Blog
A New Endorsement - Run for Something
---For Immediate Release----
Contacts:
Michael Kelley at kelleyforkansascity@gmail.com
RFS: Emily Slatkow at press@runforsomething.net
Run for Something endorses Michael Kelley for KCMO City Council (5th District At-Large)
Changing The Face of Local Politics in Missouri
December 14, 2022- Michael Kelley is proud to receive the endorsement of Run for Something (RFS), the groundbreaking organization that recruits and supports strong voices in the next generation of progressive leadership.
“I am thankful to Run for Something for endorsing our campaign,” said Michael Kelley. “Be it infrastructure, affordable housing, or sustainability, Kansas City faces some important challenges over the next few years. With Run for Something’s backing, we’re closer to winning this race and getting things done for the people of this great city.”
“As we close out our best recruitment and endorsement year yet, we are thrilled to work with another class of powerful progressives in 2023,” shared RFS co-founder and co-executive director, Ross Morales Rocketto. “December’s group of leaders, alongside last month’s slate of newly-elected officials, represent the promising future of progressive politics and demonstrate what happens when we commit to building down-ballot power year after year.”
Of our December 2022 endorsees:
45% are women and non-binary people
70% are people of color
15% identify as LGBTQIA+
7 states + D.C. are represented
Since RFS’ inception in 2017, our all-time total of 2,376 endorsees:
50% are women or non-binary
49% are people of color
23% identify as LGBTQIA+
50 States + D.C. represented
As we continue to build the progressive bench from the bottom-up, we are excited to support and amplify more talented, young progressives already making a difference at the state and local level.
The endorsement process includes an extensive internal review with background check, staff interview and insight from local state experts.
Amanda Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto launched RFS on Jan. 20, 2017 with a simple premise: help young diverse progressives to run for down-ballot races in order to build a bench for the future. RFS aims to lower the barriers to entry for these candidates by helping them with seeding money, organization building, and access to the trainings needed to be successful. So far, over 120,000 young people from across the country have signed up to run and gained access to RFS resources.
Run for Something recruits and supports talented, passionate young people who advocate for progressive values now and for the next 30 years, with the ultimate goal of building a progressive bench.
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Michael’s Voter Guide for November 8 - 11/2/22
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8 and that means we all have some decisions to make. There will be a number of candidates, ballot measures, and more when people walk into the booth to make their decision and have their voice heard.
Unfortunately, we don’t always get all the information we need to make an informed decision. I want to change that, which is why I’ve compiled my voter guide to share who and what I’m voting for. This includes content on the ballot in Jackson, Clay, and Platte County (since KCMO covers all three).
Reading through this, you may not agree with every candidate I choose or every stance I take. But you deserve transparency from me and from every person who asks for your vote.
Need a Sample Ballot?
Kansas City Election Board (covers Jackson County portions of the city)
Clay County (includes link to find appropriate ballot)
Platte County (includes link to find appropriate ballot)
Statewide & Congressional Offices
We need more Democrats up and down the ballot, and what better place to start than with the statewide offices?
U.S. Senator - Trudy Busch Valentine
State Auditor - Alan Green
U.S. Representative (5th District) - Emanuel Cleaver II
U.S. Representative (6th District) - Henry Martin
State Legislature
We also need more Democrats representing Kansas City’s interests in Jefferson City. Democrats only need to win six more seats (while retaining the same number of current seats) to break the supermajority in the Missouri House of Representatives. That would create a major opportunity for better legislation on a host of important issues. If you’re not sure who your state senator or state representative is, use this resource to find out who they are.
