DUSENBERY TO RUN FOR COUNTY COMMISSION
Parkville Mayor Kathy Dusenbery ended speculation about her political future Tuesday, announcing to city staff and the Board of Alderman that she intended to run for the Platte County Commission’s 1st District seat.
“I am throwing my hat in the ring for Platte County Commissioner in the 1st District,” Dusenbery wrote in an e-mail. “I will not be running for re-election of Mayor.”
Dusenbery, a Republican, was first elected mayor in 2004. Her political star in Southern Platte County has been on the rise since her landslide re-election in the last municipal election and she has begun to participate more in regional politics, pushing for the formation of an multi-jurisdictional ambulance district and serving on the Mid-America Regional Council, a quasi-governmental bi-state committee.
The commissioner for Platte County’s 1st District is Tom Pryor. Pryor defeated longtime commissioner Michael Short in 2004 in a heated election. Dusenbery has criticized Pryor and the current commission for restructuring the voter approved roads and bridges sales tax, saying that the city’s take of the tax was disproportionate in relation to what the Parkville population was paying.
When asked to comment, Pryor said he wasn’t surprised to hear of Dusenbery’s challenge.
“She’s hinted at a run for a while,” Pryor said, adding he intended to seek re-election. “I intend to run on my record.”