Interim Jackson County Executive, Phil LeVota.
The petition organizers argue that Jackson County residents should not have to wait until the conclusion of a potentially lengthy criminal case before asking whether the county executive should continue serving in office. The petition calls for LeVota’s immediate resignation rather than waiting for a trial or verdict.
BY JOE ARCE AND COREY CRABLE
In depth report
One incoming Jackson County Legislator has spoken out about interim County Executive Phil LeVota’s federal indictment for bribery, which was announced last week.
Kelly Thompson, a Democrat who will represent the 1st District when she takes office in January, ran for her seat unopposed in the Aug. 4 Primary Election, called LeVota’s indictment “shocking and serious.” According to court documents, LeVota has been charged with honest services fraud, federal program bribery, Travel Act violations, and making a false statement to federal law enforcement agents.
In March, both LeVota and “Individual 1,” identified in the text of the Department of Justice’s indictment, were running for County Executive. According to the indictment, LeVota agreed to place both Individual 1 and an unidentified second person in Jackson County Parks and Recreation Director and Assistant Director positions if Individual 1 agreed to withdraw from the County Executive race. LeVota, in his announcement of the indictment last week, identified “Individual 1” as former County Legislator DaRon McGee. Despite calls to resign, LeVota has denied the allegations against him and vowed to remain in the interim County Executive position for the remainder of his term, which expires in December. He was first appointed in October 2025, following the recall of Frank White.
“I’m sorry to the people of Jackson County that here’s another stain against county government, but I’m confident I’m not the person making that stain,” LeVota said on Aug. 6.
The news about LeVota’s indictment came weeks following former Legislature Chairman Manny Abarca’s announcement that he had been offered $10,000 for a vote on a county issue. Abarca was demoted from his position as chairman following a unanimous vote by the Legislature last month. “A federal indictment is serious. But those allegations are in the right place. They need to be handled by the courts,” Thompson told Kansas City Hispanic News in an exclusive interview. “I have always focused my campaign on steadiness, accountability, and transparency. And those are the values that I think voters went to the polls for, believing in them because they want change.”
Thompson said voters are tired of the drama surrounding the governing body, and that she was heartened to see them express that on Election Day. It was especially evident in the overwhelming victory for County Executive-elect Stacy Lake. She added that she looks forward to working collaboratively with Lake and her soon-to-be colleagues.
“In order to understand any problem, you have to be thoughtful in the approach and understand what’s happening and understand the voices of the community. And then, you have to get to know the colleagues that you’ll be working with,” Thompson said.
Thompson said that transparency will be a hallmark of her time with the Legislature, and that the other newly sworn-in Legislators will be prepared to learn how to best lead the people of Jackson County.
“I think that intentional, thoughtful approach is one that I’ve heard over and over again amongst the candidates for the Legislature that I’ve talked to,” Thompson said. “I’ve heard that reiterated across the board they want to be thoughtful, intentional, transparent, and they want to work together. And yes, there will be a learning curve as there is in any new role a person takes on. But I do think everyone is up for the challenge.”
On August 9, 2026, in a press release a citizen led petition that calls for resignation of Jackson County’s indicted executive Phil LeVota, The new citizen petition is calling for Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota to resign from office following the five federal indictments announced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the indictment, LeVota faces five federal counts arising from allegations connected to the 2026 Jackson County Executive race. Federal prosecutors allege that LeVota attempted to induce another candidate to abandon the race in exchange for employment with Jackson County. The federal investigation included recorded meetings and communications, according to the indictment.
The petition does not ask residents to determine LeVota’s guilt or innocence. That question will be decided through the federal judicial process. Instead, the petition calls on LeVota to step aside while the criminal case proceeds.
“Resignation would not be a finding of guilt, nor would it replace the judicial process,” the petition states. “It would recognize the responsibility of public officials to maintain public confidence in government while facing serious federal criminal allegations said Justice Horn, activist leading the petition.”
The petition organizers argue that Jackson County residents should not have to wait until the conclusion of a potentially lengthy criminal case before asking whether the county executive should continue serving in office. The petition calls for LeVota’s immediate resignation rather than waiting for a trial for verdict.
Residents interested in reviewing or signing the petition can find it at: https://c.org/nYCTPR985M
The indictment can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/media/1456606/dl?inline.
