When presiding commissioner Ron Schieber announced he did not plan to seek re-election two Platte County residents quickly stepped in to announce their candidacies. Republican Scott Fricker and Democrat John DeFoor Sr. are running for the post.
DeFoor, 48, is from Kansas City. Married, he has two children and is a graduate of Park University. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration. He worked as a BNSF railway conductor since 2012 and has worked as a dangerous building inspector and in animal control for the City of Kansas City.
Fricker, 58, is originally from Sebastopol, Calif. He lived in Parkville for 14 year and now resides in unincorporated Platte County. Married, he has two children and holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and managerial economics from the University of California at Davis. He has owned a commercial real estate investment, development and management company for more than 20 years.
The Citizen follows a standard election questionnaire for all candidates. The following are excerpts from the candidates’ responses.
DeFOOR
DeFoor says his work with the City of Kansas City makes him qualified for the postion as he has worked with various agencies through his employment with the city.
“Running a successful government organization is vastly different than any business,” he said. “There is a vast difference between a successful business owner and a good government representative. I am the only candidate for this position with a local government background who has seen the different aspects of government work from the inside out.”
DeFoor decided to run for the top office in the county due to a lack of representation for those who do not hold the same political believes as the current commissioners, all of whom are Republicans.
“I feel we need someone in this office with a different outlook who can submit new ideas and opinions regarding county government,” he said. “We need a system of checks and balances that is not currently present in our county government.”
He feels the current commission lacks transparency and communication with residents and feels he can offer an alternative.
“They have stacked the boards and commissions in our county, allowing our county library board to defund our library system by 1.3 million dollars a year even though voters voted this money in for the library system,” DeFoor said. “Our current commission has destroyed our credit rating in our county over the Zona Rosa bond default, which will cost us drastically on later projects needed in Platte County.”
Believing the current commission only looks at the short-term, he calls for more long-range planning and transparency.
“Our infrastructure doesn’t stop needing addressing just because the federal government has given us some quick money. We need to address where we’ll get the money to maintain our roads and bridges once this federal money is gone and we have less money from the cut road tax.
“We need to look 15 or 20 years into the future so our kids can take this county over and not have to scramble to find solutions to problems we should have dealt with today but put off.
“We need open communication between our government officials and the public. That means holding commission meetings at different times, including mornings and evenings, so everyone has an opportunity to have their voice heard in our community.
“We have a lot of changes and issues that need addressing, but we will not get anything done if we keep electing the same people who only care about a select few’s voices.”
FRICKER
Fricker said he currently serves on or have served on four different Platte County boards and committees. The Board of Equalization (past), the CARES Act Small Business Advisory Committee (past), the Industrial Development Authority Board (current), and the Sewer District (current).
He said his history of service and work experience make him the best choice for presiding commissioner.
“Based on my obvious commitment to public service over the last five years and my work history which requires solving complex financial and organizational problems, I’m clearly the most qualified person in this race,” Fricker said. “Platte County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and I hope my children live and raise their families here someday. I’m committed to doing everything I can to make sure that Platte County remains the home that we all want it to be.”
Fricker outlines several issues Platte County faces in the short and long term.
“We have an overcrowded jail situation that needs to be solved,” he said. “Our sheriff needs to be able to pay starting deputies more than they are currently being paid.
“The county has $20 million in covid relief funds that need to be spent wisely and in a way that will not lead to a permanent increase in government spending.
“We need to increase our housing supply to make sure growing businesses have the affordable housing stock necessary to attract the workforce they need to grow.
“We need to increase county government transparency and accessibility by overhauling the county website, adding a Commissioner Facebook page, moving Commission administrative sessions back to the County Admin building, and have meetings in the evenings so that more of the public can attend.”
Fricker said each of these issues requires a different solution.
“I have the experience necessary to solve complex problems by applying the critical thinking and financial analysis skills that I’ve developed over my lifetime, leading by example, creating teams and alliances, and then using all that to build consensus,” Fricker said.