Has the 2026 local political scene been wild enough for you? It’s certainly keeping most of us in the media busy, which is what happens when the kids in the sandbox don’t play nice with each other.
All this fun and the filing season for county candidates is still weeks away. Filing begins Tuesday, Feb. 24 and runs through Tuesday, March 31.
Primary election, which is when most–but not all–of the local action will take place is Aug. 4. General election is Nov. 3.
Those are some of the important dates to chisel into your 2026 calendar.
Don’t forget we have a spring municipal election coming up as well. Some of the spring highlights include a contested race for Platte City mayor and some contested races for Parkville aldermen positions, as well. There are others, that’s a just a couple that come to top of mind. Also, Platte County has a question about the homestead tax credit proposal that will be on the April ballot as well.
Spring election is April 7.
There is so much local political feuding going on these days in very public fashion. I don’t hate it. But I think it’s time to establish some basic ground rules. For instance, any local politician who has an over-the-top meltdown on social media should face some type of punishment, don’t you think?
First offense: Locked in an otherwise empty theater and forced to watch the Melania movie.
Second offense. Locked in a room where the Taylor Swift song “Wood” is playing on repeat.
No deletions or retractions will get you out of the punishment. I’m sorry, no excuses. Not even if your diatribe was assisted by liquid courage.
Actions have consequences. You’ll face the wrath of Melania and Taylor. That’s the rules. Not sure how we’ll ever enforce this, but anyway, rules are rules. Spread the word.
No charge for my peacemaking skills. I feel like a great mediator. As Speck would say, I’m an idea guy. Art of the deal, baby. Feels like I’m Trump and I just stopped eight wars. Send that Nobel Peace Prize my way. Or at least get a past winner to give me their trophy.
After last week’s headlines, a Landmark reader called to tell me that from now on in Platte County WTF stands for What The Frick(er).
It was an absolutely legendary Friday night. From this point forward, anytime someone loses control of their senses on social media it’ll be known as ‘pulling a Fricker.’
There is a lot of eye-opening news in this week’s Landmark. Again. But perhaps none more eye opening than the 80 percent sewer rate increase that’s likely coming your way if you’re a customer of the Timber Creek Sewer Company. If approved, it’ll be a $30 per month increase for customers in Platte County. Yikes.
This isn’t one of those ‘cup of coffee’ monthly increases we sometimes get from utility companies and other service providers. A lot of folks will notice this one in the household budget.
Read the front page story for the details.
Russell Wojtkiewicz has announced his candidacy for Platte County Clerk via a Facebook page. Search for his page by entering “Wojtkiewicz for Platte County Clerk” and if you can already correctly type his name go ahead and award yourself a spelling bee trophy.
Here is his announcement on that page:
“After more than 41 years of calling Platte County home, I am announcing my candidacy for Platte County Clerk. I’m a retired business owner with over 30 years of experience, a 36-year member of the Knights of Columbus, a father, and a widower. My life has been guided by faith, family, hard work, and service to our community. The county clerk’s office is about accuracy, accountability and trust–and I believe Platte County deserves steady, experienced leadership in this role. I have registered a campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission and will officially file as a campaign on Feb. 24. I look forward to meeting voters across Platte County as we move toward the August primary and November election.”
This isn’t Wojtkiewicz’s first run for countywide office. Back in 2014, he ran for presiding commissioner. On the final day of the filing period that year, he signed up to run as a Republican for presiding against Ron Schieber and Jim Plunkett. There was no incumbent in the race that year, as Jason Brown was not seeking reelection. In the August primary, Wojtkiewicz finished third. Schieber drew 49% of the vote, Plunkett 38% and Wojtkiewicz 12%.
Jera Pruitt is the current county clerk and is expected to seek reelection. She already has two announced opponents in Wojtkiewicz and Mary Calvillo. Having two or more opponents may sound like a negative but in the long run it could be a positive. Typically an incumbent is better off facing two challengers rather than one. Having two newcomers in the race against one incumbent means the anti-incumbent vote will get split between the two challengers, rather than the anti-crowd loading up on one.
Christopher Wright, recorder of deeds for Platte County and up till recently the closest thing to a friend the county commission has had in the administration building, is not yet handing out an endorsement in the race for presiding commissioner, which is expected to feature incumbent Scott Fricker against at least one or two challengers.
“No, I’m not endorsing anybody right now for presiding,” Wright told me in a recent phone chat.
(Find Foley following Facebook flameouts. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
