The race for Jackson County executive has shifted dramatically after two of its early frontrunners — Phil LeVota and DaRon McGee — both withdrew, leaving the contest wide open in one of the region’s most closely watched local races.
LeVota, the current acting Jackson County executive, was appointed after former Executive Frank White Jr. was removed in a recall vote. His candidacy drew immediate attention because, before being appointed, he had signed an agreement stating he would not run for the full term. Still, on the final day of filing, he entered the race, saying he needed more time to decide.
A few days after McGee stepped aside, LeVota officially withdrew and explained why in a public statement. He said serving as county executive properly requires at least 60 hours a week and leaves no room for the demands of campaigning. He said trying to govern while running for office would compromise the quality of service residents deserve. LeVota also said he has “never aspired to run for public office,” disliked fundraising and political maneuvering, and wanted to prioritize his well-being and family over another four-year commitment. “My heart is not in a campaign,” he wrote.
McGee was actually the first candidate to file for the race and was widely viewed as a serious contender. He currently represents the 4th District in southeastern Kansas City and Raytown on the Jackson County Legislature and has served as legislature chair in both 2023 and 2025. Before joining the legislature, he led Jackson County’s COMBAT violence prevention program, served as president of the Hickman Mills School Board, and spent two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives.
McGee said he withdrew because he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Dr. Jamesia Donato, and family. He said his dedication to the people of Jackson County had not changed, but family needed more of his time.
With both men out, attorney Stacy Lake quickly moved to highlight her consistency in the race. Lake has run for county executive twice before and came close to defeating White in the 2022 Democratic primary, earning 47% of the vote in one of the closest races in recent county history.
Lake is the owner of The Lake Law Firm, where she handles both civil and criminal litigation. As an attorney and small business owner, she has built her campaign around government accountability, transparency, and modernizing Jackson County government. Her campaign has also focused heavily on addressing property tax spikes, stalled county budgets, housing concerns, and restoring public trust in county leadership. She has picked up several endorsements this year, helping strengthen her standing in the race.
She said Jackson County residents are tired of instability and deserve leadership they can count on, saying the county does not need “a leader that steps in at the last minute, tests the waters, and walks away.”
The other candidate who could emerge as a major contender is Bill Baird, the mayor of Lee’s Summit. Baird is now the only remaining candidate with major government leadership experience. In addition to serving as mayor, he is a commercial real estate broker and former school board member. His executive leadership background could make him especially attractive to voters looking for stability after months of county government turmoil.
The remaining field also includes Ryan Meyer, a marketing consultant and Streetcar Transportation Development District board member; Holmes Osborne, a financial analyst and Metropolitan Community College trustee; Erik Steffen, a cybersecurity executive; and Alan Rohlfing, a former U.S. military service member and the race’s only Republican.
With the August primary approaching, the withdrawals have reshaped the race and created a clearer path for Lake and Baird to emerge as the frontrunners.
Because Jackson County is heavily Democratic, the August primary will likely be the most important election in the race. While one Republican remains in the field, countywide races strongly favor Democrats, meaning the Democratic primary could effectively decide who becomes the next county executive long before the November general election.
