Jackson County Executive says Legislator Abarca should step aside from budget vote

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Jackson County Executive Frank White said Monday he is “deeply concerned” about Legislator Manuel Abarca’s continued role in the county amid his ongoing court case.

On June 9, White’s office issued a statement calling on Abarca to recuse himself from the 2025 budget vote.

Abarca’s spokesperson released the following statement:

“Legislator Abarca does not have a comment on the County Executive’s statement at this time. Our office’s focus remains on legislative matters and on serving the residents of Jackson County.”

The vote, set to take place during the evening’s legislative meeting, has been a point of contention for months as the legislature struggled to come to an agreement.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Jackson County budget deal reached following months of negotiations

White’s statement, however, stems from Abarca’s recent legal proceedings.

According to previous reporting, Abarca was served a protection order on May 30, a day after an undisclosed “incident” in Shawnee, Kansas. Court documents obtained by KCTV5 state Abarca allegedly put his hands on his wife, Alexis, in a ‘rude’ or ‘aggressive’ manner, which he denied.

On Thursday, June 5, Abarca pleaded not guilty to a domestic battery charge in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. White pointed out that part of the 2025 budget includes funding for that court, which he called a “clear conflict of interest.”

White stated that recusing himself from the vote is the minimum he believes Abarca should do, but he hoped he would “voluntarily step aside from his official duties.”

KCTV5 reached out to Legislator Manuel Abarca’s office for a statement, but did not immediately hear back.

The statement in full:

“As the legal proceedings surrounding Legislator Abarca’s serious charges in multiple jurisdictions continue to unfold, I remain deeply concerned about the implications for his role in county government, particularly his involvement in decisions that may directly interfere with the institutions handling his legal matters.

“Those legal matters include a case pending in Jackson County Circuit Court, which, according to news reports, held a hearing earlier today related to a court-issued protective order. This development underscores both the urgency and complexity of the situation. Additionally, it is particularly troubling that Legislator Abarca has reportedly listed the Jackson County Legislative Offices as his address in ongoing legal proceedings involving both the protective order and related criminal charges. Government property should never be used to shield personal legal matters or blur the line between official responsibilities and private misconduct.

“This concern is heightened by today’s scheduled vote on Jackson County’s 2025 budget, which includes funding for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, the very court presiding over one of Legislator Abarca’s cases.

“Given this clear conflict of interest, I had hoped Legislator Abarca would voluntarily step aside from his official duties or, at the very least, recuse himself from today’s vote. That has not occurred. Therefore, I am publicly calling on Legislator Abarca to recuse himself from today’s vote and from any future decisions involving the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Kansas City.

“Should he proceed with participating in today’s vote, I believe it would raise serious concerns under the County Charter and the County’s Code of Ethics. This is not merely a matter of optics; it is a matter of public trust.

“If Legislator Abarca continues to refuse to step aside, I urge my colleagues in the Legislature to take appropriate and necessary steps to protect the integrity of this government. The people of Jackson County deserve leadership that is transparent, principled and fully committed to ethical governance.”

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