Clay County government is undergoing some major changes that the EDC was instrumental in bringing about.
By 81 percent, Clay County voters in 2020 approved a new constitution that dramatically changes the way county government works. The old, three-member commission will expand to seven members starting next year. The election will be nonpartisan, and five previously elected offices will be appointed by the county administrator. If this sounds a like a city council/city administrator or school board/superintendent form of government, it is!
Election of the new government begins this spring, with the filing for office to close March 29. For more information on this ballot, which goes before voters Aug. 2, visit this link.
Other changes have been more immediate. The current commission in February named Dianna Wright as the new county administrator. Wright was selected following an in-depth nationwide recruiting process by the County Commission.
A Missouri native, Wright has served over 30 years at the executive level, including the past 10 years as the director for the Economy Focus Area and Resource Management for the City of Olathe.
Prior to that, she served as the city administrator for Wentzville and Harrisonville. She began her career in public administration in Gladstone as Assistant to the City Manager/Administrator of Management Services.
Wright is a graduate of Missouri State University and University of Virginia, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service LEADS program. She is an active member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and has earned the designation of “Credentialed Manager.” She has an extensive background in all areas of local government operations, including fiscal management, economic development, public works, public safety, community development, historic preservation, public relations and parks and recreation. Wright has developed and managed multi-fund budgets in excess of $430 million dollars, overseen major infrastructure improvements and worked on a variety of commercial development and redevelopment projects.
