Garry Baker, former Buckner mayor, to replace Frank White in Jackson County Legislature

Garry Baker will replace Frank White on the Jackson County Legislature.

Legislators on Monday appointed Baker, a retired county employee, over two other Democratic nominees to serve the remaining three years in White’s term, through the end of 2018.

The vote was 6-2, with one vote each for Angela Malone and Sherwood Smith, the other nominees submitted by the Democratic Party’s county committee.

White’s seat opened up when he resigned to become interim county executive through the end of this year. If he chooses, White can stand for election to finish the final two years of what would have been Mike Sanders’ third four-year term in the job.

Sanders announced his resignation in December, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family after nine years heading the county government.

Smith ran for the 1st District at-large seat in 2014, losing to White in the primary. Baker ran for the seat in 2006, losing to Theresa Garza-Ruiz in the primary.

Baker is a former mayor of Buckner, where he also was a municipal judge. He also served on the Fort Osage school board.

He retired from Jackson County in 2004 after 33 years. He last worked as a senior residential appraiser.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Garry Baker, former Buckner mayor, to replace Frank White in Jackson County Legislature."