A DEMOCRAT AWAITS THE WINNER IN NOVEMBER
by Stacy Wiedmaier
Landmark reporter
Two members of the Platte County Republican Central Committee, Mary Calvillo and Russell “Wojo” Wojtkiewicz, are attempting to unseat incumbent Platte County Clerk Jera Pruitt in Tuesday’s Republican primary. The winner will advance to take on Democratic candidate Hans Peter in the Nov. 3 general election.
Both retirees said the primary issue motivating them to enter the race was the November vote by incumbents to increase the salaries of officeholders by 30 percent. Although the raise would apply only to future officeholders, they said they opposed the decision.
“The tipping point was the 30% self-awarded pay raise, which infuriated me and pushed me to take action,” Calvillo said. “I had also observed a troubling lack of respect between elected officials and a sense that too few of them were truly watching out for the taxpayer.”
Wojtkiewicz echoed the same salary increase concerns, saying he has heard similar frustrations from constituents while campaigning. He also cited what he called “the terrible drama and lack of cooperation among the elected offices” as another reason for entering the race.
Pruitt also said questions about elected officials’ salaries were among the concerns she has heard from voters.
“I understand those concerns and believe voters deserve transparency,” Pruitt said. “The Salary Commission is established by state law and its recommendations do not take effect until the next term. Any salary adjustments approved by the Salary Commission are prospective.”
Pruitt said that she supported the salary increase for future officeholders because she believes Platte County should be able to attract and retain qualified, dedicated public servants in the future, “so that public service remains accessible to qualified, dedicated leaders from all walks of life, not only those who can afford to serve.”
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Mary Calvillo
Calvillo has 45 years of professional experience in office management, executive assistance, supervisory leadership and customer service. She has a degree from Missouri State University in personnel management and international marketing.
She spent 15 years working in the travel industry as a flight attendant and hotel front desk supervisor, experiences she said prepared her to handle the demands of the position.
“That kind of work teaches you fortitude and personal insight,” she said. “You learn to really listen to people and respond to them — not just to what they’re saying, but to what they need. That experience built the self-reflection and responsiveness I bring to serving others today. It also taught me to manage projects and focus on results for the end user. In this case it’s the taxpayer.”
Calvillo said her priorities if elected would include:
·The lack of digitization and modernization of the clerk’s website and public records access. Only those who have submitted a Sunshine Law request truly understand how difficult it can be to get an answer, she says.
·Modernizing the senior tax credit process — a nine-month wait for a response is simply too long.
·Extending office hours to 5 p.m. to better serve working families.
Calvillo said her approach to leadership would focus on empowering employees while holding herself and her staff accountable to the commitments they make.
“When it comes to leading staff, I believe firmly in ‘trust and inspire,’” she said. “If I hire someone, it’s because I trust them to do the job — my role then is to inspire their continued growth. I hold myself to the same standard I ask of my staff. If you say you’ll help, you help. No excuses. When it comes to taxpayers, I lead with genuine compassion, because I’ve felt my own share of disillusionment.”
Russell “Wojo” Wojtkiewicz
Wojtkiewicz ran unsuccessfully for the presiding commissioner role in 2014 and has since been appointed to the Platte County Republican Central Committee. He owned and operated a media technology firm for more than 30 years and previously spent a decade on Arrowhead Stadium’s game-day production team. He holds a broadcast station technology degree from the University of Central Missouri.
Wojtkiewicz identified several areas where he would take a different approach than the current officeholder.
“There’s a lack of transparency when citizens need to file and pay for Sunshine Law requests when most of the information is already in the public domain, but not being made accessible to citizens,” he said. “I would use the clerk’s website to post all public information. This would reduce the need for so many Sunshine Law and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.”
He described his top priorities if elected:
·Elevate the use of technology for public information access.
·Review tax levy rollbacks before certification within the limits of current law.
·Audit the office for staffing and budget needs to make it more efficient and less costly to the taxpayer. Conduct an independent study of comparable salaries.
Another initiative Wojtkiewicz said he would pursue includes using technology to aid in applications for permits, licenses and senior tax credit enrollment.
He credits his professional background with preparing him to serve in the elected role.
“Owning a business for 30 years teaches many skills,” he said. “From hiring and supervising contractors, to following statutes and rules in various disciplines. I would bring my business acumen to government. It’s about finding solutions to real problems, not finding problems to fit a solution.”
Jera Pruitt
Before serving as county clerk, Pruitt was the chief deputy public administrator in 2012 before being named the Platte County Public Administrator in 2017. She previously led a nonprofit organization that provided services to survivors of sexual assault. She has a psychology degree from Northwest Missouri State University. She then earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership and a Master of Public Administration in nonprofit and community services management from Park University.
“I’m seeking another term because I believe strong public service is built on experience, accountability and continuous improvement,” she said. “We’ve made meaningful progress through implementing the senior tax credit and revamping the board of equalization appeals process, but there is still work to do.”
Pruitt said if re-elected, she hopes to continue building on that foundation by improving services, embracing innovation where it benefits residents and ensuring the clerk’s office remains professional, transparent and trusted.
She outlined her top priorities, including:
·Continuing to effectively manage the senior tax credit program.
·Assist with the homestead credit as needed.
·Provide excellent service to each resident.
When asked to name one promise that voters can hold her accountable for, she said they can expect her to administer the office fairly, communicate openly and make decisions based on what is best for the citizens of Platte County — not politics.
“I’ll continue meeting with staff to review ongoing projects, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and ensure we’re prepared for upcoming election and statutory responsibilities,” Pruitt said. “Good leadership isn’t about waiting for a new term to begin. It’s about continually evaluating how we can better serve the public and building on the progress we’ve already made.”
