Election Day reminder of The Star’s endorsements and recommendations on Nov. 7 ballot | Opinion
Election Day is here, and The Star Editorial Board has covered some of the more hotly contested races and initiatives on Tuesday’s ballot.
Voters in Kansas and Missouri will head to the polls to vote on important issues and choose new public officials on both sides of the state line.
Leading up to this election, our board researched and reported on the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority sales tax issue and the race for school board seats in Johnson County districts. We also interviewed 11 candidates running for five seats on the Unified Government of Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners.
School district elections
In Johnson County, several school board candidates running for seats in three of the county’s largest school districts have made opposition to diversity efforts a big part of their campaigns.
Some slates in Blue Valley, Olathe and Shawnee Mission schools oppose inclusion; others don’t.
Blue Valley Schools Board of Education
The Star endorses:
Jan Kessinger
Patrick Hurley
Jodie Dietz
Clay Norkey
Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education
The Star endorses:
Mario Garcia III
Jamie Borgman
David H. Westbrook
Jessica Hembree
Olathe School District Board of Education
The Star endorses:
Stacey Yurkovich
Brad Boyd
Claire Reagan
Will Babbit
Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners
Wyandotte County could see a change in its governing structure. Candidates are vying for seats on the Unified Government’s Board of Public Utilities and its Board of Commissioners.
Wyandotte County Board of Commissioners
Star endorsements:
At-large:
Melissa Bynum
District 2:
Bill Burns
District 3:
Christian Ramirez
District 4:
Evelyn Hill
District 6:
Steve Neal
KCATA bus sales tax renewal
Kansas City voters in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties will consider renewing a 3/8-cent sales tax that pays for bus service in Kansas City.
On Tuesday’s ballot is Question 1. If approved, the measure would renew the sales tax dedicated to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority for 10 years.
Our endorsement for the KCATA sales tax question:
QUESTION 1: Should Kansas City voters renew the KCATA tax?
The Star Editorial Board encourages voters to say yes to Question 1.
