After a raucous four years at the Jackson County Courthouse, at least two-thirds of the county’s legislature — six out of nine districts — will turn over in this year’s elections.

That will include the 4th District, where incumbent DaRon McGee has announced he will not run for reelection.

Three candidates, including two Democrats and one Republican, are competing to take his place.

The 4th District covers Kansas City south of 55th Street and east of Troost Avenue, as well as all of Grandview and the southern half of Raytown. You can see a more detailed map by clicking here.

In this district, the two Democratic candidates are Byron Townsend and John T. Maloney.

Whoever wins the 4th District Democratic primary will face Republican Lon McDonald in November. McDonald was not included in the primary questionnaire because he is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

The county legislature is the primary governing body for Jackson County, passes the annual budget and votes on laws affecting the county government. The county is also responsible for assessing property values and collecting property taxes on behalf of school districts and other taxing jurisdictions.

The Beacon reached out to both candidates in the 4th District Democratic primary, asking them to answer a three-part questionnaire. The questionnaires include biographical questions, five short-answer policy questions and five lightning-round, multiple-choice questions. Some responses have been edited for length or clarity.

We published a candidate guide that includes five Democrats running for two at-large Jackson County districts this week. You can read it here.

If you live in the 2nd District, you can find that district’s questionnaire here, and if you live in the 3rd District, you can find that district’s questionnaire here. 

Click on a link to jump to a section in the questionnaire:

• Meet the candidates.
• What would you do to make property taxes more fair?
• The 3/8-cent sales tax funding Truman Sports Complex will expire in 2031. When it expires, should the county ask voters to renew it? Or let it expire?
• What, if anything, should be done with Truman Sports Complex once the teams’ leases expire?
• How would you encourage a cooperative and collaborative tone among your colleagues in the legislature and with the executive?
• If elected, what issues will you make your own?
• Lightning-round questions.

Meet the candidates

Byron Townsend

Townsend is a retired letter carrier. He has a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Northwest Missouri State University.

He serves on the Hickman Mills School District board, a position he has held for six years.

You can learn more about Townsend at his campaign website or on Facebook.

What organization in Jackson County is doing community work you admire? 

Harvesters – The Community Food Network has long been a vital organization in Jackson County. It frees up money for residents to buy medicine, childcare, utilities and rent. That is why the National Association of Letter Carriers does a food drive to stock its shelves when it is needed the most. For 20 years I have helped lead the food drive averaging over 200,000 pounds of food in one day, including 10,000 pounds going directly to Raytown.

John T. Maloney

Maloney is the executive director of the Grandview Assistance Program, and he also serves as an alderman representing Ward 3 of Grandview.

He has spent 15 years in nonprofit management and municipal public service. He was honored as one of the Kansas City Business Journal’s 25 NextGen leaders in 2022, completed the FBI Citizens Academy in 2017 and became an Eagle Scout in 2001.

You can learn more about Maloney at his campaign website or on Facebook.

What organization in Jackson County is doing community work you admire?

Of course the Grandview Assistance Program, but also Ronald McDonald House Charities, Veterans Community Project and Journey to New Life. 

What would you do to make property taxes more fair?

Townsend: There is nothing I can do without my colleagues, but I would advocate for a simple, easy-to-understand formula to calculate your tax bill. I would look for solutions that help seniors and low-income residents stay in their homes without reducing the revenue produced by property taxes. One such solution would be to continue the 3/8-cent sales tax (currently paying for Truman Sports Complex) as a grant fund for seniors and low-income residents. That way the county can fund education, infrastructure and county services at an acceptable level.

Maloney: In order to “make property taxes more fair” we must make sure that the process is transparent and efficiently operated. We need to ensure that we hire enough staff to properly conduct the property assessments but that staff is also qualified and well trained. As a legislator, I will do my best to make sure that staff have all the right tools needed to meet timelines, provide efficient avenues for property owners to contest the assessment and stay in compliance with the State Tax Commission. The voters of Jackson County will elect our first assessor in 2028. It is our responsibility that the next assessment process go well in order to hand over an organized department to the new assessor.

