Jackson County (Missouri)
Implementing a system of Personal Representation through Proxies will transform the Jackson County Legislature into a truly democratic Representative Assembly.
The Personal Representation Amendment will allow every citizen who is eligible to vote in Jackson County to assign a proxy to any one member of the Jackson County Legislature, authorizing them to cast votes on their behalf, and give every member of the Jackson County Legislature a number of votes equal to the number of proxies they have been assigned, plus one for themselves. Proxies can be reassigned at any time through online accounts or by submitting a paper form. That will empower Politically Active Citizens to vote (indirectly) when votes are taken in the Jackson County Legislature.
Clarence Gilbert Hoag and George Hervey Hallett, in their book Proportional Representation (1926), described Personal Representation through Proxies as a “system, which combines great convenience and simplicity with apparent arithmetical perfection.” It is a simple and obvious way to shift power to the people by shifting power within the Jackson County Legislature to the members who do the best job of identifying problems that need to be addressed or conflicts that need to be resolved and proposing solutions and/or resolutions that promote the common interest and reflect the will of the people.
A Minor Change with Major Benefits
In a survey conducted in 2021, 85% of Americans agreed that we need to completely reform or make major changes to our political system. Of course, many people say they want change, but get nervous when specific changes are proposed.
Personal Representation through system of Proxies is a relatively minor change with major benefits. Amending the Home Rule Charter of Jackson County to implement a system of Personal Representation will make the ideals expressed in the Preamble to the Home Rule Charter of Jackson County and the opening lines of Missouri Constitution a glorious reality. It will instantly transform the Jackson County Legislature into the most democratic institution in the history of the world. And it will make Jackson County the first Perfect Democracy in the history of the world.
The Preamble to the Home Rule Charter
Our History
We, the people of Jackson County, Missouri, in order to perfect the structure and enlarge the powers of our County government, to ensure that it is just, orderly, efficient, and fully responsible to the people, and to secure the benefits of home rule and self-government for Jackson County to the fullest extent possible under the Constitution of the State of Missouri, do adopt this Charter as the fundamental law for the government of this County.
The Personal Representation Amendment
Two Versions of the Proposed Amendment:
Version One simply puts a system of Proxies in place without changing anything else about the Jackson County Legislature.
Version Two puts a system of Proxies in place and provides for the selection of members of the Jackson County Legislature through the system of Proxies once the terms of the current members of the Jackson County Legislature expire. Proxies would be treated as votes. Elections would no longer be necessary. The savings to Jackson County as a result of no longer needing to conduct elections would more than offset the cost of maintaining a secure system of Online Accounts for Citizens that will empower registered voters in Jackson County to vote (indirectly through their chosen representative) on issues voted on by members of the Jackson County Legislature.
Beginning in 2030, the nine candidates who have been assigned the most Proxies will win seats on the Jackson County Legislature for indeterminate terms. If at any subsequent time, a candidate who is not serving on the County Legislature is assigned more proxies than the member of the County Legislature with the fewest proxies, that candidate will replace that member of the County Legislature, effective immediately.
This will allow members of the Jackson County Legislature who are doing a good job of representing the will of the people to be freed from the need to raise money and run for reelection repeatedly. This will allow the citizens of Jackson County to replace one or more members of the Jackson County Legislature at any time, without the need to petition for and conduct a recall election.
The Proposed Amendment to the Jackson County Charter (Version One):
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, except for the first members of the County Legislature elected in the year 1972, who shall serve two-year terms.
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 Proposed Amendment to the Jackson County Charter (Version Two):
Be it resolved by the people of Jackson County that the county charter be amended:
Article II, Sections 1 through 6 of the Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County are hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 1. All legislative power of the county shall be vested in the County Legislature.
Section 2. The County Legislature shall consist of nine members.
Section 3. 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.
Section 4. 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.
Section 5. Effective January 1, 2030, the members of the County Legislature will be selected by the qualified voters of the county at large. Effective June 1, 2029, any citizen of Jackson County who has been a qualified voter in Jackson County for at least three years, who wants to serve on the County Legislature, may register with the Jackson County Board of Elections. Any registered voter in Jackson County may provisionally reassign proxies to any candidate for the County Legislature not serving on the County Legislature, with the reassignment to be completed on December 31, 2029.
