EDITOR:
I recently had an unsettling experience at the local polling station that I believe the public should know about. As I approached the entrance, I noticed a man sitting nearby. Despite his disheveled appearance, I greeted him politely, only to be met with immediate, derogatory comments. To my surprise, this individual was none other than Scott Fricker, the head county commissioner.
Instead of a friendly “hello” response or a simple “thanks for voting,” Mr. Fricker used the moment to launch into personal attacks, accusing me of “trying to find where the county slipped up” to pursue a lawsuit. He repeatedly suggested that the Sunshine Law was being used to exploit technicalities, rather than exercising the public’s right to be fully informed on governmental actives and to hold our government accountable for their decision-making process. This law exists to ensure transparency, but Mr. Fricker seemed determined to paint it in a negative light. Even more troubling, he referenced a specific sum—“a quarter million dollars”—not once, but twice, as if it were a known figure, implying that the county might already be aware of and anticipating consequences related to violations of Missouri’s laws.
His comments left me with the impression that there may be serious issues that are known and being concealed from the public—potentially within text messages or emails that have yet to be released.
Mr. Fricker’s conduct struck me as deeply inappropriate, especially for an elected official on Election Day at a polling station. Election Day should be a time when public servants support the democratic process, not to harass and belittle citizens exercising their lawful right to vote.
During the exchange, Mr Fricker even admitted that the county’s recent “educational campaign” did operate “in the gray area” of legality, allegedly making their decisions and acting on the “advice of their attorney.” This language is all too familiar, reminiscent of Parkville officials who cited “attorney advice” in response to their own Sunshine Law issues. Such statements raise serious ethical concerns, as it suggests an awareness that taxpayer dollars were used not solely to inform, but to sway public opinion—a troubling practice that seems more about pushing the county’s narrative than genuinely educating residents.
If our county is indeed using public funds to shape opinions, it sets a dangerous precedent, essentially enabling taxpayer resources to be used against the very people who provided the tax revenue, the public. This creates an imbalance that disadvantages the public, limiting fair and unbiased access to information.
Our community deserves better. Mr Fricker – You are an elected official; you chose to be an elected official. It is possible to disagree about issues within our democratic process without having to be disagreeable (especially at a polling station).
Elected officials should uphold our rights to transparency without resorting to personal attacks or intimidation via their public station. We need leaders who respect the democratic process and engage constructively with their constituents, especially at polling stations where our democracy is on display.
--Jason Maki
Platte County
