Jackson County (Missouri)
It only takes one vote to get elected. You can only vote for yourself.
Perfecting Democracy in Jackson County (MO)
We, the People of Jackson County, already have all the power we need to make our government a Perfect Democracy.
The Citizens of Jackson County (Missouri) are uniquely empowered to make their government a Perfect Democracy because the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County is the only home rule charter or constitution we know of with no designated time frame for collecting signatures on initiative petitions. Once the required number of registered voters have signed initiative petitions, the legislation proposed will be referred to the voters in Jackson County. In Jackson County, if enough registered voters want to vote on an issue, getting legislation or an amendment on the ballot is not a matter of IF it will be on the ballot, it is simply a matter of WHEN. An observation made by Elbert Hubbard applies here: "There is no failure except in no longer trying."
The Home Rule Charter of Jackson County states that "amendments to the Home Rule Charter are to be "placed on the ballot at the next primary or general election (at least 80 days away)." And that ordinances being proposed "shall be submitted to the voters at the next regular election held within ninety days after the petitions are filed, or if there is no regular election within such time, a special election shall be held within sixty days after the petitions are filed."
Once the proposed legislation is placed on the ballot, if it is approved by "a majority of those voting on the proposition", it goes into effect. That is what democracy looks like!
Citizen Legislators
In any community, state, or nation with provisions for referendums and/or the initiative already in. their constitution or charter, citizens can act as "Citizen Legislators" by simply attending Town Hall meetings and signing initiative petitions.
In Jackson County, we intend to host a series of Town Halls that will constitute the "Peoples' Assembly of Jackson County". We do not intend to put a formal legislative body in place. We simply plan to facilitate Citizen Legislators taking full advantage of the political power given them under the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County.
Our Ballot Proposals in Jackson County
"The Magnificent Seven"
The Perfect Democracy Ordinance
The Perfect Democracy ordinance will allow voters who are registered to vote in Jackson County to “sign” petitions provided for in the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County electronically, by means of Statements of Support issued through Online Accounts. Citizens in the European Union have been able to "sign" petitions electronically since 2011.
Online Accounts will make it much easier for the people of Jackson County to:
- Put proposals on the ballot through the initiative whenever it appears likely that a majority of the people of Jackson County want legislation enacted that the Jackson County Legislature has failed to enact;
- Call veto referendums whenever it appears likely that a majority of the people of Jackson County oppose legislation enacted by the pJackson County; and
- Call for a recall election whenever it appears likely that a majority of the people of Jackson County believe an officeholder should be removed from office.
Three Revenue-Neutral Projects
To Provide Economic Security for the People of Jackson County
The Jackson County Healthcare Cooperative
The primary reason we (Americans) pay far more for healthcare than the people of any other advanced country is the involvement of private, for-profit, health insurance companies, acting as unwanted gatekeepers for healthcare and adding tremendously to the cost of healthcare without adding anything in terms of the quality or quantity of healthcare that is available.
We can dramatically reduce the cost of healthcare for the people of Jackson County by organizing a health care cooperative, with premiums based on a percentage of each member’s income and set no higher than necessary to cover the full cost of healthcare provided, plus reasonable administrative costs. All health care services and procedures covered by Medicare will be covered. Health care providers will be reimbursed for care at the same rates provided for through Medicare.
The Affordable Homes Project
The dream of home ownership is now out of reach for many Americans. We can make the dream of home ownership a reality for more residents of Jackson County through an Affordable Homes Project. The county government will be authorized to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of constructing moderately priced, energy-efficient houses, townhouses, and condominiums that will be sold to qualified buyers at cost, with no money down, and no interest charged. Monthly mortgage payments will be set at a level that will repay the full cost of constructing the homes over a thirty-to-forty-year period.
As homes are constructed and sold, mortgage payments made by homeowners will finance the construction of additional homes. That will create an ever-increasing supply of affordable homes that will continue until the demand for affordable homes is fully met.
Homeowners who want or need to move within the Jackson County, will be able to transfer their equity to another home that is part of the Affordable Homes Project within Jackson County. Homeowners who want or need to move outside of Jackson County, will be reimbursed in an amount equal to their equity, minus the cost of restoring the property to a "like new" condition.