Section 6. Effective January 1, 2030, the nine candidates, including incumbent members of the County Legislature, who have been assigned the most proxies shall be selected to serve for indeterminate terms. If at any subsequent time, a candidate who is not serving on the County Legislature is assigned more proxies than the member of the County Legislature with the fewest proxies, that candidate will replace that member of the County Legislature, effective immediately.
Which version do you prefer?
If you would like to share your thoughts on either or both versions, please send an email to info@governmentbythepeople.org or use the Contact Form on this website.
Democracy is Coming
One Way or Another
The Personal Representation Amendment will be on the ballot in Jackson County in either November of this year or August of 1928. Sooner would be better. But sooner or later, democracy is coming. And Jackson County is leading the way.
Three Paths to Victory
The campaign to enact the Personal Representation Amendment in Jackson County (Missouri) is underway. This page is intended to serve as a vehicle for helping the True Friends and Champions of Democracy in Jackson County succeed and to inspire True Friends and Champions of Democracy in other counties and cities.
The first step is to get the proposed amendment on the ballot. There are two ways to do that:
- Five or more members of the Jackson County Legislature can approve a resolution to put the proposed amendment on the ballot. Or -
- The proposed amendment can be put on the ballot through the Initiative.
If five or more of the current members of the Jackson County Legislature agree to allow the Citizens of Jackson County to vote on this proposed Amendment, it will be on the ballot this November.
If a majority of the present members of the Jackson County Legislature will not approve letting the Citizens of Jackson County vote on a Personal Representation Amendment, we can either put the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot through the Initiative or elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats on the Jackson County legislature on November 3rd. One way or another, we will get this proposed reform on the ballot.
If we gather 12,945 valid signatures on initiative petitions to put the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot in Jackson County by August 15th, it will be on the ballot on November 3rd.
If we fall short of gathering the required number of signatures by August 15th, we can go right on gathering signatures for as long as it takes to get the required number of signatures. The Personal Representation Amendment would then be "submitted to voters at the next primary or general election occurring not less than eighty days after the petitions are filed." That would be the primary election in 2028. We would probably go on gathering signatures until April or May of 2028 and turn in far more than the number of signatures required.
We will need to conduct a Civic Education Project to educate the Citizens of Jackson County about how a system of Proxies will work and the benefits of Personal Representation whether the current members of the Jackson County Legislature approve putting it on the ballot or not. If they do not approve, we will simply add a petition component to the Civic Education Project.
The Champions of Democracy among the candidates running for seats on the Jackson County Legislature or for County Executive this year will make their support for Personal Representation clear and play an active role in educating voters. The false friends of democracy will be silent on this all-important issues. On November 3rd, we need to elect as many Champions of Democracy as possible to the Jackson County Legislature and elect a Champion of Democracy as County Executive .
Calls to Action
There are several ways you can help.
Contact members of the Jackson County Legislature.
The easiest path to getting the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot this November is for a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature to simply vote to put it on the ballot. If there are five or more Champions of Democracy among the nine members of the Jackson County Legislature, this reform will be on the ballot on November 3rd.
Here are the official phone numbers and email addresses for the current members of the Jackson County Legislature.
Please contact them and politely and respectfully encourage them to be a Champion of Democracy by voting to put the amendment for Personal Representation through Proxies on the ballot on November 3rd.
Jalen Anderson (1st District At Large) 816-881-4477 JAnderson@jacksongov.org
Donna Peyton, (2nd District At Large) 816-881-3464 dpeyton@jacksongov.org
Megan L. Smith, (3rd t District At Large) 816-881-4423 Megan.Smith@jacksongov.org
Manuel Abarca IV, (1st District) 816-881-3076 MAbarca@jacksongov.org
Venessa Huskey, (2nd District) 816-881-3806 vhuskey@jacksongov.org
Charlie Franklin, (3rd District) 816-881-4441 cfranklin@jacksongov.org
DaRon McGee (4th District) 816-881-3322 dmcgee@jacksongov.org
Jeanie Lauer, (5th District) 816-881-4476 jlauer@jacksongov.org
Sean E. Smith, (6th District) 816-881-3132 sesmith@jacksongov.org
Sign the initiative petition.