State Senate (District 8) - Antoine Jennings
State Senate (District 34) - Sarah Shorter
State House (District 8) - Alyssa Dial
State House (District 12) - Jamie Johnson
State House (District 13) - [BLANK]
State House (District 14) - Ashley Aune
State House (District 15) - Maggie Nurrenbern
State House (District 16) - Fantasia Rene Bernauer
State House (District 17) - Mark Ellebracht
State House (District 18) - Eric Woods
State House (District 19) - Ingrid Burnett
State House (District 20) - Mike Englert
State House (District 21) - Robert Sauls
State House (District 22) - Yolanda Young
State House (District 23) - Michael Johnson
State House (District 24) - Emily Weber
State House (District 25) - Patty Lewis
State House (District 26) - Ashley Bland Manlove
State House (District 27) - Richard Brown
State House (District 28) - Jerome Barnes
State House (District 29) - Aaron Crossley
State House (District 30) - Sonia M. Nizami
State House (District 31) - Robert McCourt
State House (District 32) - Janice Brill
State House (District 33) - [BLANK]
State House (District 34) - Kemp Strickler
State House (District 35) - Keri Ingle
State House (District 36) - Anthony Ealy
State House (District 37) - Mark Sharp
State House (District 38) - [BLANK]
State House (District 39) - [BLANK]
State House (District 55) - [BLANK]
State House (District 56) - Patty Johnson
State House (District 62) - Jim Hogan
Jackson County Legislature
Find your county legislative districts by clicking here.
County Executive - Frank White Jr.
County Legislator (1st District) - Manny Abarca IV
County Legislator (2nd District) - Venessa Huskey
County Legislator (3rd District) - Charlie Franklin
County Legislator (4th District) - DaRon McGee
NOTE: There is no race for “County Legislator (5th District)”.
County Legislator (6th District) - Amanda Toomey
County Legislator (1st District At-Large) - Jalen Anderson
County Legislator (2nd District At-Large) - Donna Peyton
County Legislator (3rd District At-Large) - Megan Marshall
Clay County Commissioners
Presiding Commissioner - [BLANK]
Eastern Commissioner (At-Large) - Steve Wolcott
Western Commissioner (At-Large) - Jason Withington
Eastern Commissioner (Seat 2) - Sherry Duffett
Platte County
Presiding Commissioner - John DeFoor Sr.
County Clerk - Rebecca Nafzinger
County Auditor - [BLANK]
County Recorder of Deeds - [BLANK]
County Collector - [BLANK]
Prosecuting Attorney - [BLANK]
Judicial Ballot
Your ballot will also include questions about retaining a number of judges from the Missouri Supreme Court all the way down to circuit judges. I used this guide of judicial reviews and reviewing judge biographies to help make my decisions on which judges to retain or not. Retain or not retain is listed as “YES” for retain or “NO” for don’t retain below. I’m also listing numbers for each group of judges to be retained.
MO SCOTUS, 1 of 2 (Zel Fischer) - YES
MO SCOTUS, 2 of 2 (Robin Ransom) - YES
MO Western District, 1 of 4 (Alok Ahuja) - YES
MO Western District, 2 of 4 (Karen King Mitchell) - YES
MO Western District, 3 of 4 (Mark Pfeiffer) - YES
MO Western District, 4 of 4 (Douglas Thompson) - YES
MO 6th Judicial Circuit (Platte County), 1 of 2 (Thomas C. Finchem) - YES
MO 6th Judicial Circuit (Platte County), 2 of 2 (Ann Hansbrough) - YES
MO 6th Judicial Circuit (Platte County), Associate 1 of 1 (Megan Blair Benton) - YES
MO 7th Judicial Circuit (Clay County), 1 of 1 (Shane Alexander) - NO
MO 7th Judicial Circuit (Clay County), 1 of 1 (Karen Lee Krauser) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 1 of 8 (Sarah Castle) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 2 of 8 (Jerri Zhang) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 3 of 8 (J. Dale Youngs) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 4 of 8 (S. Margene Burnett) - NO
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 5 of 8 (Bryan E. Round) - NO
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 6 of 8 (Joel Fahnestock) - NO
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 7 of 8 (Adam Caine) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), 8 of 8 (Jennifer Phillips) - NO
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 1 of 7 (Jessica Agnelly Krawczyk) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 2 of 7 (R. Travis Willingham) - NO
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 3 of 7 (Kea S. Bird-Riley) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 4 of 7 (Twila Kay Rigby) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 5 of 7 (Mary Frances Weir) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 6 of 7 (Jeffrey L. Bushur) - YES
MO 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County), Associate 7 of 7 (Susan Long) - YES
Statewide Amendment Questions
Finally, there are a number of state, county, and municipal questions to consider on Election Day as well. For this section I list whether to vote “YES” or “NO” along with a brief explanation of why I voted the way I did.
