April 30, 2025 — Because technicalities matter more than elections.
GLADSTONE — In a shining moment for democratic integrity, the Gladstone City Council officially certified the April 8 election… and then immediately declared it irrelevant. Despite defeating longtime incumbent Bill Garnos with 50.7% of the vote, Molly Gibson will not be taking her hard-won seat on the council. Her offense? A criminally delayed property tax payment—six days late, to be exact.
Apparently, the people’s will comes with fine print.
City Attorney Chris Williams heroically dove into the Missouri statute vault and pulled out Section 77.380 and City Code 1.105.340—because who doesn’t love a good municipal gotcha clause? These legal gems state that anyone who dares run for office with a penny of unpaid city tax is automatically disqualified, even if they later pay it and get elected. Timing is everything—just not election timing, voter timing, or certification timing. No, the all-important clock stops when the polls close.
So despite voters speaking loud and clear, the council has decided no one has been elected, and we now have a vacancy! Yay for efficiency.
But don’t worry, democracy fans! As a proud third-class city, Gladstone’s council will now appoint someone to fill the seat—because nothing says “representation” like five officials picking who they’d rather work with. Until then, Garnos, the guy who lost, gets to hang out and keep the seat warm. It’s not a coup—it’s “continuity of government,” as Mayor Les Smith assured everyone, while also promising a totally transparent appointment process that absolutely won't favor political pals.
Gibson, who mistakenly thought elections meant something, dared to show up at the council meeting and gave a heartfelt speech about community, humility, and public service. Adorable, really.
“I won the city election with 905 votes,” she reminded the council, naively clinging to the notion that votes still count for something. She even asked the council to consider “the spirit of democracy.” Bless her heart.
Unfortunately for Molly and her 905 optimistic supporters, the spirit of democracy in Gladstone appears to be ghosting them.
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