The Kansas City Star’s endorsement in WyCo District 5 board race | Opinion

A local physician and a veteran government employee are vying to represent Wyandotte County’s 5th District on the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.

District 5 covers the northwestern part of Wyandotte County just south of Leavenworth County.

On Nov. 4, voters will decide between Carlos Pacheco and LaVert Murray. There are many similarities between the two, but just as many differences.

Pacheco, a lifelong WyCo native, was born and raised in the 5th District. He is a family physician and partner/owner at Heartland Primary Care, which is located in District 5.

Murray, a longtime KCK resident, is a retired UG director of economic development who has nearly 40 years of experience in Wyandotte County government.

Because of their respective backgrounds, we feel both candidates have a firm handle on some of the issues facing residents in the 5th District. Both have said they favor freezing property taxes for this already heavily taxed area and both are opposed to a pay increase for public officials.

But in this hotly contested race, we recommend Pacheco, a political newcomer.

In August’s primary election, county residents overwhelmingly supported Pacheco, who received 56% of the vote, while Murray received 22%.

Carlos Pacheco

Although we favor Pacheco in November’s general election, we can’t ignore Murray’s years of experience. He still has a desire to help the people of Wyandotte County, he told The Star Editorial Board.

But we feel strongly that the district should consider new and fresh ideas to guide its future, and Pacheco best represents that.

Despite this endorsement, we don’t take Pacheco’s inexperience lightly.

Although he has never run for public office, Pacheco said he’s been a leader because of his role as a chief resident and part owner of his own health care company.

“I’ve always kind of flocked to that,” he said, “I’ve always been competitive with myself and wanted to do my best for the people that I serve.”

Several union groups in WyCo have backed Pacheco’s candidacy, including the Kansas City, Kansas Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 64.

Among Pacheco’s key campaign promises: He said he is in favor of using taxpayer money to fund a new stadium for the Chiefs and/or Royals. He also said he would support a regional public transit sales tax.

Murray is opposed to those taxes.

Pacheco said WyCo being a bigger part of the regional transit system — even a hub — is ideal. Drawing the stadiums to Wyandotte County would spearhead that development, he said.

“I would be in favor of any opportunity, even if it does involve some taxpayer dollars,” Pacheco said.

LaVert Murray

Murray favors reinstating a tax lid that would impose a restriction on the amount that municipal property tax levies could rise.

“By imposing a tax lid, it forced our budget and taxing personnel to determine what was really necessary and what was fluff,” he said.

Leading up to the primary, Murray told us he recommends practicing revenue neutrality — budgeting the exact same amount of property tax revenue for the upcoming budget year as for the current year.

“That sounds rather simple, but if we cut out some of the things that we really don’t need, it makes a big difference,” he said.

While we don’t doubt Murray’s passion for the people, in this race, we recommend the fresh, new voice in governing that Pacheco would represent.

This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 5:05 AM.