Four Platte County candidates who withdrew from the Republican primary after a financial disclosure dispute will return to the Nov. 3 ballot as independents, creating or expanding contests for offices responsible for county spending, tax collection, investments and financial oversight.

Dale Brouk, a candidate for presiding commissioner; Holly Cayer, a candidate for collector of revenue; Chris Kendall, the current county treasurer; and Kevin Robinson, the current county auditor, were certified by the Platte County Board of Elections on July 24.

The four candidates have formed a coalition they call Neighbors First, which emphasizes local issues and independent decision-making over party affiliation.

Their certification reshapes the general election ballot. Brouk joins Republican Jason Maki and Democrat Mary McKenna in the presiding commissioner race. Cayer will face Republican Jim Bosch for collector. Kendall is scheduled to face Republican Elliot Lahn for the remaining two years of the treasurer’s term, while Robinson will face Republican Laura Waldon for auditor.

No Democratic candidates filed for collector, treasurer or auditor.

The four independents submitted petitions containing more valid signatures than required under Missouri law. Brouk submitted 1,164 certified signatures and needed 813. Cayer submitted 1,192 and needed 626. Kendall submitted 1,211 and needed 914, while Robinson submitted 1,232 and needed 606.

Their return to the ballot follows a dispute that began this spring.

Each originally filed as a Republican but withdrew May 4, shortly before the Platte County Commission was scheduled to consider removing seven candidates from the primary ballot. The candidates had failed to file personal financial disclosure statements with the county clerk by an April 21 deadline.

The county requires candidates to file the statement with both the Missouri Ethics Commission and the county clerk. Candidates and their supporters said filing materials created confusion about whether an electronic filing with the state also satisfied the county requirement. County officials said candidates received and signed notices describing the separate filings and the consequences of missing the deadline.

After the four withdrew, commissioners voted 2-1 against removing the affected candidates who remained in their races. Brouk, Cayer, Kendall and Robinson said they withdrew before the vote because disqualification might have prevented them from seeking the same offices as independents.

The Platte County Republican Central Committee later censured the four, accused them of using a procedural maneuver to avoid accountability and announced that it would withhold party support and campaign resources.

The candidates have described their independent campaigns as an effort to give voters additional choices and reduce partisan influence over county offices.

Among the four, Kendall has the strongest direct connection to the West Platte community.

Kendall is a 1984 West Platte High School graduate and has served as pastor of Salem Christian Church near Weston since 2015. He previously served as a Farley trustee and Farley Special Road District commissioner and has been involved with West Platte athletics and community organizations.

The Platte County Commission appointed Kendall interim treasurer in March 2025 following a vacancy in the office. He was later confirmed by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Kendall has more than 30 years of experience in accounting, banking and financial management and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

The treasurer invests county tax dollars, controls 35 county funds, processes payments and prepares financial reports for county departments and other government agencies. Because Kendall was appointed, the November election will be the first time Platte County voters have an opportunity to evaluate his performance in the office.

Cayer is seeking an office in which she already has 15 years of experience. She currently serves as assistant chief deputy in the Platte County Collector’s Office and previously worked in banking for nine years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri Western State University.

The collector issues property tax bills, receives payments and distributes revenue to cities, schools, emergency service districts and other taxing entities. The collector does not determine property values or establish tax rates.

Cayer’s campaign says the office is responsible for collecting and distributing more than $318 million annually. She has made continuity, modernization and customer service central themes of her campaign.

The office also will play a role in implementing new tax programs, including Platte County’s homestead property tax credit. The county recently asked homeowners to verify that their properties were included after some eligible properties were omitted from automatic enrollment.

Bosch, Cayer’s Republican opponent, also has strong ties to northern Platte County. He was born and raised on a tobacco farm outside Weston and has lived in Edgerton for about 30 years. Bosch has emphasized customer service, expanded office hours and fiscal responsibility, including opposition to a previously approved 30% salary increase for county elected officials.

Brouk is seeking the most policy-oriented office among the four independents.

The County Commission sets the county budget and oversees public works, planning and zoning, parks, stormwater, county facilities and the Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The commission also serves as the final authority on county regulations and appoints residents to public boards and committees.

Brouk has more than 35 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, real estate and development. His campaign biography says he began his career with KPMG Peat Marwick and later served in senior financial and development positions. He also has held leadership positions with the Parkville Industrial Development Authority, Parkville Area Chamber and Economic Development Council, Platte County Economic Development Council and NBKC Bank.

His campaign priorities include public safety, roads, animal control, county borrowing costs and an update to Platte County’s land-use plan, which was adopted in 2010. The county plan applies to unincorporated areas and would not replace Weston’s municipal zoning authority. Decisions about development surrounding Weston, however, can affect county roads, traffic, rural land and infrastructure used by area residents.

Brouk’s background in real estate development gives him experience relevant to growth and infrastructure decisions but also is likely to prompt questions about how he would disclose and handle potential conflicts involving developers, banks and economic development organizations.

Robinson has served as county auditor since taking office in 2011. He holds a Master of Business Administration and had more than 20 years of executive management and business ownership experience before becoming auditor.

The Auditor’s Office reviews county financial transactions, conducts compliance work and helps develop the county budget. Robinson has emphasized the county’s credit rating, long-term financial forecasting and public safety funding in his campaign. He will face Waldon, the Republican nominee, in November.

The candidate lineup remained subject to change as of Monday. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, to withdraw from the general election ballot. Election authorities face an Aug. 25 deadline to certify the final ballot.

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 7. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.