Kingsley defeats Park for health board
No new tax.
That’s what voters inside the Platte County R-3 School District said at the polls on Tuesday, April 6, as they overwhelmingly defeated a proposed community college tax levy.
Voters in R-3 turned down a proposal from Metropolitan Community College to “attach” R-3 to its system. The measure, which would have brought a tax levy of 21 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to property within the school district, was defeated by R-3 voters with 2,603 opposed to 1,224 in favor. That’s 68% opposed to 32% in favor.
To break it down, in the Platte County portion of the R-3 district it was opposed 2,522 to 1,007, while in the Clay County portion of R-3 it found a more accepting audience, with 217 yes and 81 no.
Opponents had spoken out about the lack of transparency in the ballot question from MCC. Ballot language did not point out that passage would mean a new tax for residents of the R-3 district. Proponents of the measure point out passage of the “attachment” question would mean lower tuition for residents of the Platte County R-3 School District, with the cost per credit hour with attachment at $107, considerably less than the $198 without it.
Meanwhile, the R-3 $73 million bond issue question passed by about five percent. The general obligation bond issue needed 57.14 percent approval for passage and it received 61.16 percent approval, with 2,362 in favor and 1,500 opposed.
Passage allows the district to construct a new middle school in the south part of the district at Hwy. 152 and Platte Purchase; renovate the Pathfinder Elementary School and Barry School to convert both into elementary schools for K-5th grade; and the first phase of extensive renovation and rebuilding of the Platte County High School in Platte City.
“I appreciate the support and trust that our patrons have shown today,” Buffy Smith, president of the school board at R-3, told The Landmark on Tuesday night. “I’m excited that the district can embark on this plan to meet the growing needs of all our students and position our district to continue to be successful well into the future. I look forward to working with our residents as we continue to plan for a great future for our families.”
Dr. Mike Reik, superintendent for R-3, had similar remarks late Tuesday when reached by The Landmark:
“I am grateful for the support and trust of our community and so happy for our children. We will move forward with our projects and work hard to deliver high quality educational spaces in a fiscally responsible manner. I also look forward to engaging stakeholders throughout the district on our next steps. Platte County R-3 School District has a very bright future,” Reik said.
R-3 voters elected two school board members from three candidates on the ballot. Elected were Doug Doll (incumbent) with 1,780 and newcomer Karen Bryant with 1,656 votes; running third was incumbent Amy MacCuish with 1,540.
At Park Hill, there were six candidates for two open board seats. Elected were incumbent Kimberlee Ried and newcomer Brandy Maltbia Woodley. Results were
*Ried: 2314
*Woodley 2215
Kyla Yamada (incumbent) 2081
Tammy Thompson 1889
Alberto Rivera 726
Jay Blementhal 682.
For an open seat on the Platte County Health Department Board of Trustees, a countywide position, voters chose Jeffrey Kingsley over David Park and Doug Jones. Kingsley had been appointed by the county commission to the seat in December and the position for the unexpired three year term was then filled at Tuesday’s election. Results were:
*Kingsley 4096
Park 3812
Jones 1194.
Voters in the Platte County portion of Kansas City supported renewal of the one percent Kansas City earnings tax with 66% in favor to 34% opposed. The measure received its five year renewal by a comfortable margin, with about 77 percent approval.
“With this mandate, my work and that of the city council will continue to focus on protecting our ability to respond to emergencies and addressing the basic services that have been neglected for too long. It’s also time for Jefferson City to hear our voices after a third successful defense of the earnings tax, and remove the expensive, unnecessary requirement that we spend taxpayer money to have these elections every five years. Kansas Citians have spoken, and want control of their local affairs,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said late Tuesday.
At Dearborn, there were three candidates for two alderman at-large seats. Candidates are Donald Swanstone, Jr., Don Kerns, and Cory Hott. Elected were Hott with 83 votes and Kerns with 65. Swanstone finished with 30.
At Edgerton, there are two races for alderman. In the east ward, candidates Nicole Richardson and Myrna Weese. Richardson won with 32 votes to 9 for Weese.
In the west ward, it was Michael K. Reilly vs. Rick Roan. Reilly was victorious with 31 votes to 5 for Roan.
In Riverside, there was a contested race for ward one alderman between Al Bowman and Mike Fuller. Fuller was victorious with 645 votes to 52 for Bowman. Riverside voters also passed a half cent public safety sales tax, with 205 yes votes to 92 opposed.
At Weatherby Lake, there was a contested race for the east ward alderman spot between Russell Monuski and Tyler Patterson. Monuski was victorious with 64 votes to 46 for Patterson.
In Tracy, there were three candidates for two open alderman-at-large seats. The candidates were Darrin Addison, Rita Rhoads, and Laura Colstion. Elected were Addison and Colstion. Addison finished with 52 votes and Colstion with 30. Rhoads was a close but unsuccessful third with 29.
At Parkville, two incumbent aldermen were re-elected over opposition. In ward one, incumbent Philip Wassmer defeated Emily Boullear 134 to 83. In ward three, incumbent Doug Wylie held off a challenge from John Carter 141-109.