Meet the Candidate: Tracey Chappell

Tracey Chappell is running for Jackson County prosecutor, promising “Safety for Every ZIP Code,” and has a track record of breaking barriers in the legal profession. 

No matter who wins the general election, Jackson County will have its first Black female prosecutor, but if Chappell is elected, she would also be the first Republican to hold the office in recent memory.

“Most people of color are very conservative,” Chappell says, addressing the unique position she occupies as a Black woman running on the Republican ticket. “I generally tell people, ‘You’re all conservative, you just don’t like the [Republican] label.'”

Chappell, who secured around 40% of the vote in her 2020 run for the same position against then incumbent Jean Peters Baker, believes people are ready for change based on safety rather than party affiliation. 

“I have never asked a victim if they’re a Democrat or Republican before I help them,” she said. “It is my job to make everyone safe in the community that I serve.”

With more than 24 years of trial experience and a law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Chappell’s legal career is marked by several firsts. She was a managing partner in KC’s first all-Black female-owned law firm, and she made history in 2018 as the first Black woman to serve as a prosecutor in Blue Springs, MO.

During her tenure in Blue Springs, Chappell looked to root out corruption and implemented the city’s first diversionary program for first-time offenders. This experience informs her approach to prosecution, which she describes as balanced and tailored to individual circumstances.

“Prosecution doesn’t necessarily mean prison,” Chappell explains. “If you’re a first-time, low-level, non-violent offender, it could be diversion. If you’re not eligible for diversion, meaning that you’ve had another offense similar to this one or just another offense period, you may be eligible for probation. But if you have more violent offenses, then you need to go sit down.”

Chappell’s platform includes six priorities aimed at reducing crime and reshaping what she calls a “broken system.” These include:

Prosecuting violent offenders and property crimes, 

Protecting victims’ rights, 

Engaging with the community and law enforcement, 

Restoring trust in the prosecutor’s office, and 

Expanding mental health courts as an alternative to mass incarceration.

On juvenile crime, a topic of particular concern, Chappell advocates for a firmer approach in serious cases. 

“We have to start making parents responsible as well,” Chappell says. “Long gone are the days when we were talking to parents or talking to people, and the parents are saying, ‘Well, there’s nothing that I can do with my child.’ I find it very difficult to believe that you cannot control your 13-year-old, your 14-year-old.”

Chappell expresses concern about the current handling of juvenile cases, and says she’d try more juveniles as adults. 

“If they’re calling my administration and asking me that question,” says Chappell. “’Tracey, will you prosecute this individual as an adult?’ Absolutely, yes, absolutely.”

Chappell also emphasizes the need for greater oversight of COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax) funds, a sales tax-funded initiative aimed at preventing and treating drug abuse and violent crime in Jackson County. She believes properly managing these resources is crucial for effective crime prevention and community safety. 

“If these programs or agencies are not fulfilling their mission, they will no longer be funded, and I know that’s going to be hurtful for a lot of people,” says Chappell. “Certain agencies have gotten COMBAT funding for years just because of their name. But, in my opinion, if you are not producing, if I don’t see an outcome, you’re done.”

Her campaign stresses the importance of collaboration between the prosecutor’s office and law enforcement in every city and jurisdiction of Jackson County. Chappell sees this partnership as essential for effective prosecution and community safety.

“I’m talking about establishing a relationship with police officers again,” says Chappell. “Kansas City is not the only policing jurisdiction in Jackson County. It’s every policing jurisdiction from Blue Springs, Kansas City, Independence, to Raytown and let me tell you, every policing jurisdiction is disgruntled because of the lack of prosecution.” 

Chappell believes her experience and approach make her the ideal candidate to address Jackson County’s crime issues. She points to her work in Blue Springs as evidence of her ability to implement effective programs and work collaboratively with law enforcement.

“We do ourselves a disservice when we limit ourselves to the help that we need based upon a label,” Chappell says about voters switching parties to vote for her. “Get rid of it. Toss it. Be safe, as a result.”

For Chappell, the race for Jackson County prosecutor is not about political affiliations but about creating a safer community for all residents. She says she has substantially more experience than her opponent, Melesa Johnson, and voters concerned primarily with public safety and effective prosecution should cast their vote for Chappell.

“When you lead an office such as the Jackson County prosecutor’s office, you need that experience,” says Chappell. “You need trial experience because you have to make sure that the less experienced attorneys are trained up. If you don’t have that experience, you still need training yourself.”

For more info on Chappell’s campaign, visit Chappell4Prosecutor.com.