The Renewable Energy Project
The Renewable Energy Project will reduce the cost of electricity, contribute to an appropriate response to the existential threat posed by global warming, and provide well-paid, union jobs for workers in Jackson County. The county government will be authorized to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of constructing or acquiring and retooling manufacturing facilities to produce solar panels.
To maximize demand, the solar panels produced will be leased or sold at cost. Individuals and families residing in Jackson County will have the first option to lease or purchase the solar panels produced and, when feasible, will have the option of having the solar panels they purchase or lease installed on government-owned property near their homes as part of a Community Solar Project. Businesses located within Jackson County will have the second option to lease or purchase any solar panels produced and not sold to individuals or families. Any remaining solar panels will be leased or sold to individuals or businesses located outside Jackson County.
Three Pro-Democracy Amendments
The Personal Representation Amendment
The Personal Representation Amendment will transform the Jackson County Legislature into a truly democratic institution by allowing every citizen who is eligible to vote to authorize any one member of the Jackson County Legislature to cast votes on their behalf (by assigning proxies) and give each legislature a number of votes equal to the number of proxies they have been assigned, plus one for themselves. Citizens will be able to reassign their proxies at any time. That will give Politically Active Citizens the ability to vote (indirectly) on any legislation being voted on in the Jackson County Legislature.
Personal Representation is based on the belief that people should be represented in legislative bodies, not just a majority of the voters in gerrymandered geographic areas. Extreme gerrymandering has created a system where the parties pick their voters. With Personal Representation, the people pick their representatives. With Personal Representation, citizens who exercise their right to authorize a member of the Jackson County Legislature to cast votes on their behalf, will be represented by a legislator who vote as they would vote.
The At-Large Elections Amendment
Members of the Jackson County Legislature are currently elected from six districts and three at-large districts . (Having three "at-large districts" contradicts the normal meaning of the term "at-large".) This amendment provides for all nine members of the Jackson County Legislature to be elected at-large. The nine candidates with the most votes are elected.
The Majority Veto Override Amendment
The only change to this section of the Home Rule Charter is to replace the words “two-thirds” with the word “majority”. This eliminates the anti-democratic super-majority requirement for the members of the legislature to override a veto by the County Executive. This change brings the County Charter in line with the principles of majority rule and the supremacy of the legislative power.
Three ways to get these proposals enacted:
(1) "By ordinance adopted by the County Legislature"
The easiest way to get these ordinances adopted and these amendments on the ballot this November is for a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature to simply adopt the ordinances for revenue-neutral projects and adopt ordinances putting the proposed charter amendments on the ballot.
Please contact legislators by phone and/or email and politely and respectfully encourage them to be a Champion of Democracy by voting to approve the ordinances and put the proposed amendments on the ballot on November 3rd. If you call, in most cases you will be leaving a voicemail. Be sure to include your name and phone number. The official phone numbers and email addresses for the current members of the Jackson County Legislature (and their legislative aides) are listed below. To facilitate a timely response, it is a good idea to copy the legislative aides on emails.
Sample phone message or email: "I hope you will actively support and vote for the proposals for a health care cooperative, the Affordable Homes Project, the Renewable Energy Project, the Perfect Democracy Amendment and the Personal Representation Amendment that are being promoted by our pro-democracy movement."
Jalen Anderson (1st District At Large) 816-881-4477 JAnderson@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Winifred Jamieson - wjamieson@jacksongov.org
Donna Peyton, (2nd District At Large) 816-881-3464 dpeyton@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Leonetta Brown - Leonetta.Brown@jacksongov.org
Megan L. Smith, (3rd t District At Large) 816-881-4423 Megan.Smith@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Ryonda Harper - RLHarper@jacksongov.org
Manuel Abarca IV, (1st District) 816-881-3076 MAbarca@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Jenni Mann - Jenni.Mann@Jacksongov.org
Venessa Huskey, (2nd District) 816-881-3806 vhuskey@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Monica Bravo - MBravo@jacksongov.org
Charlie Franklin, (3rd District) 816-881-4441 cfranklin@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Georgia Sanders - gmsanders@jacksongov.org
DaRon McGee (4th District) 816-881-3322 dmcgee@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Kimberly Randolph - KMRandolph@jacksongov.org
Jeanie Lauer, (5th District) 816-881-4476 jlauer@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Karen Giudici
Sean E. Smith, (6th District) 816-881-3132 sesmith@jacksongov.org
Legislative aide: Ashley Al-Shawish - AAl-Shawish@jacksongov.org
You can also access contact info for legislators and their aides through this link:
(2) By Citizen Legislators through the Initiative
Once at least 6,473 citizens who are registered to vote in Jackson Count have signed the petitions for the ordinances and at least 12,945 people who are registered to vote in Jackson County have signed the petitions for amendments to the Home Rule Charter, the proposed ordinances and amendments will be submitted to a vote of the people of Jackson County. If approved by a majority of the citizens who vote, they will be enacted.
