Wyandotte Commission District 5:  The Candidates in Their Words

Dr. Carlos Pacheco III

Current Occupation: Family Physician and Clinic Owner at Heartland Primary Care

Age: 37

Lifelong Wyandotte County resident, physician, and dedicated public servant committed to responsible, community-centered governance. As both a practicing physician and clinic owner, I manage the dual demands of patient care and financial oversight—skills I bring directly to public service. My leadership is rooted in high-impact execution: optimizing resources, scaling solutions, and delivering measurable results. I have a proven track record of exceeding expectations, and I intend to do the same for the 5th District and all of Wyandotte County.

LaVert A. Murray

Current Occupation: Chief  Economic Advisor to Mayor Tyrone Garner (retired to run for office)

Age: 50+

LaVert is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Kansas, and has lived in the 5^th District for nearly 50 years. He is married to retired USD 500 Assistant Superintendent, Linda G. Murray.  They have two sons and seven grandchildren. LaVert completed his Undergrad and Graduate studies at the University of  Kansas in Political Science and Public Administration / Urban Structure and Process. 

He was an executive manager for the City and the Unified Government for nearly 40 years retiring in 2010, after serving as Director of Development, Community Development and Economic Development.  He has been involved in nearly every major development that occurred in the City during that time, including the planning for the I-435 alignment and assembling the 400 acre site for Village West,   LaVert recently came out of retirement to serve in Mayor Garner’s administration as the Chief Economic Advisor. He retired from that position to run for this seat.

Pacheco: I support separating PILOT and other county-administered charges from BPU utility billing. Residents shouldn’t lose access to water or electricity due to unrelated fees. I’d work with BPU and UG to create a phased billing model that itemizes charges and allows partial payments without full disconnection. We can pilot this in high-risk zip codes, monitor revenue impact, and streamline collections through UG’s existing systems. Transparency and flexibility will reduce hardship while preserving fiscal stability.

Murray: I wholeheartedly support separating the Unified Government charges from the standard BPU charges on the BPU bill.. Separating the Pilot and other charges could be done easily and simply by having BPU send out a separate billing notice.  

Under this arrangement, managing unpaid PILOT accounts could be challenging because nonpayment removes the leverage of utility shutoffs. Instead, we’d need processes involving liens or environmental court to recover unpaid fees. While less simple than the current system, this approach gives property owners more time to arrange payments without losing utility service. It requires slightly more effort but offers a fairer, more workable solution for all.

 As a part of this realignment of services I would also reopen the BPU Lobby to enhance services for our ratepayers and make it easier for them to get answers to their questions and receive assistance.

Pacheco: I’d prioritize partnerships with RideKC to expand fixed-route and microtransit options in underserved areas. That includes restoring eastside routes, adding weekend service, and piloting on-demand shuttles for seniors and workers. I’d advocate for UG to co-invest in transit hubs near clinics, schools, and grocery stores. Reliable mobility isn’t just transit—it’s access to opportunity, and we must build it where it’s needed most.

Murray: It may sound counterintuitive, but the first step to improve RideKC’s reliability is to reintroduce fares, ensuring it serves riders rather than functioning as free shelter. For low-income workers, employers could provide free ride vouchers for use on RideKC and the UG’s transportation arm, creating a low-cost rideshare program that connects people to jobs across the county and metro area.I believe that the UG’s micro-transit program is doing a great service of getting people to their jobs in the areas where micro-transit programs have been approved and funded. However, we should endeavor to secure more federal grants and funding to expand these micro-transit services.

Pacheco: I’d champion a targeted “Eastside Investment Zone” with tax incentives for small businesses, startups, and community developers. We need storefront rehab grants, flexible zoning for mixed-use projects, and a local hiring mandate for county contracts. I’d also push for a business incubator near Quindaro to support entrepreneurs with training, capital, and mentorship. East of I-435 deserves more than promises—it deserves a plan.

Murray: The Neighborhood Revitalization Act (NRA) tax rebate program was created to encourage development in distressed areas in a revenue-neutral way. Over time, the Unified Government expanded it into areas already attracting investment, giving developers incentives where there was little risk rather than spurring projects in neighborhoods that needed them most. As Commissioner, I would push for policies requiring programs like NRA to be reviewed and updated to ensure they meet their intended goals instead of simply boosting developer profits. Such measures would strengthen public-private partnerships and promote balanced growth. I would also prioritize small business support, restoring the UG’s past focus on securing federal grants and collaborating with the SBA and state agencies. Finally, I would back the creation of a sustainable Community Investment Fund to drive equitable economic growth across the county without adding new burdens to taxpayers.

Pacheco: I support expanding senior tax rebates and a hardship deferral program for low-income homeowners. We must also reassess property valuations to ensure fairness and transparency. I’d push for a county affordability index to guide budget decisions and protect vulnerable residents. Funding county services shouldn’t come at the cost of displacement—we can balance both through smarter policy and community input. Most importantly, we must budget better so the strain isn’t felt by our citizens year after year. 

Murray: We must continue reducing the City’s debt.  If we get our debt load in line we would not have to rely on a high mil levy rate to basically service our debt. It is imperative that we continue to diversify our tax revenue stream. While sales tax collections are at record levels, we should keep expanding commercial and retail development to reduce dependence on property taxes and be more reliant on sales tax dollars. I would support attracting developments residents want without excessive abatements or incentives.  I would work to make certain that major data center developments are placed properly in appropriate locations within our county.  Working with fellow commissioners, I would push for a welcoming, efficient development and permitting climate that encourages investment. The ultimate goal is to build a broad enough tax base to eliminate property taxes for seniors over 70 — without cutting essential county services.