Wild and crazy.
There is plenty of copy, plenty of columns to write based on the nearly two-hour budget discussion at the Platte County Commission meeting on Monday. You can get the factual rundown of the excitement in our front page story. You’ll get the even more interesting and potentially entertaining aspect of all of it in future Between the Lines columns.
I probably acquired enough material out of that two hours to last through much of 2026. We’ll spread it out. No need to give you everything at once. You’ll want to keep coming back throughout the year for “drops” of comments, inside information and commentary based on this week’s conversations and accusations among officeholders.
We haven’t had a fiery budget discussion in Platte County in about 15 years or so. Monday’s meeting likely guarantees us a very active county election season in 2026. Potentially very interesting and entertaining.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Among the early tidbits which will be a focus in our later campaign coverage in 2026: Prosecutor Eric Zahnd has withdrawn his endorsement of Scott Fricker in Fricker’s reelection bid as presiding commissioner this year. And Zahnd recently had a major blowup at Fricker over last year’s massive jail sales tax campaign debacle.
This is a big deal. The two up to this point seemed to be in lockstep, at least publicly. They certainly were in lockstep in their support of the fiscally gross, oversized and wildly unpopular jail tax proposal in 2024. Anyway, lockstep no more. Zahnd said he has withdrawn his endorsement of Fricker, who is seeking reelection this year. And Fricker isn’t happy with Zahnd. On his Facebook page Wednesday morning, Fricker wrote: “Prosecutor Eric Zahnd is a liar. It pains me to say that, but it’s true.” Fricker may have deleted the post by now. He sometimes does that after his quick temper gets the best of him. But we captured his “Zahnd is a liar” post with a screenshot.
Not only will Zahnd not be supporting Fricker’s reelection bid but don’t be surprised if many rank and file law enforcement officers throughout the county will be supporting someone other than Fricker for presiding commissioner. Some of the “Fricker must go” chatter has already started among the law enforcement crowd.
On a somewhat related note, local political insiders say Fricker has been recruiting a candidate to run against incumbent county auditor Kevin Robinson, whose position is on the ballot in 2026. Fricker doesn’t like Robinson, likely at least in part because Robinson pointed out some flaws in the county commission’s proposed jail tax financials in the summer of 2024. “I haven’t even announced whether I’m running for reelection,” Robinson told me this week.
I’ve been told the potential auditor candidate allegedly being recruited by Fricker was in attendance at Monday’s meeting. No name yet, plenty of time for that later if the word on the street about a Fricker recruiting effort proves to be accurate. Candidate filing for county office begins Feb. 24 and runs through March 31.
It was fun to see Platte County Recorder of Deeds Chris Wright take to the podium to get all fiery and whatnot. Wright said he urges the public to vote out all county incumbents in election year 2026. “Vote out the incumbents and make Platte County better,” he loudly said. Interestingly, one of the incumbents on the ballot in 2026 will be Chris Wright, who has announced he will be seeking election to a second term as recorder. Campaigning against yourself seems like a bold strategy. Not sure that’s ever been done before, but feel free to fact check me on that.
In his remarks, Wright said he could not support the county commission’s decision to give county employee raises of 2.5 percent “because my employees do a lot of work and make me look very, very good and deserve more than 2.5 percent.”
He loudly and vaguely referenced a mysterious $100,000 office renovation the commission agreed to have done “because of a ridiculous allegation that almost ruined a man’s career.” I’m not exactly sure what that’s all about but color me intrigued. We’ll go back and watch the YouTube replay and check in with Wright for more info in the coming weeks.
After Wright’s loud, sometimes podium thumping and sometimes hard to interpret remarks, Fricker asked the audience if there were any further comments. No one stepped forward. “Nobody wants to follow that,” Fricker said. Lol.
Wait, so did Wright just break ranks with the county commission with his “vote out the incumbents” speech? Is he urging people to vote against Fricker? Wright and the county commission, especially Fricker, have been tight over the past few years. Some folks have referenced Wright as the “fourth commissioner” due to his tight relationship with the commission office. Wright is really the only officeholder inside the administration building considered to be a political “friend” of the county commissioners, who are largely viewed as bullies inside the building. Is that over?
By the way, don’t be mad over officeholders inside county government not getting along. It’s my opinion taxpayers are better served when county elected officials are not buddy/buddy with one another. We need them willing to squeal on one another, willing to be watchdogs over one another. It’s better for the taxpayer and the public when there is some friction.
I am a fan of awkward silence.
As we get older most of us try to be more faithful about keeping those once or twice a year wellness checkups with our doctors. I’m pretty loyal about keeping up to date on checkups and blood work and such. Anyway, here’s a highlight from a recent wellness check conversation I had with my doctor, who, along with her staff puts up with me and hasn’t yet fired me as a patient.
Doc: Any concerns?
Me: I’m not seeing results in the gym.
Doc: Have you been going to the gym?
Me: No.
Doc:
Me:
(Find Foley absorbing controversial budget hearings. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