The 3/8-cent sales tax funding Truman Sports Complex will expire in 2031. When it expires, should the county ask voters to renew it? Or let it expire?

Townsend: Ask voters to renew the 3/8-cent sales tax for a new purpose. Before asking for the renewal, I would create an urban development commission or committee to explore the possible use of the Truman Sports Complex, then after reviewing the data I would seek public opinion on the different possibilities. The sales tax would have to directly benefit the county and its residents. I would not be in favor of projects whose benefits are based on speculation. 

Maloney: I would consider supporting the renewal of the tax IF an acceptable plan was in place prior to the vote to renew.

What, if anything, should be done with Truman Sports Complex once the teams’ leases expire?

Townsend: Just based on the location alone, the site naturally lends itself to a warehouse or manufacturing hub. Whatever is chosen for the site must contribute to the Jackson County tax base bringing tax relief to county residents.

Maloney: The Truman Sports Complex is THE project of the next two decades here in Jackson County. To be honest, I don’t have a dream plan that I plan to fight for. Instead, I plan to fight to make sure that we collect the smartest minds in the county to build a plan together. We need to have developers, small- and large-business owners, educators, social workers and citizens involved to collectively build a strategic plan for the entire complex. The Truman Sports Complex can continue to be sports-focused, housing-focused, entertainment-focused or even all of the above. This is going to be an exciting project, and we need to dream big and be responsible.

How would you encourage a cooperative and collaborative tone among your colleagues in the legislature and with the executive?

Townsend: I worked in an environment that created the term “going postal” for 30 years. My union negotiation experience and school board service have taught me that progress comes through regular communication, shared goals and willingness to find common ground. I anticipate a professional, solutions-oriented relationship built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to property tax relief, equity for our community and responsible governance. I will bring forward ideas, listen carefully and work as a team to deliver results for the residents of Jackson County.

Maloney: There will be a large turnover in the county legislature with this election, including the county executive. Each new legislator will bring certain gifts and talents. It will be important for us to start building a good working relationship with one another from the beginning and get to know each other. Finding common ground and maintaining mutual respect for one another is a must in my opinion. Over the last 15 years, I have always maintained a positive working relationship with my colleagues. We haven’t always agreed, but we treated each other with respect and worked toward the best outcome for our citizens. 

If elected, what issues will you make your own?

Townsend: 

• Equitable tax reform: Shift toward progressive revenue sources while protecting working- and middle-class homeowners. 
• Expanded public transportation and infrastructure: Prioritize bus rapid transit, trail extensions and road repairs that connect south Kansas City to jobs and services. 
• Affordable housing initiatives: Support density bonuses, tax incentives for workforce housing and preservation of existing affordable units in our neighborhoods.
• Smart, sustainable economic development: Only approve projects that do not raise water/electric/natural gas costs for residents. 
• Full opposition to an ICE detention center: Maintain and strengthen the county’s moratorium on private detention facilities.

Maloney: Budget management and infrastructure improvement. I believe that budget management and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is the most important responsibility for all legislators. The key to proper budget management is twofold: 1) Holding department heads accountable for each department’s budget and use of funds and 2) accurately forecasting future fund income. I want to use my years of budget management as city alderman to help produce and oversee an accurate and balanced budget. We also need to build a strategic plan to invest into our county infrastructure: parks, roads, buildings. 

Lightning-round questions

Candidates were asked for a yes-or-no position in response to these questions:

1. If a question is put to Jackson County voters asking whether to impose a half-cent sales tax for public transportation, will you be voting yes or no?
2. Do you support or oppose refunding certain 2023 property taxes with tax credits, at the expense of the school districts?
3. Do you support or oppose the Missouri legislature’s proposal to eliminate the state income tax?
4. Do you support or oppose the use of public dollars (including potential property tax revenues in the form of tax abatement) for data center construction?

Candidates were also asked which county executive candidate they are supporting.

Both Townsend and Maloney chose not to make an endorsement.