Free complimentary copy August 5, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 41
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Barnes wins Democratic bid for House seat, faces VanBuskirk Nov. 8 By Kris Collins Jerome Barnes will be facing Bill VanBuskirk in the November general election for the Missouri House of Representatives District 28 seat, according to unofficial election results from the Jackson County Election Board. “In pinching myself. It was like I was dreaming,” Barnes said Wednesday morning. “I just want to thank all my supporters, and we’re just looking forward uniting the Democratic Party here in the 28th district and looking forward to facing off in the general election in November.” Barnes garnered 38 percent of the vote, enough to beat out Democratic challengers Jim Aziere, Josh Greene, Pat Riehle and Diane Krizek in the primary election to face VanBuskirk, the only Republican candidate, in the general election Nov. 8. District 28 covers the majority of Raytown. A total of 4,137 ballots were cast between both parties — 1,620 Republican ballots and 2,517 for Democrats. Aziere finished second among Democratic candidates with 32 percent of the votes. Krizek received 18.5 percent of votes, and Greene and Riehle took 7 percent and 4 percent. The seat became vacant because Tom McDonald is term-limited. Barnes is a retired labor relations specialist for the U.S. Postal Service and a sport official for basketball, volleyball and football.
This is his first bid for state office. He studied at Longview Community College and went through U.S. Army Non-Commission Officer School and arbitration advocacy school. He currently serves on the University of Missouri Extension Council and the Raytown C-2 School District Board of Education. He’s a member of the Raytown Democratic Association, Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Greater Kansas City Officials Association. VanBuskirk, who is retired from graphic arts work at Hallmark Cards, Inc., was first elected as a Raytown alderman in 2009. He has served as mayor pro tem, serves on multiple city committees, and is a member of the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce and Raytown Historical Society. “First thing, I want to congratulate my opponent, Mr. Barnes, on his victory, and myself,” VanBuskirk said. “I’m very humbled, honored, thankful, and encouraged to get all the support I have received related to this campaign. I just hope when casting a vote Nov. 8 voters will consider most qualified person for the job.” Barnes said he does not have specific plans for his campaign between now and Nov. 8. “I just want to get out and let the people know I’ll be working for them, I want to get their ideas and how they want to move the 28th district forward,” he said. VanBuskirk said he has no plans
Photo by Kris Collins Voters line up for ballots at Raytown City Hall Tuesday.
to adjust his campaign after finding out Barnes is the Democratic candidate. I am who I am and I present myself as that, and I don’t change,” he said “I really think I can take some common sense and honesty and integrity to Jeff City.”
Election Results
U.S. Senator Democratic • Chief Wana Dubie – 2,168/10.5 percent • Cori Bush – 2,525/12.2 percent
• Jason Kander – 14,287/69 percent • Robert Mack – 1,715/8.3 percent Republican • Roy Blunt – 21,707/71 percent • Kristi Nichols – 6,723/22 percent • Bernie Mowinski – 811/2.7 percent • Ryan D. Luethy – 1,376/4.5 percent Libertarian • Jonathan Dine – 208/52 percent • Herschel L. Young – 192/48 percent Constitution • Fred Ryman – 59/100 percent
U.S. Representative District 5 Democratic • Emanuel Cleaver II – 14,923/85.7 percent • Roberta Gough – 2,484/14.3 percent Republican • Austin Rucker – 1,859/8.7 percent • Berton A. Knox – 1,033/4.8 percent • Michael Burris – 3,065/14.4 percent • Jacob Turk – 15,373/72.1 percent Libertarian
Election continued on page 4
Car wash raises $1,700 for new holiday lighting campaign By Kris Collins The Raytown Main Street Association raised $1,700 during a car wash and silent auction this past weekend. The money will go toward new commercial holiday lighting. Sue Frank, event chair for the fundraiser, co-hosted the event with Andrew Jansen, owner of Slick Willy’s Saloon. The event was held behind their businesses, where attendees could try their arm at sending someone into the dunk tank, enjoy a cold drink and shade under tents or bid on items in the silent auction. Frank estimated approximately 50 cars and
100 people came by throughout the day. “It was fun. I think everybody had a good time,” she said. “The mayor was amazing for his commitment for sitting in the dunk tank so long.” The “Let Our Light Shine” fundraising campaign began in early July with a dinner and auction, which raised half of the $20,000 goal. Frank said the Raytown Main Street Association will continue its efforts with an estate sale Sept. 8-10, and other events. Updates on future fundraisers may also be found at the main street association’s Facebook page at https://facebook.com/Down-
Photo courtesy Scott Walz Approximately 50 cars were washed during the day-long fundraiser just behind Sue Frank’s State Farm and Slick Willy’s Saloon.
