Loss of Councilmember Karen Deluccie

From the official Facebook page of the City of Independence:

We received the sad news that At-Large Councilmember Karen Deluccie passed this afternoon following a battle with lung cancer.

"Councilmember Deluccie was a staunch advocate for the citizens of Independence and committed to a balanced budget," City Manager Zach Walker said. "She never failed to ask a question and always looked for the answers her citizens demanded. We will miss her sharp wit and dedication. Our thoughts are with her husband, daughter and son in this difficult time. We will share details on services and memorials honoring her service to the community when they are available."

Councilmember Deluccie asked to share this with the public upon her death.

Funeral Services Friday for IPD Chief Fred Mills

On Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, Retired Independence Police Chief Fred Mills (Van Horn Class of 1962) passed away after a hard fought battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).  Chief Mills retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol as the Colonel of the Patrol prior to coming to IPD.  Chief Mills served from 2001-2008 at IPD and continued to serve the citizens of Independence in private roles even after retirement.

Services information is as follows:

Friday, Feb. 11, 2022
First Baptist Church of Blue Springs
4500 S. Little Blue Parkway

Visitation 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Service 1:00 p.m.

Graveside Services at Floral Hills East, 25203 E. 50 Hwy, Lee's Summit, MO immediately after the service.

https://www.speakschapel.com/memorials/frederick-mills/4850525/index.php

Meet the Candidates: Marcie Gragg

INDEPENDENCE CITY COUNCIL RACE: 

MARCIE GRAGG

For those who don't know me, I was privileged to serve previously on the City Council as the First District Council member between 2006 and 2016. I stepped down at the end of that term, which was about a year after my husband passed from cancer. I really enjoyed serving before we accomplished a lot of wonderful things, but at that time three of our four sons were still living at home and needed my full-time attention, so I chose not to run again for Council.

When I served before, we got a LOT of great things done together in the First District (which I represented) and throughout the city. When I served before, we:

• addressed neighborhood blight and created revitalization plans throughout the district.

• addressed serious infrastructure needs and revitalized our historic Truman district.

• championed the development of the city's first inclusive playground and special needs ballfield at McCoy Park (it was named the “Gragg Outpost” in honor of my family’s work on this project.

• corrected obsolete zoning that helped restore single family housing in Englewood, Fairmount, Mt. Washington, and near the Historic Square.

• prioritized undergrounding of electric utilities to improve IPL service and reduce storm outages in our older neighborhoods, especially in the First District.

•  built the arena and expanded economic development around 39th St. 

• partnered with “12 Blocks West,” a redevelopment non-profit corporation, to demo a dangerous apartment building, build new homes, create food distribution networks, provide free job training, and build partnerships with residents, churches, and businesses in western Independence.

Some of these successes can still be seen, and others have been neglected and need our attention again.

Our city is facing a lot of challenges right now, and we have a lot of work to do together to address some problem areas that are detracting from our quality of life. We need solid and well-resourced police, fire, and health services. We need clean, safe neighborhoods with quality housing opportunities for residents of all income levels. We also need to attract job opportunities that raise our median income.  These are my priorities today.

Foremost, public safety must be our first priority.  When I served the council previously, I had a strong record of supporting all aspects of our public safety. Whether it was our police services, our fire services, or our health services, I have always promoted adopting a budget that prioritized these areas. I co-chaired one of the police sales tax campaigns in 2015. If a city is not safe, its citizens can't enjoy quality of life. Ensuring that these public safety departments are well resourced is critical. 

In addition to public safety, we need to give much more serious attention to the increase in the homeless population in our community and to the decline in the quality of housing in many of our aging neighborhoods.  I think we need to take a good hard look and what is driving these two issues, find ways that they are connected, and set priorities for tackling them head on. Regarding quality of housing, I would like to see us focus on ways we can support and resource neighborhoods that are trying to revitalize themselves.

Third, we need to tackle some big issues that are affecting our ability to attract large companies to our city that bring with them high paying jobs.  Wrapped up in this conversation is the issue of our electric utility and the cost of power and how that may be affecting economic development. It’s time that we have some hard conversations in our community about what's been holding us back and what we need to do to break free and move forward.