We will be hosting numerous events (large and small) at which petitions can be signed, blank petitions distributed, and notarized petitions collected. A full list of those events is posted on the Events Page of this website.
(3) Elect Champions of Democracy to at least five seats on the Jackson County Legislature on November 3rd.
To be a Champion of Democracy (by our definition), a candidate for the Jackson County Legislature or for County Executive must sign petitions for at least four of the proposals that make up "The Magnificent Seven".
It is a near certainty that all seven of our proposals will be enacted during the terms of the members of the Jackson County Legislature and the County Executive who are elected on November 3rd.
It is very important that we elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats on the Jackson County Legislature and for County Executive this year. If the County Executive and a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature are Champions of Democracy, they will implement our proposals effectively and see that the intended benefits are fully realized. If the County Executive and/or a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature are false friends of democracy, they can sabotage our efforts and the will of the people by deliberately doing a bad job of implementing our proposals.
Candidates are routinely overwhelmed by the frantic nature of being at the center of a political campaign. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for candidates to be identified as Champions of Democracy. Encourage any candidates who have not yet signed the petitions to do so. And then do what you can (with contributions of time and money) to help them get elected.
A Peaceful, Joyous Political Revolution
The greatest blessing of democracy is that it enables us to change our government with ballots, instead of bullets. When we, the people, unite in support of democratic ideals, we will be able to shift power to the people (and away from corporations and billionaires. When political power shifts dramatically in a relatively short period of time, that is a revolution. Our revolution will be peaceful and joyous. We don't have to get angry or hateful, we only have to quietly do the work of making our government our own.
There are several ways you can help:
Sign the initiative petitions.
Although we are hopeful that a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature will adopt the ordinances we are proposing and put the amendments we are proposing on the ballot, until they do, we intend to conduct a campaign to get the legislation called for in the Peoples' Agenda on the ballot through the initiative. If and when the Jackson County Legislature acts on any of our proposals, we will suspend our initiative campaign for those proposals. Even if the Legislature takes action of all of our proposals, we need to continue our Civic Education campaign to make voters aware that these proposals will be on the ballot on November 3rd.
Help gather signatures.
Once we gather at least 6,473 valid signatures on petitions for the ordinances we are proposing and at least 12,945 valid signatures on petitions for our proposed amendments, our proposals will be on the ballot on November 3rd.
The key to getting these proposals on the ballot in Jackson County as soon as possible, is for Politically Active Citizens to volunteer to gather signatures on the initiative petitions.
Spread the word.
Let everyone you know who is registered to vote in Jackson County know about our campaign.
Share links to this website, our flyers, our videos, and our posts with as many people as possible through text messages, emails, and in person. Join the campaign by providing your contact information.
We don't have to change minds - we are simply giving voters the opportunity to approve legislation supported and desired by a majority of the people.
The Full and Exact Text of Each Ballot Proposal
The Perfect Democracy Ordinance
Be it enacted by the people of Jackson County:
No later than ninety days after this ordinance is approved by voters, the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners shall implement a system of Online Accounts for Citizens that will enable citizens who are registered to vote in Jackson County to “sign” petitions provided for in the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County electronically, by submitting statements of support.
The Jackson County Election Board shall be responsible for determining that the petitions submitted are in the proper form, suggesting changes as needed, posting petitions submitted by citizens on a designated page or pages on the Jackson County Election Board website, and implementing a system of Online Accounts for Citizens to facilitate the “signing” of petitions electronically by submitting Statements of Support through those Online Accounts. Citizens may also sign and submit notarized paper copies of petitions.
