Manny Abarca will lead Jackson County lawmakers through stadium steps, World Cup
The Jackson County Legislature will ring in the new year under new leadership as a slate of familiar faces take over the responsibilities of chairing the body.
First District Legislator Manuel Abarca IV was named the next chairperson of the legislature in a 5-4 vote conducted Monday afternoon.
Sixth District Legislator Sean Smith will serve as vice chair, also by way of a 5-4 vote. Abarca and Smith will replace Chairperson DaRon McGee and Vice Chair Donna Peyton, respectively.
Both legislators begin their new roles effective Monday afternoon.
Abarca will be the legislature’s first Latino chair. He steps into the leadership role after one year as a county legislator, and previously served as treasurer for the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Directors.
The responsibilities of legislative chair include presiding over meetings of the legislature and appointing both members and leaders of legislative committees.
Abarca said Monday that his priorities as legislative chair will include strengthening the relationship between the legislative body and the Office of the County Executive, which has been under the interim leadership of Phil LeVota since voters recalled former County Executive Frank White Jr. in September.
Asserting Jackson County’s continued role in the future of Arrowhead Stadium will also remain a priority, Abarca said, along with continuing to amend the county’s property tax assessment system.
“There’s plenty to fix, and over the last three years I have focused on accountability for those who have failed,” Abarca said. “Now, I step up to the plate with my colleagues and a new executive to solve problems beyond party lines and across the county.”
Smith told The Star Monday that he also plans to focus on plans for the future of the Truman Sports Complex, and that he anticipates a strong working relationship to continue between himself and Abarca. “I think we will get a lot done together,” Smith said. “The two of us have been pretty strong advocates for the taxpayer… We want to do our best to put the county on a solid financial footing, which has been a little bit more challenging since we’ve been through some of the things we’ve been through lately.”
Abarca’s new tenure as legislative chair follows a year of highly publicized controversy in both his public and private life. Abarca is facing pending domestic battery charges in Kansas, along with related charges in Missouri, after an alleged domestic altercation with his ex-wife and missing persons reports briefly filed for both Abarca and the couple’s toddler son.
The lawmaker engaged in repeated public clashes with former County Executive White over disagreements around property taxes, professional sports stadiums and the use of county funds. He also faced backlash over his alleged workplace conduct around female peers, culminating in an independent investigation alleging “inappropriate behavior,” a cease-and-desist letter sent by three county employees and what appears to be a reference to Abarca in a former employee’s wrongful termination lawsuit against Jackson County.
This story was originally published January 13, 2026 at 6:14 AM.
