Jackson County judge changes date of Frank White recall election after lawsuits
Jackson County voters will decide on Sept. 30 whether to retain or oust County Executive Frank White Jr. from office, unless further litigation postpones or cancels the vote.
On Monday, a county circuit court judge set the date in a 18-page ruling. Judge Marty W. Seaton heard arguments last week from parties that wanted the vote conducted at the end of this month, and election officials who said that did not give them enough time to meet all the statuatory deadline for holding an election.
The county and Kansas City election boards had wanted the vote delayed until an already scheduled election on Nov. 4, but Seaton denied their requests, which White said could end up costing taxpayers as much as $5 million to conduct both elections. The judge said that the earlier date hewed closer to the requirements of the county charter, which says a recall vote should occur within 60 days of recall petitions being certified.
In a written statement issued after the ruling, White suggested the possibility of further legal action, stating that “many legal issues remain unresolved, and significant rulings and appeals still lie ahead.” But he did not say what actions he plans to take or when.
If removed from office, the county legislature would pick someone to serve out the rest of White’s term, which runs through the end of 2026.
White, a Democrat and former second baseman for the Kansas City Royals, has served as county executive since 2016. Residents began collecting signatures to recall him in 2023, citing frustration with his handling of Jackson County’s property tax assessments. In recent years, some residents have also spoken out against White’s eleventh-hour veto of the county’s proposed 2025 budget, as well as his opposition to the 2024 tax question that would have funded a new Royals stadium in the Crossroads and upgrades to Arrowhead.
In the statement he issued Monday, White said that backers of a stadium sales tax financed the dark-money group that paid people to collect signatures on the petitions that triggered a recall.
“This recall effort isn’t about performance or good government. It’s about one thing – stadium subsidies,” White said. “A small group is now planning yet another unnecessary, unfunded election next April to revive a stadium deal that voters already rejected. And they want me out because I refuse to go along to get along. I believe the people of Jackson County deserve something real in return for a billion-dollar investment – jobs, community benefits, transparency and respect.”
White’s critics welcomed the court decision choosing the day for holding an election. County Legislator Manny Abarca summed it up in a post on X.
“September 30th see you all there@JacksonCountyMO#KansasCity It’s time to recall.” read the post illustrated by a meme of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990 movie “Total Recall.”
The Star’s Ilana Arougheti contributed reporting.
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM.