The Jackson County Healthcare Cooperative
Be it enacted by the people of Jackson County:
To ensure access to affordable health care for citizens of Jackson County, the County Executive shall organize a health care cooperative, to be styled as The Jackson County Healthcare Cooperative. Membership shall be open to all citizens of Jackson County and their dependents. Premiums shall be based on a percentage of each member’s income and set no higher than necessary to cover the full cost of healthcare provided, plus reasonable administrative costs. Any health care services and procedures covered by Medicare shall be covered. Health care providers shall be reimbursed for care at the same rates provided for through Medicare.
The government of Jackson County is hereby authorized to issue bonds to cover the start-up costs for the Jackson County Health Care Cooperative. The bonds are to mature no later than five years from the date of issue.
This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon approval by the voters of Jackson County with enrollment in the Jackson County Healthcare Cooperative to open by January 1st of the year following approval by the voters of Jackson County.
The Affordable Homes Project
Be it enacted by the people of Jackson County:
To make the dream of home ownership a reality for as many citizens of Jackson County as possible, the government of Jackson County is hereby authorized to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of constructing moderately priced, energy-efficient, houses, townhouses, and condominiums that shall be sold to qualified citizens of Jackson County at cost, with no money down, and no interest charged. Monthly mortgage payments shall be set at a level that will repay the full cost of constructing the homes over a thirty-to-forty-year period.
Homeowners who want or need to move within Jackson County shall be able to transfer their equity to another home that is part of the Affordable Homes Project. Homeowners who want or need to move outside of Jackson County shall be reimbursed in an amount equal to their equity, minus the cost of restoring the property, within ninety days of vacating the property.
Any workers employed as part of this project who do not belong to a labor union shall have the right to organize or join a labor union.
The government of Jackson County is hereby authorized to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of this project. The interest paid on those bonds shall be included in the cost of the homes constructed.
This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon approval by the voters of Jackson County with construction of the homes to begin as soon as money raised by issuing bonds is sufficient to cover the full cost of construction.
The Renewable Energy Project
Be it enacted by the people of Jackson County:
To respond appropriately to the existential threat posed by global warming and provide wellpaid, union jobs, the government of Jackson County is hereby authorized to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of constructing or acquiring and retooling manufacturing facilities to produce solar panels and hiring workers to manufacture solar panels. Any solar panels produced may be installed on buildings or property owned by Jackson County. And additional solar panels produced through this project shall be leased or sold at cost. Citizens residing in Jackson County shall have the first option to lease or purchase the solar panels produced and, when feasible, shall have the option of having the solar panels they purchase installed on county owned property near their homes as part of a Community Solar Project. Businesses located in Jackson County shall have the second option to lease or purchase solar panels produced. And any remaining solar panels shall be leased or sold to individuals or businesses located outside of Jackson County.
Any workers employed as part of this project who do not belong to a labor union shall have the right to organize or join a labor union.
This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon approval by the voters of Jackson County, with acquisition and renovation of facilities and hiring of workers to begin as soon as money raised by issuing bonds is sufficient to cover the full cost of operation for one or more manufacturing facilities.
The Personal Representation Amendment
Be it resolved by the people of Jackson County that the county charter be amended:
Article II, Section 6 of the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 6. The members of the County Legislature shall be elected for terms of four years commencing on January 1, following their election.
1.To ensure that the government of Jackson County, Missouri is fully responsible to the people of Jackson County, and to fully secure the benefits of home rule and self-government for the people of Jackson County, under the Constitution of the State of Missouri, a system of Personal Representation shall be implemented. Any citizen of Jackson County who is eligible to vote may authorize any one member of the County Legislature to cast votes on their behalf by submitting a proxy form to the Clerk of the County Legislature. Each member of the County Legislature shall have a number of votes equal to the number of citizens who have authorized them to cast votes on their behalf, plus one vote for themselves, on all matters voted on by members of the County Legislature. Citizens may reassign their proxies at any time.