Question 1 (State Treasurer) - NO: This would allow the state legislature to lift restrictions on what kinds of investments the state treasurer can make with taxpayer money. Given how little control Kansas City already has on how our tax dollars are spent because of Jefferson City, there’s no reason to make that process easier.
NOTE: There is not a Question 2.
Question 3 (Recreational Marijuana) - NO: This was a tough decision for me. I fully support legalizing marijuana, but I don’t believe this is the right way to legalize marijuana in Missouri. The main issue for me is the process for petitioning release through the courts. If we believe that these people are innocent and unfairly prosecuted as part of the war on drugs, then they should be released, period. In the absence of that, this measure amounts to something I simply can’t support.
With that being said, if the amendment passes, I will do everything in my power to support its implementation if elected to the City Council. This is an important and complicated issue, and the will of the voters (whatever that may be) should be respected.
Question 4 (KCPD Spending) - NO: Kansas City needs and deserves local control of its police department and its funding. It will be significantly harder for anyone serving on the City Council to take steps to limit the circumstances which lead to police involvement if we have less money to spend on services beyond policing. The police can’t solve everything, and we shouldn’t expect that of them. Residents that I talk to want more sidewalks, better trash pickup, and more affordable housing. Requiring the city to give more of our limited funding to the police department exclusively will do nothing to fund the other departments responsible for addressing those issues.
Question 5 (Missouri National Guard) - NO: Moving the Missouri National Guard out of the Department of Public Safety doesn’t seem like a big deal on paper, but within the context of this question, there is cause for concern. With specific language to “protect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of Missourians”, the concern for me is that this would make it easier for the governor to deploy the National Guard in situations where their presence and actions could make the situation worse. This is especially true with regards to protests. People deserve the right to gather and have their voices heard on issues they care about without the threat of violence from authorities.
Constitutional Convention - NO: This is a measure Missourians are required to vote on every 20 years. While there are portions of the constitution that I believe need to be changed, a constitutional convention isn’t the best way to do that. Especially when many of the people who would be directly involved in that process have no interest in supporting the needs and desires of residents from the cities or suburbs, there’s no point in pursuing a constitutional convention in 2022.
Jackson County Question
Question 1 (Community Children’s Services Fund) - YES: This fund provides financial support to organizations which support children’s mental health and social-emotional well-being in the county. Especially as mental health continues to be a challenge for many in Jackson County and across the region, allowing this fund to continue is an easy choice.
Clay County Question
Proposition A - NO: This is a tax cut which would only affect commercial properties in the county. With limited options for funding local services as it is, this doesn’t seem like a helpful item for the county.
Platte County Question
Question 1 (Transportation Sales Tax Renewal) - YES: With limited chances for increased funding on transportation, it’s important to keep what funding options are available in place. As I’ve said before, maintenance of roads and sidewalks is a common issue I hear about and a key plank of my platform. Platte County residents need and deserve those elements and voting “YES” on this question keeps that critical revenue stream in the county’s toolbox.
KCMO Questions
Question 1 (Bonds for Public Facilities) - YES: This bond question will help to pay for needed improvements to our parks and other recreational facilities. Especially given that we’re facing the prospect of losing more of our funding for parks to the police department because of the aforementioned statewide Question 3, vote “YES” on KCMO Question 1.
Question 2 (Bonds for Affordable Housing) - YES: The topline reason to support this is because it will create more funding for various elements tied to affordable housing (including rehab, renovation, construction, and blight removal). Thanks to the work of the KC Tenants and several members of the council, the funding (if approved) will go towards the Housing Trust Fund to help people at or below 30% of area median income find housing they can afford.
Question 3 (Park Property) - YES: On questions of removing tracts of land from the park system in the past, I have tended to vote yes. The removal of this land from the park system doesn’t appear to pose a serious issue, so I’ll follow my trends and vote “YES”.
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Opportunities and Challenges - 9/28/22
Johanna and I are proud to call the Gregory Ridge neighborhood home. We love our house, our neighbors, and the sights and sounds of native plants and animals in this part of the city. Gregory Ridge is where we plan to raise our girls, but it isn’t without its challenges: Trash is a common sight on arterials, housing prices are forcing out long-time neighbors, and people are becoming and staying unhoused.
