PRESIDING COMMISSIONER: “It’s time to retire”
Scott Fricker, presiding commissioner for Platte County, told The Landmark this week he will not be seeking reelection to the post in 2026, stepping away after serving one term.
Fricker, a Republican, was elected in 2022, replacing Ron Schieber, who had stepped away after serving two terms. In the November 2022 election, Fricker defeated Democrat John DeFoor with 22,308 votes to 18,307 for DeFoor, 55% to 45%.
“Four years is enough, time to retire,” Fricker said on Tuesday. “I would have retired already, but I postponed it to run when Ron (Schieber) and John Elliott (former second district commissioner) asked me to run.”
Fricker, age 61, said after he steps away from public office at the end of his term he intends to spend some time in Florida in the winters, though he emphasized he’s not moving there.
“We’re not leaving Platte County,” he said.
Fricker said that current Platte County Recorder of Deeds Chris Wright, Republican, will be running for presiding commissioner in 2026. Fricker said Wright made the announcement at the Platte County Republican Central Committee meeting Monday night.
In a telephone conversation with The Landmark later Tuesday, Wright confirmed he intends to run for the presiding commissioner post in 2026.
“I’m going to run on my track record, on the positive changes that I have made in the recorders office. I love the county and I want to continue to give back and to serve,” Wright said.
