Kansas City, MO — A coalition of civil rights organizations has issued an Open Letter to the Jackson County Legislature demanding a transparent, ethical, and inclusive process for selecting the appointee to serve as County Executive following the recent recall election.
The Urban Council’s letter calls for full transparency in the appointment process, the disqualification of sitting legislators from consideration, and a requirement that any interim appointee sign an affidavit pledging and affirming that they will not run in the November 3, 2026, County Executive election.
“The people of Jackson County deserve leadership defined by integrity, not political opportunism,” said Gwendolyn Grant, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City. “This moment calls for moral courage, not political convenience. The interim County Executive must be free from political ambition and laser-focused on restoring public trust, fixing what’s broken, and serving the people of Jackson County—not themselves.”
The Council argues that only an independent interim executive can restore public trust and stabilize county operations. The letter identifies immediate priorities for the interim executive, including addressing the failed property tax assessment process, collaborating with the Legislature to pass the 2026 budget, working with the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs to retain the teams in Jackson County, and deploying $70.2 million in ARPA funds in an equitable and transparent manner.