The opportunity and the challenges we face where we live are why a key plank of my platform is neighborhoods. Everyone in Kansas City deserves to live in safe neighborhoods which give them access to a good quality of life. To help achieve this, I want to focus on three key aspects:
1. Addressing blight and trash
A recurring theme in the conversations I have with neighborhood leaders is around blight. Dilapidated homes are not only an eyesore but a health risk for the blocks on which they’re located. We should work to help those who live in places with code violations to address those quickly without having to take them to court. But we should also work to hold accountable out-of-town owners and property managers who fail to listen when neighborhoods ask for repairs to be made.
It’s also common to see trash strewn along our roads and sidewalks. In the short term, I want to focus efforts on expanding the places where trash is disposed of. That means more public trash cans and more opportunities for major trash collection events. The long term strategy I want the city to pursue involves keeping the trash from ending up in 5th District communities like mine in the first place. That will require working with our partners in neighboring municipalities.
2. Creating more affordable housing
There is no one way we can completely solve the affordable housing puzzle; it’s going to take work on several fronts. One element that I support is working to expand the types of housing options available. Ongoing efforts to expand infill housing development (like accessory dwelling units) are good, but we should go further to restore that “missing middle” housing which creates more apartments, duplexes, and other units for people who need them most.
The other part of what I hope to address in the affordable housing equation relates to the question of what is “affordable”. A recent ordinance adopted by the City defines an “affordable” one-bedroom apartments as costing $1200 a month in rent. That is not affordable for many in Kansas City, and we need better policies to support those individuals and families. I want to work to lower the threshold for what’s affordable so more people can afford to live in our city.
3. Working to lessen homelessness
The recent unveiling of the Zero KC Plan owes a considerable amount to the efforts of our 5th District In-District Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw. Coupled with changes to the structure of the Housing Department and the hiring of the new Houseless Prevention Coordinator Josh Henges, there is a new opportunity for Kansas City to do better by our unhoused population.
Beyond the implementation of this plan for people currently facing homelessness, the city’s efforts must be focused on prevention, specifically preventing people from becoming unhoused as well as preventing people from returning to that circumstance after being stabilized. On both counts, my approach as a City Councilman will be to listen to our experts to understand what is needed to help them achieve what our plans envision on the issue. Leading by listening is how we make the progress which is desperately needed by our unhoused neighbors.
If we want to make Kansas City a better place for everyone who calls our community home, then it’s essential that we support our neighborhoods. Only by working to create safe, affordable places for everyone to live can we build a city where everyone can thrive. As your next councilman, I’ll do just that.
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About me and my community involvement - 5/1/22
For my second post, I spoke about my various professional experiences and the lessons I’ve learned there. It’s not just the workplace where I’ve gained valuable insights that will guide my efforts on the City Council, but my volunteer roles in the community as well.
Be it through city, civic, or nonprofit roles, I have taken on roles and responsibilities to serve the community as best I can. In doing so, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside others who are passionate about making Kansas City a better place for everyone. These efforts include:
Climate Protection Steering Committee - I have served as the vice chair of this committee since 2021 as it works to develop the Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan for Kansas City. This plan will play a critical role in guiding our efforts to lower our emissions and become more resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate. In addition to working with city staff on aspects of the mobility section, I have also organized public comments to better inform the work of other members of the committee.
Environmental Management Commission - I was appointed to the Climate Protection Steering Committee because of my work on the Environmental Management Commission, where I have served since 2019. On the EMC, I have worked to inform the City Council of the various opportunities Kansas City has to be more sustainable and resilient. I have also worked with my colleagues to advise our elected leaders on prospective legislation with an eye towards how it will aid or hinder our climate resiliency efforts.
Centurions Leadership Program - I am also an alumni of the Centurions Leadership Program (class of 2020) through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. I worked to embody the motto of the program, “Learn, Serve, and Lead KC”. I learned about the various challenges and nuances of our community. I served in numerous volunteer roles on behalf of the program. And I led how Centurions before me have done in the program: by mentoring a participant in the class below me and leading efforts to organize a task force to teach my classmates about a key part of our region (in this instance, the creative scene).
InterUrban ArtHouse - I have also been fortunate to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for InterUrban ArtHouse, an arts-based nonprofit in Overland Park. Since joining the board in 2017, I have supported the organization as it has explored affordable housing opportunities, grown into a model of economic development, and partnered with artists of color and artists from the LGBTQIA+ community. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impacts our creative endeavors can have and I’ll work to support that community further on the City Council.
