While the mayor first learned about the commissioner's recent letter via press reports,

he always welcomes the opportunity to engage with Commissioners Fricker and Nolte,
and looks forward to doing so again.

As the statute requires, the mayor appointed members of the KCATA Board of
Commissioners from Platte, Clay, and Jackson Counties. The plain language of the
statute does not dictate the nominees need come from the county commissioners' list.
The Platte County Commission has previously recommended a City employee—Kansas
City Water Services Director Wes Minder—to serve on the board, so he also finds
surprising the new-found concern with commissioners who also serve in other
government positions, including with the City of Kansas City.

The mayor has appointed recent commissioners, including the previous reappointment
of former KCATA Clay County Commissioner and former president of IAFF Local 42
Louie Wright who served under Mayors James and Lucas, through similar processes.
He never, until recently, heard complaints. Typically, as here, when a question of
statutory interpretation arises, the mayor refers the matter to the City Attorney for a
clear opinion. He defers to the City Attorney's opinion for an ultimate viewpoint as to
this issue.

The mayor is proud of the service shown by Dr. Tyjuan Lee of Platte County, Jade Liska
of Clay County, and Michael Shaw of Jackson County on the KCATA Board of
Commissioners. Based on their performance, he sees no reason to ask anyone
volunteering their time to resign prior to the end of the terms for which they have been
appointed. As the seats come open, the mayor is happy to engage further with county
commissioners or anyone interested in discussing the future of public transportation in
Kansas City and surrounds.

The mayor believes that support of the bus system far outweighs any short-term political
questions and disagrees strongly with any suggestion that Kansas Citians in any part of
our city should vote in the negative on the important ballot question, which if
unsuccessful, would strand thousands of Kansas Citians who rely on KCATA each day
to get to work, school, and home.
Even after removing 22 inactive boards in his past term [Ordinance 200832], the mayor
has appointing authority under the City Charter for between 500 and 1,000 volunteer
board and commission positions on Kansas City's over 100 boards and commissions.
Working with the Offices of the City Clerk and the City Auditor, the mayor, his staff, and
departmental staff review and support the operations of each board and commission,
ensuring more Kansas Citians are given the opportunity to serve and that boards and
commissions represent a cross section of Kansas Citians from different neighborhoods,
ages, belief systems, and backgrounds. Having begun his own service to Kansas City
as a member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, the mayor strongly values the chance
to introduce Kansas Citians to the great work done each day by City staff through the
board and commission process.