LIBERTY, Mo. — On Tuesday, voters in Clay County overwhelmingly chose to support a new county constitution by just over 81-percent of the vote.
The main difference residents will see is the county commission will expand from three seats to seven seats.
Kevin Graham was one of the 14 members who crafted the new constitution.
"I think everyone’s really encouraged, everyone’s hopeful that this is going to be the right vehicle to get the county moving forward," Graham said.
Along with expanding the commission, it adds term limits, a path to recalling a politician, and a way for people to watch what happens in the county's chamber from home.
"Coming in January they’ll be required that they be live-streamed in some manner that way that the citizens can see what their government is doing," Graham said.
With the increased number of decision makers, presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte believes this will create better policies.
"When you have more eyes on a problem and you also got the ability it makes it easier to come up with constructive solutions and it makes building consensus in ways a little easier and more important," Nolte said.
Megan Thompson and Jon Carpenter will join Nolte on the commission for the next couple of years before it expands.
"The first thing we got to get done is restore that trust of the folks that live here and that means accountability it means transparency," Carpenter said. "I have every faith that we’re going to be able to get that done and give the people of this area representation that they can be proud of."
The new constitution goes into effect Jan, 1, 2021 and it will take the two years before it's fully rolled out.
The full constitution can be read here.
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