Gladstone Officials Move to Keep Defeated Incumbent in Power, Ignoring Voter Mandate
GLADSTONE, MO – In a stunning rejection of local democracy, Gladstone officials are refusing to seat Molly Gibson—the newly elected City Councilwoman who unseated a 13-year incumbent and former mayor, Bill Garnos. Instead, they are moving to keep Garnos in office, despite his defeat at the ballot box.
Gibson, a newly divorced single mother, stepped up to run for office because she wanted to bring fresh ideas, transparency, and community-driven leadership to the City Council. Against the odds, she won. But now, city leaders are attempting to invalidate that victory by claiming the seat is “vacant” and allowing Garnos to remain in the role.
According to the City Manager, the Council may choose to leave Garnos in place until the next election or appoint someone to fill the seat—completely bypassing the voters who chose Gibson to represent them.
“This is about more than one seat,” said Gibson. “It’s about whether the people of Gladstone get to choose their leaders—or whether those in power get to choose for them. Voters deserve better than backroom decisions and political games.”
The decision to ignore the election results and maintain the status quo sends a clear and troubling message to voters: your voice doesn’t matter.
Gladstone residents showed up, made their choice, and called for change. Now, that choice is being stripped away to protect an entrenched incumbent. The community is watching—and the fight for fair representation is just beginning.