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Kansas City, MO —
Jackson County legislators, splitting along party lines, have put up three nominees for the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, which oversees operations of Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums.
Gov. Jay Nixon is to select one of the three.
“It will now be in the governor’s hands,” said Greg Grounds, R-Blue Springs, and chairman of the Legislature.
This is the second time in six months the Legislature has had to deal with an opening on the Sports Authority. Last August they forwarded three names, and Nixon quickly selected Kansas City attorney Stephen Bough. County Executive Mike Sanders said at the time he was encouraged by Bough’s appointment. Sanders wants the commission to take a harder line with the Chiefs and Royals regarding tax money meant for maintenance and upgrades rather than putting that money into team operations.
When Bough went on the commission, the Missouri General Assembly was not in session, and the Senate took up that nomination last month when lawmakers convened their 2013 session. The Senate rejected the nomination, and Bough resigned.
On Tuesday, county legislators reviewed resumes from those interested and put seven of those names in nomination, starting a process of whittling to three.
Seven of the nine legislators are Democrats, and the group seldom splits along straight party lines, but they did this time. Democrats put up four names: Aimee Gromowsky, a Kansas City attorney; Teresa Chu, a real estate contractor and attorney; Ana Valdez, director of operations – Corporate Academy at Truman Medical Centers; and Chris Medina, CEO of Guadalupe Centers on the west side of Kansas City.
With Bough, the Sports Authority had three Democrats, one Republican and one independent. By law, no more than three members can be from the same party.
Legislator Bob Spence, R-Lee’s Summit, said he wanted a two-two-one balance.
“I feel strongly that this should be a Republican seat,” he said, and he put forth three nominees: Gary Dusenberg of Blue Springs, a former state representative; Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association; and Laura L. Mullins of Lee’s Summit, manager of financial analysis at Sprint.
Legislators then voted, each naming three of those seven on paper ballots. The top vote-getters were Gromowsky (six votes), Valdez (six) and Chu (five). Medina got four votes, and the three nominated by Spence got two votes each.
The Legislature then voted to forward the slate of three – Gromowsky, Chu and Valdez – the governor. That was a seven-to-two vote, with Grounds and Spence voting no.
Jackson County legislators, splitting along party lines, have put up three nominees for the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, which oversees operations of Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums.
Gov. Jay Nixon is to select one of the three.
“It will now be in the governor’s hands,” said Greg Grounds, R-Blue Springs, and chairman of the Legislature.
This is the second time in six months the Legislature has had to deal with an opening on the Sports Authority. Last August they forwarded three names, and Nixon quickly selected Kansas City attorney Stephen Bough. County Executive Mike Sanders said at the time he was encouraged by Bough’s appointment. Sanders wants the commission to take a harder line with the Chiefs and Royals regarding tax money meant for maintenance and upgrades rather than putting that money into team operations.
When Bough went on the commission, the Missouri General Assembly was not in session, and the Senate took up that nomination last month when lawmakers convened their 2013 session. The Senate rejected the nomination, and Bough resigned.
On Tuesday, county legislators reviewed resumes from those interested and put seven of those names in nomination, starting a process of whittling to three.
Seven of the nine legislators are Democrats, and the group seldom splits along straight party lines, but they did this time. Democrats put up four names: Aimee Gromowsky, a Kansas City attorney; Teresa Chu, a real estate contractor and attorney; Ana Valdez, director of operations – Corporate Academy at Truman Medical Centers; and Chris Medina, CEO of Guadalupe Centers on the west side of Kansas City.
With Bough, the Sports Authority had three Democrats, one Republican and one independent. By law, no more than three members can be from the same party.
Legislator Bob Spence, R-Lee’s Summit, said he wanted a two-two-one balance.
“I feel strongly that this should be a Republican seat,” he said, and he put forth three nominees: Gary Dusenberg of Blue Springs, a former state representative; Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association; and Laura L. Mullins of Lee’s Summit, manager of financial analysis at Sprint.
Legislators then voted, each naming three of those seven on paper ballots. The top vote-getters were Gromowsky (six votes), Valdez (six) and Chu (five). Medina got four votes, and the three nominated by Spence got two votes each.
The Legislature then voted to forward the slate of three – Gromowsky, Chu and Valdez – the governor. That was a seven-to-two vote, with Grounds and Spence voting no.