I hope voters will select candidates who have demonstrated they can hit the ground running and lead effectively with their experience, passion, and integrity.  I believe our Council can do much better than it has in the past several years and I hope to be a part of restoring our citizens’ faith in local government.

For more information visit https://www.graggforindependence.com/

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON

Meet the Candidates: Billie Ray Preston

INDEPENDENCE CITY COUNCIL RACE: 

BILLIE RAY PRESTON

At the top of any thoughtful list of important concerns for the citizens of Independence, MO, or any town in America, you would expect to find health and welfare, housing, a sufficiently thriving economic and industrial base to ensure every person capable of working earns a livable wage, and a wholesome environment that promotes ethics in government. Health and welfare also includes public safety. Housing and the lack thereof define the civility and compassion of a society. Economics and industry are the foundation and corner stones of every sustainable society. However, it is ethics in government that offer citizens the assurance that public resources are used to promote a fair and just community.

At the core of health and welfare is public safety. On the frontline of public safety is the police officer who responds to the widest range of summons. However, it is this very officer that is most neglected. This officer is paid such a low wage that one of our most sacred and treasured public servants is compelled to routinely work eighty (80) to one hundred (100) or more hours per week to adequately provide for family. We would never permit an airline pilot to fly a plane eighty (80) hours a week. We would never permit an over-the-road truck driver to drive an eighteen wheeler eighty (80) hours a week. There are profound negative unintended consequences. And yet, the police officer is economically compelled to work long hours because we withhold what is rightly due: a fair and just wage. No one works ninety hours a week, month after month and year after year, because "they just love their job". This is a dictate of finance or the lack thereof. It is grossly inadequate to merely say, "I support our police." We must hold adult discussions on fair and equitable compensation for our police. Anything else is mindless babble. A just wage is essential; however, continuing education is fundamental and an eighty (80) hour workweek is a major obstacle.

Affordable and fair housing is essential and indicative of a fair and just society. Adequate housing is the product of thoughtful city planning. We must do better. The Independence School District has approximately one thousand (1,000) homeless children daily, and that does not include data from the other three school districts in Independence. This is a pre-covid-19 statistic. The existing federal, state and local partnerships are the short term approach and only a partial solution. When these financial resources are delivered, we must ensure they are delivered to the intended point of need and not diverted to some pork barrel project. This requires accountability and thoughtful oversight. There also must be a region-wide approach to systemic homelessness as presently we are primarily making our homelessness problem our municipal neighbors' problem. The long term solution is as it has always been: education.

There has been municipal effort to attract a more diversified industrial base. There must be a renewed and concerted effort in that regard. However, we may be overlooking the obvious. Our wages are low because we have an under-trained and under educated population. Kirksville MO, with a population under twenty thousand (20,000), has a medical school, a dental school, a university and an incredibly engaged and cohesive local leadership team. Of course, Kirksville holds rigorous debate, but it is always thoughtful and respectful. If we address our most fundamental need, a well-trained and well-educated labor force, we will produce the clean environmental industry of education.

Ethics in government must be more than some trite campaign slogan dragged out seasonally to excuse the lack thereof. Our beloved Independence has been plagued by a dark shadow for more than forty (40) years. This dark hand has been persistent and consistent. Even before the days of Mayor Barbara Potts and to the present, mayors have pushed back. There must be a full-throated ethical movement that includes the City Council rather than having this matter exacerbated by Council members. I will not besmirch our municipal image in this format to advance. However, I intend to shine the light of justice on any proposal that betrays the oath of our fiduciary responsibility. On this matter I renew the sacred pledge to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic. I intend to use every arrow in the quiver to pierce the heart of any scheme to misdirect public resources. There must be continuing education on ethics in government for our elected officials, city staff and vendors and contractors.

We must address the issues of health and welfare, housing, economics and ethics in government as a thoughtful people. We are fortunate to be the home of some of the most gifted people in America. We are bigger than our challenge, with solutions resting within our concerted and civil debate. No one person is the solution; however, collectively we embody both the answers and the problems. I choose to be part of the answer.