townRaytown. The “Let Our Light Shine” Go Fund Me page may be
found at https://www.gofundme. com/raytownlight. Donation infor-
Raytown Mayor Mike McDonough sits in the dunk tank during the Raytown Main Street Association’s car wash fundraiser July 30.
mation for the estate sale is available by calling 816-353-4400.
Sheriff wins primary against challenger who called his character into question
By Kris Collins
Despite the release of information calling into question Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp’s character, Sharp beat Democratic challenger Brice Stewart in the Aug. 2 primary election. He garnered 14,440 votes, or 70.4 percent of the vote, compared with Stewart’s 6,052. Sharp goes on to face Raymond L. Draper in the Nov. 8 general election. Draper, the lone Republican candidate, received 28,805 votes. On the website http://therealmikesharp.com, Stewart posted links to news articles about sexual harassment lawsuits filed against the sheriff’s office and a Raytown Police Department report filed by Sharp’s ex-wife, Cindi Sloan, detailing alleged harassment from Sharp shortly after the couple divorced. “When someone first meets
Mike Sharp he is very likable,” the site reads. “However once you get to know him you quickly realize how wrong your first impression was.” According to the report filed by Sloan with the Raytown Police Department, she told a detective Sharp began harassing her about dating another man following the couple’s January 2014 divorce. She said he was calling, texting and emailing her about the matter. She told the detective she filed the report per her attorney’s advice. “Let’s face it; it’s an election year, a time when would-be candidates throw mud to see what sticks,” Sharp said via email about the report. “My personal relationships outside the Sheriff’s department have no bearing or influence on my job as the elected professional sheriff of Jackson County.” The report, filed in March 2015,
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contains record of communication exchanged between Sharp and Sloan. “Do not contact me again,” Sloan said via text message to Sharp in March 2015. “You are scaring and intimidating me.” The detective who took the report noted Sloan did not reach out about pursuing harassment charges after the report was filed. The detective said in the report after reviewing the case information there was not enough cause for harassment charges to be filed. “Considering he (Sharp) had already told me that I’d never get an ex parte in Jackson County, and that no one could touch him since he was the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the county,” Sloan said via email, “I didn’t feel as though I could pursue safely.” Requests for comment made to the Raytown Municipal Court and
Raytown Police Department on why charges were not filed, or what actions could warrant harassment charges, were not returned to the Raytown-Brooking Eagle. Stewart also alleged Sharp tried to use his influence as vice president of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association to get his ex-wife’s boyfriend, Mick Covington, an employee of that organization, fired. Comments made in the Raytown police report made by Sloan seem to support the allegation. Additionally, in a 2015 email sent by the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association’s president at the time, Kevin Bond, to Sharp, he asks Sharp to step down from his leadership position within the organization because of his behavior toward Covington, which included asking for his resignation and requesting email communication of all Missouri Sheriffs’ Association employ-
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ees. “You have caused enough emotional distress on our staff, expended enough of our association’s resources, wasted enough of your fellow sheriff’s valuable time, and brought us to a point where you are forcing me to draw a line in the sand. You have damaged our innerworking in this process and you need to walk away so the board can repair that,” Bond wrote. The email was posted on Stewart’s website. Bond confirmed he penned the letter and declined to comment further. “I am not inclined to speak about another sheriff, especially when it is used for campaign purposes,” Bond said vie email. “As such, I have no further comment.” Sloan moved out of Jackson County for what she called “obvious reasons.”
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