Gwen Grant, Urban Leaders call for Frank White to resign
His veto announcement came the same day opponents of his called for him to resign.
'I won't walk away and let them sell out our future just to win a political fight,' White said in a statement after his opponents held a press conference at the Jackson County Courthouse.
'My job is to defend the law, protect tax dollars and stand up for what's right. And that's exactly what I'll do.'
Jackson County Legislature unanimously approves special election to recall Frank White
In his veto on Thursday, White called on the legislature to do the right thing in his eyes.
'The Legislature can move the recall to the November 2025 ballot which would comply with the law, protect the will of the people and save taxpayers millions,' White said.
'Jackson County residents deserve leaders who stand up for the law and protect taxpayer dollars, not political stunts that cost more and deliver less.'
Urban League President of Greater Kansas City President & CEO Gwendolyn Grant was one of the participants in Thursday's press conference.
'First off, we don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth because he's a liar,' Grant said when asked what she thought about White being okay with a November election.
'But secondly, the ordinance says 60 days. The people have spoken. That is the law. This should be done with expediency.'
'A special election shall be held to consider recall of a county elected officer within sixty days after the petitions are filed,' Article 14, Section 9 of the Jackson County Charter states.
However, both the Jackson County Election Board (JCEB) and the Kansas City Election Board (KCEB) have argued they don't have enough time to put this election on August 26, even though the legislature has called for the election to be held that day.
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The 26th would fit the 60-day timeline from the day the petitions were filed. Attorney Phil LeVota is representing four citizens in a lawsuit that argues White should not have the ability to veto this ordinance, and it shouldn't have to go through the ordinance process.
'I'm telling you, this group is lenient and will say, 'If you can't do it within a certain period of time, please give us another reasonable one,'' LeVota said at Thursday's press conference.
Regardless of what LeVota said, the legislature may override White's veto Friday morning. They have a legislative meeting at the Jackson County Courthouse downtown at 10 a.m.
Later, Thursday afternoon, Legislator Megan Smith introduced an ordinance attempting to reschedule the election for November 4. She said voters need more time, especially those in the military and overseas.
'In the 10 days since we voted to approve an August 26 recall election for County Executive Frank White, new information and ongoing litigation have raised serious legal concerns about that date,' said Legislator Smith.
'Both the Kansas City and Jackson County election boards have said an August election would be illegal and risk disenfranchising voters—especially military members and residents overseas, since absentee ballots should've gone out by July 11 and voting begun by July 15.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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