I am a sixty-nine (69) year old black man who came to Independence in 2008. This community embraced me and I have sought to give back. I am retired from federal service after more than twenty (20) years of enforcing federal labor laws and assisting businesses, industry and labor and professional organizations better understand the many applicable federal labor regulations.

Most of my life has been spent interfacing with the public and in public service. I have enjoyed almost every moment of it. My academic preparation with degrees in economics and real estate, along with the coaching of some incredibly talented and generous people, have prepared me well. I remain coachable, as my years in law enforcement taught me to listen carefully. Federal investigating also taught me to begin each investigation with a clean slate and not some previously held position in search of corroborating data.

Public service does not require one to agree with every position put forward. However, one is required to listen and respect input. I have never longed for public office nor have I ever previously sought public office. I embrace this opportunity because of the encouragement of many friends. They trust me and I trust them. I hope you will too.

For more information visit https://www.electbillpreston.com/

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

Meet the Candidates: Eileen Weir

INDEPENDENCE MAYORAL RACE: 

EILEEN WEIR

My husband, Tom, and I moved to Independence in 2000 and purchased his grandparent's home on Blue Ridge Blvd.  Tom's parents, Bob and Carolyn Weir, live next door to us, in the home where Tom grew up.  His grandfather, Bill Reich, worked in the family business A. Reich & Sons in Leeds and the West Bottoms of Kansas City before developing the Blue Ridge Mall and Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co in the 1950's.  He and Tom's grandmother, Marcie Reich, were very involved in the business and civic communities throughout their lives.

Over the past 21 years that I have lived in Independence, I have focused on public safety and economic development, particularly in Western Independence.  I was appointed to the Citizens Committee on Public Safety in 2003 and worked with Chief of Police Fred Mills and Fire Chief Larry Hodge to understand the needs of our police and fire departments. The committee recommended two sales taxes for police and fire which were placed on the ballot in August of 2004. I learned a lot from working on those campaigns, and I have put my time, energy, and financial resources into many campaigns since then including the school district boundary change campaign to bring the Western Independence schools into the Independence School District.  I led the 2019 Prop P campaign to implement a local use tax to hire more police officers and support our regional animal shelter.

I currently serve on the "On A Roll Committee" to implement the city's downtown redevelopment plan.  This plan includes the Square, Englewood, Maywood, and Fairmount as well as Noland Road, 23rd Street, and 24 Hwy.  Over the past several months, I have been working with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to secure federal funding for an emissions-free, fare-free bus rapid transit project on 24 Hwy.  This plan will connect Kansas City, KS, Kansas City, MO and Independence with a state-of-the art bus line and revitalize the 24 Hwy corridor with new infrastructure, businesses and housing. This will add to the investment the city has already made for the complete streets project on 24 Hwy that will begin construction this year.

During my time as mayor, I have enjoyed leading trips to other cities in our area and around the country to learn about downtown redevelopment and get great ideas for our city.  My dad's career was in downtown redevelopment, so it is something I grew up with and have always been inspired by.  Independence has so much to offer, and I have dedicated myself to building relationships across the metro and across the country to bring quality development to our city.  Over the past 8 years, our median income has grown from $41,000 to $53,000 and over 5,000 new jobs have been created.

I appreciate your vote on Tuesday, February 8th to keep Independence growing strong.

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

Meet the Candidates: Mike Huff

INDEPENDENCE CITY COUNCIL RACE: 

MIKE HUFF

Greetings. I am Mike Huff and the City of Independence's incumbent Councilmember At-Large elected in April, 2018. I am a life-long resident of Independence, MO. My education has all been within the Independence School District. I graduated from William Chrisman High School and attended a two-year program at Park College. I obtained several work related, industrial, state, federal, and managerial certifications thru my professional career.

I was employed by Armco Steel for several years and then a janitor with Independence Power and Light. I was with the IPL for 34 years as a lineman, superintendent, and electrical distribution manager before my 2017 retirement from the CITY. I managed 50+ employees over those years, assisted in many Missouri and national disaster crews to help other electrical companies during storms and terrible hurricanes like Katrina. I am VERY proud to be a past member of the Steel Workers Union Local 13 (Armco) and IBEW Local 53 (IPL), which both unions continue to strive for worker equalities.

Independence is a wonderful city to raise a family. My wife, Tammy, and I have two successful children who are married with two wonderful grandchildren and one on the way. My parents, who are also life-long Independence citizens, donated time to maintain Independence historical sites and I continue to support these preservation efforts today. This great city is so rich with a diverse history and other unique economical sources that we must promote and capitalize upon to attract new families and businesses to our great city.

I pledge continued efforts for city change to benefit all Independence citizens and to do so with the utmost transparency. I have introduced over 28 ordinances for the betterment of citizens. Many of these have been to save the citizens money through energy rate reductions and refunds, addressing blight in our neighborhoods and business areas, and addressing the need for more police and fire fighters. I also see a great need to address our economic development policies and ideas, create employment opportunities, and increase community services.

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

Meet the Candidates: Kenneth Love

INDEPENDENCE MAYORAL RACE: 

KENNETH LOVE

My name is Kenneth Love and I’m running for the office of Mayor because the citizens of Independence deserve a leader who will bring honest and transparent leadership to the people of Independence. A leader who will prioritize the issues plaguing Independence that have only continued to get worse.

The most pressing issues that I feel and citizens have expressed that need immediate and focused attention are:

• The increase in crime (especially violent crime).

• The growing number of homeless within the city.

• Economic decline and the need for growth (beyond just another fast-food joint) to help increase tax revenue and create more jobs.

• Eliminate wasteful spending of your tax dollars on self-interest and unnecessary projects - to help ensure the financial sustainability of the city.

Improving Independence and getting it back to the great suburban city it once was is important to me because every citizen deserves to live in a city that’s not only safe but thriving - and not have to be scared to go out at night or watch their property value decline due to blight, crime, and other factors.

These issues, as well as others the city faces, are complex issues that will require complex solutions. Campaigns are full of empty promises that are never fulfilled. So I won’t make any promises because action speaks louder than words.

But what I will tell you is that I will work for YOU, and, if I’m elected Mayor, I will prioritize these issues by identifying social services already in place that can be better utilized, exploring solutions that other cities have successfully implemented, reviewing financial resources available to fund solutions, and any other resources available.

I know there are many more issues that will need to be addressed and resolved, but we have to start somewhere, and crime, homelessness, economic decline, and wasteful spending are the most pressing issues Independence is dealing with.

I’ve lived in Independence for 24 years and I’m a regular citizen, just like you. I’m not a polished career politician. I’m running for Mayor because I want to improve the lives of the citizens of Independence and help empower them by being their voice. I WILL WORK FOR YOU.

We’ve had eight years of ineffective, self-serving leadership that’s resulted in wasteful spending, unnecessary self-interest projects, and an FBI investigation into city hall over the questionable business dealings of our current leaders.

It’s time you demand a progressive leader who will put the concerns and needs of citizens over their own self-serving interests. We’ve suffered enough injustice from those in power who have ignored the concerns of citizens and have caused tremendous social and economic challenges within our community.

It’s time to stand up and demand change and we do that by electing new leadership that is committed to serving the interests of the citizens. I stand strong in my unwavering commitment to ensuring a better quality of life for every citizen of Independence.

I vow to make sure no one goes unseen or unheard. Your fight is my fight. And I will fight hard for the change we all want and need to see. A change that takes the special interests control OUT of city hall and puts it BACK in the hands of the citizens.

Great things can be achieved through collective action. Your vote is not just about your voice being heard, it’s about making a difference. And our collective action can help bring about the change we ALL want to see. The change everyone deserves. But it won’t happen without your help. I urge you to stand up for change and make a difference - put new leadership in office. A vote for Kenneth Love is a vote for change.

Independence is at a crossroads. A pivotal time when the need for an honest progressive leader that’s NOT tied to special interest groups or PACs has never been more crucial than it is right now. So on February 8th when you place your vote in the ballot box - that’s when democracy works.

Thank you for all your support!

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

Meet the Candidates: Holmes Osborne

INDEPENDENCE MAYORAL RACE: 

HOLMES OSBORNE

My name is Holmes Osborne and I'm running for Mayor of Independence.  Ten years of leadership from Mayor Eileen Weir has seen violent crime increase, blight spread, homeless camps, and strange tax deals that favor developers.   I have the experience, education, and training to return Independence to its glory days.

Mayor Weir had an entire decade to make a big difference, but what has she done? Weir has made sweetheart deals with big-money donors that have left most of our citizens behind to benefit only a few. Some examples: The Solar Farm at Rockwood, closing the Health Department, and allowing our police department to dwindle down to the point where it takes hours to respond to calls.  Our police force has around fifty vacancies. Starting pay is barely over $40,000 a year.  Compared to many other professions, a person can find a much easier job paying a lot more money. $60,0000 a year starting pay would help address this problem.  

Why has our current Mayor Eileen Weir failed at this?  Perhaps it’s because the police union does not give substantial amounts of money to political campaigns.  Too many cozy relationships have detracted the money that should go to law enforcement.  At times, there are 12 patrols, covering 78 square miles, stretching from the Sports Complex to Buckner, Missouri. It’s literally an impossible job.

I am currently an elected Trustee of the Metropolitan Community College.  I'm proud to say that the MCC's Blue River Public Safety Institute’s Police Academy is currently training recruits specifically for the Independence Police Department, and the training they are receiving is first rate! But when they graduate, they need to have a good paying job waiting for them in Independence. 

With my financial background and business acumen, we can make this happen. I have a degree in finance from Syracuse University. My alma mater has the best school of government in the country (the second best is at Harvard).  I am one of the few holders of the Financial Analyst designation to run for public office.  I will use my financial background to make budgetary cuts and direct resources towards law enforcement.  I’ve been featured in the Wall Street Journal three times and have written over 600 articles on finance and economics.  I have decades of experience in money management. I will find and eliminate the waste in the City's budget (there is PLENTY of waste!) and I will fund our police department properly WITHOUT raising your taxes.

Visit my website at www.holmesformayor.com

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

Meet the Candidates: Brice Stewart

INDEPENDENCE MAYORAL RACE: 

BRICE STEWART

Personally, I am the father of two beautiful daughters Ollie & Emeline. Their mother Misty and I could not be prouder of them.

Professionally, I am currently on the City Council representing the 2nd District. I work fulltime for Jackson County in the Information Technology Department. I also work part-time as a Police Officer and have for many years. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and an Associates Degree in Network Administration.

When elected my first areas of focus will be:

#1. Reduce crime and disorder

#2. Lower Utility Bills

#3. Clean up blight

#4. Homelessness

To reduce crime, we must start with hiring more Police Officers. Currently, it is not an easy task to hire quality Police Officers due to many reasons. Independence is not the only agency struggling with Police Officer recruiting and retention. As Mayor I will ensure we offer the best salary and incentives to come and work for our department. Financial benefits are not the only thing that needs to be done, our city needs to ensure the Police Officers who work here have good morale and that starts with a leadership team that must have the right qualities to lead. Our current Police Officers are truly our best recruitment tool, if they are satisfied with their employment, they will be more likely to recommend our department.

Lowering of utility bills will require more commercial businesses to ease the financial impact on the residents. I will focus on bringing more commercial businesses to Independence without a negative impact on homeowners.

Cleaning up blight and the negative impacts of it will require more budgeted money. I will look for grants and any other funding mechanisms at my disposal if this cannot be paid for out of the General Fund.

Homelessness, we more need funding for services and programs. This will need to be a community response since this problem exists across all cities in the metro. I will work with my counterparts in other cities and solicit funding from the state or federal government to try to alleviate this issue.

PLEASE VOTE IN THE CITY ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 8!

MEET THE CANDIDATES
MAYOR: BRICE STEWART -- HOLMES OSBORNE -- KENNETH LOVE -- EILEEN WEIR
CITY COUNCIL: MIKE HUFF -- BILL PRESTON-- MARCIE GRAGG

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR CITY ELECTION JANUARY 12

To vote in the Mayor and City Council races on February 8 you MUST BE REGISTERED BY JANUARY 12. It only takes a few minutes to register online. Please make sure you're registered, and spread the word! Use the online form at the link below:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!