Although we are confident that a majority of the members of the Jackson County Legislature will support putting the amendment for Personal Representation on the ballot, until they do, we intend to conduct a campaign to put Personal Representation on the ballot through the initiative. If and when the Jackson County Legislature approves putting the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot, we will suspend our initiative campaign. (We will, however, need to go right on educating voters about the benefits of implementing a system of Personal Representation through Proxies.)
The initiative process in Jackson County is much easier than the statewide process in Missouri. (Which is easier than in other states with provisions for initiatives, but still far too difficult.)
If we gather 12,945 valid signatures on initiative petitions to put the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot in Jackson County by August 15th, it will be on the ballot on November 3rd. We have two prime dates to gather signatures: the Fourth of July and at the polls on August 4th. In the 2022 primary election, 65,899 citizens of Jackson County went to the polls. If enough volunteers sign up to gather signatures at polling locations on August 4th, we can gather all the signatures we need that day.
If we fall short of gathering the required number of signatures by August 15th, we can go right on gathering signatures for as long as it takes to get the required number of signatures. The Personal Representation Amendment would then be "submitted to voters at the next primary or general election occurring not less than eighty days after the petitions are filed." That would be the primary election in 2028. We would probably go on gathering signatures until April or May of 2028 and turn in far more than the number of signatures required.
Help gather signatures.
A campaign to enact the Personal Representation Amendment in Jackson County (Missouri) is underway. This page is intended to serve as a vehicle for helping the True Friends and Champions of Democracy in Jackson County succeed and to inspire True Friends and Champions of Democracy in other counties and cities.
The first step is to get the proposed amendment on the ballot. There are two ways to do that:
- Five or more members of the Jackson County Legislature can approve a resolution to put the proposed amendment on the ballot.
- The proposed amendment can be put on the ballot through the Initiative.
If five or more of the current members of the Jackson County Legislature vote to put this reform on the ballot, it will be on the ballot this November.
If we gather 12,945 valid signatures on initiative petitions to put the Personal Representation Amendment on the ballot in Jackson County by August 15th, it will be on the ballot on November 3rd.
If a majority of the present members of the Jackson County Legislature will not approve letting the voters in Jackson County vote on a Personal Representation Amendment, we need to elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats on November 3rd.
If we fall short of gathering the required number of signatures by August 15th, we can go right on gathering signatures for as long as it takes to get the required number of signatures. The Personal Representation Amendment would then be "submitted to voters at the next primary or general election occurring not less than eighty days after the petitions are filed." That would be the primary election in 2028. We would probably go on gathering signatures until April or May of 2028 and turn in far more than the number of signatures required.
Help spread the word.
We need to reach out to voters in Jackson County to educate them about how Personal Representation through a system of Proxies will work.
Share our flyers, videos, posts, and links to this website with as many people as possible.
We don't have to change minds. In a survey conducted in 2021, 85% of Americans agreed that we need to completely reform or make major changes to our political system. Implementing system of Personal Representation through Proxies is a relatively minor change with major benefits. People get excited when they hear about Personal Representation and realize how effectively it will shift power to the people and to the members of representative assemblies who do the best job of addressing the problems we face and resolving conflicts in a manner that is in harmony with the will of the people.
Help Champions of Democracy get elected to the Jackson County Legislature on November 3rd.
If a majority of the current members of the Jackson County Legislature will not approve letting the voters in Jackson County vote on a Personal Representation Amendment, we need to elect more Champions of Democracy to the Jackson County Legislature on November 3rd.
We are in the process of contacting candidates for the Jackson County Legislature and encouraging them to join our campaign. As we identify the Champions of Democracy among the candidates, we will post links to their campaign website (or Facebook page) here.
Celebrate Democracy
We are going to host a number of events around Jackson County during "Democracy Summer" as part of a non-stop, non-partisan political "party", with music, refreshments, opportunities to sign the petition, and meet and hear from Champions of Democracy who are running for office.
With politics-as-usual so toxic and divisive these days, we are happy to offer Politically Active Citizens the opportunity to be part of a joyful and positive campaign. We are going to celebrate democracy all summer long (and into the fall) as we do the work of making our government our own in Jackson County.
When we implement a system of Personal Representation, we will make the government of Jackson County the most democratic government in the world. We will make history.
From the Home Rule Charter of Jackson County:
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.
Join Our Campaign to Make Jackson County a Perfect Democracy
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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.
Content is Copyright 2026 Gary Winston Apple, unless otherwise noted.
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