2. The County Executive shall implement a system of Online Accounts for Politically Active Citizens to facilitate the submission of electronic proxies; make both electronic and paper versions of proxy forms available to citizens of Jackson County; and be responsible for ensuring the security of the system of Online Accounts and for protecting the privacy of citizens submitting proxies, whether electronically or by means of a paper form.
The At-Large Elections Amendment
“Be it resolved by the people of Jackson County that the county charter be amended.”
ARTICLE II, Sections 3 and 4 of the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County are hereby repealed and Section 2 is amended to read as follows:
Section 2. The County Legislature shall consist of nine members to be nominated and elected at large.
The Majority Veto Override Amendment
“Be it resolved by the people of Jackson County that the county charter be amended.”
ARTICLE II, Section 12 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 12. All county ordinances passed by the County Legislature shall within five days thereafter be presented to the County Executive. If the County Executive approves the county ordinance, he or she shall sign it, and the county ordinance shall thereupon be deemed enacted, but if not, the County Executive shall return it with his or her objections to the County Legislature, which shall enter the objections on its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. After such reconsideration, a majority of the members of the County Legislature may pass the county ordinance over the objection of the County Executive. In all such cases the vote shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the county ordinance shall be entered on the journal of the County Legislature. Any county ordinance not returned by the County Executive within ten days after it shall have been presented to the County Executive shall be deemed approved, as if signed. In the case of county ordinances appropriating money the County Executive may object to one or more items or portions of items while approving other portions, in which case the approved items or portions shall take effect and the items or portions objected to shall be reconsidered separately.
From the Jackson County Home Rule Charter
This is the relevant portions of the text of the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County, Missouri related to direct democracy.
ARTICLE XIV.
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
Section 1. The people reserve the power to propose and enact all ordinances independent of the County Legislature by initiative, to approve or reject ordinances of the County Legislature by referendum and to recall an elective county officer.
Section 3. Initiative petitions may propose ordinances and shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least five percent of the total vote cast for County Executive in the last election at which a County Executive was elected. Each petition shall contain the full text of the measure and an enacting clause which shall read as follows: “Be it enacted by the people of Jackson County.”
Section 6. Any ordinance passed by the County Legislature is subject to referendum of the electors, except those set forth in section 2 and section 5 above. Petitions proposing a referendum shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the total vote cast for County Executive in the last election in which a County Executive was elected. The petitions must be filed within sixty days after the effective date of the ordinance. The ordinance shall remain in full force and effect until rejected by the majority of those voting.
Section 7. Petitions demanding the recall of any elected county officer shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least twenty percent of the total vote cast for County Executive, in the district or county, in the last election in which a County Executive was elected.
Section 8. All petitions referred to in this article shall be filed with the offices or officers charged with conducting elections within the county which shall be the judge of their sufficiency.
Section 9. Initiative and referendum issues shall be submitted to the voters at the next regular election held within ninety days after the petitions are filed, or if there is no regular election within such time, a special election shall be held within sixty days after the petitions are filed. A special election shall be held to consider recall of a county elected officer within sixty days after the petitions are filed.
ARTICLE XV.
AMENDMENT
Section 1. This charter may be amended in any one of the following ways:
1. In the manner provided in the state constitution for the framing and adopting of a county charter;
2. By ordinance adopted by the County Legislature and submitted to the voters at a primary or general election and approved by a majority of
those voting on the proposition;
3. By petitions setting forth the proposal and adopted by the voters consistent with state election laws. Such petitions shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the total vote cast for County Executive at the last election at which a County Executive was elected. Each petition shall deal with only one subject and contain the full text of the proposal and an enacting clause which shall read as follows: “Be it resolved by the people of Jackson County that the county charter be amended.” The petitions shall be filed with the offices or officers charged with conducting elections in the county which shall determine their sufficiency. The proposal shall be submitted to the voters at the next primary or general election occurring not less than eighty days after the petitions are filed. An affirmative vote of a majority of those voting on any proposal shall be sufficient for its adoption.
Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County, Missouri
This is a link to the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County, Missouri. Pages 33-35 relate to initiatives, referendums, and recall elections.
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Some of the material on this website is adapted from a soon to be published book: Government by the People: Perfecting Democracy in the 21st Century by Winston Apple.
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