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!