Last night the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum. The structured format, with time restrictions, allowed candidates to answer submitted questions on a variety of issues. The issues addressed included amendments on the ballot (abortion [again], the initiative process, the ‘sovereign wealth’ bait and switch, the ‘Constitutional Sheriff’ scam) and the right wingnut congressional gerrymandering in Proposition A. Other issues included state funding for k-12 and higher education, access to health care, rural hospitals, and economic development.

Jordan Herrera (D), the Democratic Party candidate in the 4th Congressional spoke first.

Not surprisingly, Mark Alford (r) didn’t bother to show up.

Johnson County Clerk Diane Thompson spoke and the amendments and issues on the ballot:

The candidates in the 54th Legislative District spoke and took identical questions, in turn:

At times Brandon Phelps’ answers on the amendment questions on the General Election ballot were incomprehensible. That’s not a surprise. His track record from the August ballot was abysmal.

From August:

….Brandon Phelps (r), the rubber-stamp incumbent in the district, voted to place both amendments [4 & 5] on the ballot. Last Tuesday the voters in the district and across the state disagreed – vehemently. Maybe he should have listened….

From October 2025:

…But when I vote please don’t make the assumption that I only voted based on my ideas and I did it without any other input…

Says the rubber stamp.

Michael Walbom, the Democratic Party candidate in the 57th Legislative District spoke and answered questions:

His opponent did not show up.

The candidate forum was sparsely attended. It was livestreamed for those who could not attend.

Some candidates took the opportunity to speak with attendees after the formal question and answer session.

Jordan Herrera (D).

After the candidate forum: