Exclusive: Jackson County Insiders Fight Over Next Legislative Chair

Behind the scenes there's a courthouse power play in motion that most voters have overlooked and newsies are too "busy" or confused to consider.

To be fair . . . Dinosaur KC Star reporter Mike Hendricks deserves a rest and shouldn't have to take notes from power players over the holidays.

Accordingly, we'll do our best to break down the sitch . . . 

Here's the best place to start the fight over the next Jackson County Legislative Chair . . .

Let's not forget so many hard feeling over what was billed as the current bipartisan collab . . .

For those who might've forgotten . . . 

Republican 5th District Legislator Jeanie Lauer was named Chairwoman, and 3rd District-At-Large Legislator Megan Marshall was named Vice-Chairwoman in a move that evoked outcry from hardcore Democratic Party denizens who are fighting bitterly to keep Jackson County blue. 

And now . . . Another vote is on the horizon . . .

Here's what readers should know . . . 

In what could be a triumphant return to leadership . . . Hints regarding Calvin Williford emerging as an influential power player confounds local progressives who don't like getting their hands dirty in municipal politics.

Currently . . . Mr. Williford serves as Legislative aide for 2nd District At-Large Legislator Donna Peyton as well as an "adviser" to a few other politicos.

But the reality is that Calvin Williford still wields a great deal of influence at the courthouse DESPITE pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud, spending a bit of time in the federal pokey AND being on record as cooperating with the feds in a somewhat recent public radio report. 

And so . . .

The main point is that Legislator Donna Peyton might SEEM like a nice granny who makes cookies but her right-hand man was formerly one of the most feared courthouse players in modern history . . . And, like it or not, he's seemingly making a comeback. 

And so . . .

With Ms. Peyton seemingly serving as the swing vote and pushing budget issues to secure her cooperation . . . 

An idea for a new bi-partisan collab is emerging . . . 

Legislators Manny Abarca & Sean Smith might serve as an alternative to both another year of Republicans leading the Legislature OR Mr. Williford effectively playing kingmaker.

Sadly . . . There's a bit of a problem with this plan . . .

Democratic Party elite don't seem to enjoy legislators Abarca & Smith working together. To be fair, some of our more conservative local Republicans aren't wild about the collab either. 

And this is what we love about politics and life in general . . . 

For skeptical voters, there aren't any good options and NOBODY is going to get out of this thing with a clean conscience. 

Meanwhile . . . 

Grownups SHOULD understand that work at the courthouse is merely about real people crafting clunky public policy and not the silly overly dramatic moralistic screeds that dominate social media feeds.

Don't get this twisted . . . TKC isn't making any endorsement . . . Insiders merely shared word with us so that readers can have a better understanding about the circumstances surrounding critical upcoming decisions. 

Remember . . . 

This year the Jackson County Legislature will confront: 

- Inevitable controversy over new tax assessments. 

- More fighting over the future of stadiums for Royals & Chiefs.

- Heated debate over the distribution of federal funds.

- Let's not forget that the next Legislative Chair will be in a good place IF the recall against Exec Frank White takes hold . . .  

And so, our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community believes it's important to PAY ATTENTION to leadership moves that will influence fights in the year ahead. 

Developing . . .