The work of building a better Kansas City isn’t something which can be accomplished in a typical 9-5 slot. It requires people to find ways to go the extra mile to develop policies, plans, and projects which will make our city work better, especially for those who need it most. This is exactly the mindset I’ll bring to our city council if elected.
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About my work - 3/20/22
In my last post, I spoke about the work ethic my parents instilled in my brother and me. This approach was universal, and that brought me into numerous opportunities, especially in a professional setting.
Most people now know me for my work as the policy director for BikeWalkKC, where I advocate for the policies, plans, and projects which make it safer and easier to walk, roll, and bike around Kansas City and beyond. I’ve been able to accomplish a lot in this role, including pushing for the adoption of numerous Complete Streets policies, advocating for a Vision Zero resolution, and helping Kansas City to become one of the first major cities in the country to repeal jaywalking laws.
Beyond this position, I have worked in a number of roles over the years which give me a well-rounded perspective on the issues we face and the people impacted most. These roles included working for places such as:
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce - The most immediate lesson I took from working for the chamber was what type of development was needed to help a community grow and thrive. I believe the more lasting lesson, however, was how universal issues relate to one another. Even though Overland Park and Kansas City had different approaches to trash and recycling, those approaches didn’t play out in isolation. How one impacts the other informed me of the need for communities, and their leaders, to find ways to effectively work with regional partners on a regular basis.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Despite the best efforts of the other public servants I worked alongside, the communities we served were always in search of more ways they could provide housing options to people who needed them most. I was given an opportunity to inform what some of those solutions could be, including research on community land trust models and recovery options for Joplin after the devastating 2011 tornado.
Shawnee Hill Senior Living - Helping elderly residents get to where they need to go was a humbling and eye-opening experience. I had a front row seat to the inaccessibility of offices and public spaces for people relying on wheelchairs. I also learned how sprawling development manifested into elderly residents not being able to access affordable medical services or visit places of worship they frequented for years.
While my recent work has centered on how to expand mobility choice across Kansas City, my broader worldview is informed by professional experiences as diverse as the people who make our city so vibrant. I will bring the lessons learned in all of these places to my efforts on the City Council.
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About me and my family - 2/14/22
I believe people are the product of their families and their upbringings. I am multiple things, both personally and professionally. But at my core, I am the product of my family and how I was raised.
I’m the oldest of two boys, born to Marcia and Vernon. My mother was born and raised in rural southeast Kansas and spent much of her career as a technical writer. My father is a product of Kansas City, Kansas and has spent much of his professional life as an architectural designer. Although they met at KU, they didn’t start dating until several years later when they reconnected in KCMO. Soon after they were married, I came along, and my brother Matthew followed a couple of years after that.
I’m not just a descendant of my parents, but a product of the lessons they instilled in my brother and me from an early age. Some of those key traits included:
Hard Work - My parents had high aspirations for my brother and me because they knew it was necessary to give us a chance in this world. Even if we didn’t know we could, we were always expected to try our hardest. My mother would frequently say, “As long as you can look me in the eye and say you did your absolute best, I will always be proud of you.”
Honesty - Our upbringing had its challenges, and there were times that were tougher than others. But my parents would never sugarcoat the truth of the circumstances we faced. In those moments, my father would remind my brother and me “It won’t always be this way.”
Helping Others - We were also raised to understand that our lives don’t happen in isolation, but as part of a broader society. That society is only advanced when we do what we can to help the worst off among us. Whether that was donating time or resources, or learning about why things were the way they were, my parents refused to let us live in a way which shielded us from that universal truth.
All of this culminated in the central idea which drove me to run for City Council in the first place: We all have an obligation to leave this world in a better place than we found it. That means working hard and working honestly to do all we can to help others, especially the least fortunate among us. That doesn’t just mean working to help people recover from the pandemic, making streets safer for people who don’t drive, or advancing policies to make housing truly affordable and accessible to everyone. It also means taking steps now to secure a sustainable future for folks who deserve a better world than the one we inherited from our parents. Folks like my daughters Nora and Jade.
My family means the world to me. They have undoubtedly shaped who I am as a person, and the lessons they have instilled in me will play a central role in how I’ll lead on the KCMO City Council.
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