement the Homestead Act. The problem? Neither the state law nor the local ordinance mentions any required or advised involvement by the County Clerk.
• The Collector's Office: The County Collector is currently claiming that their tax bill processing vendor cannot possibly implement the tax credit until 2027.

To me, this is entirely unacceptable. The Commissioners and the County Administrator have explicitly proven that there is a seamless, effortless way to apply this credit for property owners while providing a clear appeal process for anyone inadvertently left off the list.

Many of us believe the Clerk and Collector are playing bureaucratic games to delay implementation, allowing county and school district revenues to artificially spike one last time before the new tax limits kick in.

This is Not Fiscal Responsibility

This is NOT how conservative, fiscally responsible leaders act. You voted the Homestead Act into county law, and a six-to-seven-month window is more than enough time to implement a data-driven tax credit for the 2026 cycle.

Take Action: I highly encourage citizens to contact the County Collector's office and urge them to prioritize implementing this credit before the 2026 tax invoices are processed and mailed out.

Furthermore, we learned at this meeting that several counties, school districts, and big-government special interests are actively suing to get the Homestead Act repealed statewide. While this will likely hang up in the courts for some time, it makes one thing glaringly obvious: these tax-and-spend interests care nothing about the affordability crisis gripping our community.

Real Stewardship, Not Stalling

True compassion for struggling taxpayers means fighting to get relief into their pockets immediately—not looking for excuses to build bigger departmental budgets or delay compliance.

We cannot fix the courthouse with an insider loop that treats voter mandates as optional suggestions. The best action you can take right now is to vote out the incumbents who are stalling your tax relief, and elect sincere, true conservative candidates who will act as your unyielding Taxpayer Advocate.

Let’s bring common-sense efficiency and real financial accountability back to the Platte County Courthouse. Vote for me on August 4th!

What are your thoughts on the courthouse trying to delay your voter-approved tax relief? Let’s talk facts in the comments below.

#PlatteCounty #PlatteCountyMO #FiscalFriday #TaxpayerAdvocate #HomesteadAct #CommonSense #TransparencyInGovernment #LocalGovernment #Accountability #PlatteCountyCommission

Wisdom Wednesday: Standards, Rollbacks, and True Advocacy

Happy Hump Day, Platte County.

I wanted to expand on my recent Monday Memo and bring more facts—and hopefully clarity—to how real property taxes and reassessments directly affect you, the property owner and taxpayer.

To start, it is important to know that Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) guidance uses a global standard established by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). This standard requires a county's median assessed values to fall within a strict balance of 90% to 110% of true market value based strictly on local sales data. According to RSMo 138.390, the STC will order a county to raise or deduct valuations if they fall outside those lines—which is exactly why the STC is ordering Jackson County to deduct from valuations due to their 2023 over-assessments.

How do you feel about a Missouri State agency adopting global standards to regulate taxation on our citizens?

Be aware that there are several international guidance associations that many governmental and professional industries adopt to level the playing field and bring high standards to technical fields. I personally used IEEE standards throughout my 30-year engineering career in broadcast work. Similarly, ISO 9001 is a highly recognized global standard for manufacturing. Adopting a global standard isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it absolutely needs to be openly debated and examined to see if it is truly the best solution for Missouri taxpayers.

Will Political Subdivisions Lower Their Levies?

The short answer is: Yes, they should!

When reassessments rise substantially, political subdivisions (School Districts, the County, Fire Protection, Road Districts, etc.) are allowed an increase in revenues to account for inflation, plus the revenues received from taxing new construction and improvements. After that, they are required by the Missouri Constitution to adjust tax rates downward. This is called a tax rate rollback.

While the state provides allowed cost-of-living increases over the previous year, a maximum of 5% is allowed. Beyond this, the tax rates must be reduced to offset the valuation increase, preventing local taxing entities from collecting windfall tax revenues generated simply by inflated assessments.

I am a firm believer that this rule has not only been poorly followed and enforced, but has been actively hindered from enforcement over the years by the state legislature. I promise to do all I can to make sure tax levies are rolled back to protect you, the taxpayers, from unfair increases in taxes—and I will willingly stand my ground even if it means facing legal pushback from the political subdivisions for doing so!

Why I Am the Best Qualified for This Office

Educating myself on the intricacies of Missouri law as it applies to the County Clerk’s office will be a foundational duty of my job when leading that office. I am entirely willing to slog through boring RSMo statutes, ask questions of reliable resources, and get accurate, definitive answers that I can use to benefit my constituents—the taxpayers of Platte County.

In my 30 years in technology and business, I had to continually learn new standards as they were published, adapt to new procedures, and master new regulations. If you don’t, you fall behind, lose clients, and eventually become an irrelevant relic.

I know how to read the schematics of complex systems. I believe I can find exactly where operational improvements in Platte County government can be implemented to provide a more efficient, compliant, and responsive County Clerk’s office.

Your Direct Line to State Accountability If you ever want to cut through local courthouse rumors and get real clarity on the state equalization process, you don't have to guess. Missouri has a dedicated resource established precisely to protect your rights:

• Office of the State Ombudsman: Assisting taxpayers to assure fairness, accountability, and transparency of the property tax process.
• Contact: Dan Hutton, Ombudsman
• Email: AskSTC@stc.mo.gov | Phone: 573-526-8259

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

#PlatteCounty #PlatteCountyMO #WisdomWednesday #TaxpayerAdvocate #CommonSense #TransparencyInGovernment #LocalGovernment #Accountability #StateTaxCommission #officeofstateombudsman

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