Gwen Grant Demands Dismissal Of 'Deceptive' Jackson County Dems

Gwendolyn Grant, President & CEO of the Urban League of Kansas City recently dropped a bombshell editorial that has sent shock waves through the world of Jackson County politics.

Here at www.TonysKansasCity.com we've offered insight & a preview of this debate that now seems to be taking hold amongst urban core voters. 

Specifically . . . 

A recent courthouse vote that named Republican 5th District Legislator Jeanie Lauer as Legislative Chair has stirred controversy given the bipartisan coalition required Democratic Party legislators to vote across party lines. 

That's the version that middle-class white people will accept . . . Here's the real story: 

MEGAN MARSHALL BAILED OUT OF THE "FREEDOM 5 COALITION" OVER PERSONAL BEEF!!! HER DEPARTURE THREATENS THE HISTORIC VOTING BLOC & MAKES EVERY MAJOR DECISION FAR MORE COMPLICATED!!!

We witnessed this play out over the stadium tax extension issue and, obviously, there will be further challenges in the future. 

Accordingly . . .

Activist and longtime Kansas City leader Gwen Grant addressed this topic in no uncertain terms.

A recent statement from Ms. Grant on the Urban League Kansas City website eviscerates Jackson County Democratic Party Legislators who voted for a Republican Legislative Chair:

The crux of her argument . . .

"Democrats Megan Marshall, Jalen Anderson, and Charlie Franklin voted against fellow Democrat Donna Peyton to elect Jeanie Lauer, a Trump-loving MAGA Republican, as Chair of the Jackson County Legislature. It is time for us to stop being hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, and run amuck by duplicitous, ambitious politicians who place their personal political vendettas above the best interests of our community. When they deceive us, we must hold them to account. Jalen, Megan, and Charlie betrayed the Democratic Party and slapped the Black community in the face when they, for reasons based solely on petty political retribution, failed to see the bigger and more important picture. For this betrayal, they should be discharged from the Democratic party. Had they opted to vote on the right side of history, they would have voted for Donna Peyton to become the first Black woman to Chair the Jackson County Legislature. She is competent and capable of leading the Jackson County Legislature, and she is committed to advancing the principles of good government, economic mobility, equity, and inclusion.

"The community is both perplexed and outraged by this betrayal. We are sick and tired of those we elect to represent us playing political games that have everything to do with themselves and nothing to do with acting in the best interests of our community."

In fairness . . .

Here is the main point of the response from Legislator Megan Marshall in an alternate op/ed: 

"My journey in the United States Marine Corps, spanning two decades, instilled in me the importance of service, collaboration, and a commitment to the common good. Ongoing education in the history of American politics during my military career revealed the profound impact of bipartisanship in driving some of the most significant racial, social, and economic advancements for Black Americans . . .

"My role as a legislator is not to agree with members of the governing body solely based on shared racial identity or political party but to collaborate with all members for the greater good of the county.  But let me be clear: My commitment to the Black community transcends public service—it is deeply personal. I am a girl from the Southside of Chicago, a mother who has raised Black babies, and a woman who has navigated the challenges of serving in the most elite branch of the military as a minority. I intimately understand the challenges our community faces and I will continue to work diligently towards bettering those conditions.

"Criticism is inevitable, but character assassinations are counterproductive. "

Now, if you've made it this far in our www.TonysKansasCity.com adventures . . . It's time for even more deets and BEHIND THE SCENES INFO . . .

We've been asking around about the source of this division and insiders are exceptionally mum on the specifics. 

However . . .

Here is the essential confrontation that nobody wants to mention in public . . . 

JACKSON COUNTY BEEF AMONGST DEMOCRATS SEEMS TO BE INSPIRED BY LEGISLATOR MEGAN MARSHALL'S HUSBAND & HIS POLITICAL ADVICE!!!

The campaign work and counsel of her husband helped propel Ms. Marshall to a relatively rapid rise in local politics. He's both an extremely hard worker and an assertive tactician . . . The problem is that a great deal (if not the vast majority) of courthouse politics requires people to "go along to get along" and that doesn't seem to be the guy's strong suit. 

Legislator Megan Marshall & her team still seem to be stuck in "campaign season mode" and that has isolated her in the company of Executive Frank White who suffered a very public stadium sales tax extension defeat. 

We don't know if it's possible to mend fences in this situation.

Well-informed insiders suggest that Legislator Marshall might have to make a "party jump" because neither Jackson County Democrats nor urban leaders are likely to forgive her betrayal any time soon. Or ever.

In the meantime . . . 

As we start 2024 campaign season . . . Jackson County Democrats are demanding loyalty and there's CLEARLY a price for politicos who don't understand this mandate that's now taking hold at the local level.

Developing . . .