It’s Election Day in Kansas City November 2012
Kansas City residents will have a chance to shape our future today. While most of the media focus has been on the national election and the Presidential race between former Governor Mitt Romney(R) and current President Barack Obama(D), Missourians will also be choosing between Dave Spence(R) and current Governor Jay Nixon(D) for Governor.
Our Secretary of State and State Treasurer will also be decided - as well as several other statewide races that hang in the balance. Before I highlight a few local Kansas City issues, we have a third battle between current congressman Emanuel Cleaver(D) who is being challenged by Jacob Turk(R) yet again. Will the third time be a charm as he tries to unseat the incumbent?
Locally, we even have a Kansas City School Board seat up for grabs. Because the current board member moved out of the state, Gunnar Hand and Stephens Himes are vying to represent the southwest part of the city, which includes the Brookside area, on Tuesday.
A couple of the more controversial issues that we will be responsible for voting on include Missourians deciding whether to raise the taxes (we are among the lowest in the country) on a pack of cigarettes. The proponents say that the money will go to schools, and towards educating people to stop smoking. The opponents say that the cigarette tax will drive businesses and sales taxes to the Kansas side of the state line as cigarette businesses relocate. We will also vote to either let the St. Louis Police Department have local control, or continue with state control. It may impact Kansas City as the only city in the country who does not have local control of our Police Department. Will we follow them?
The Kansas City Star is reporting on all of the races, including state representative and senator races. You can find more detailed description of the issues and races on The Star’s website today.
Let’s be informed voters as we take on the hefty challenge of shaping the course of our future locally, statewide and nationally! To see where your polling location is, check the Secretary of State's website for the location.
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