Bill Baird for Jackson County

2026 Jackson County executive

Campaign archive

Why He ran

2026 Jackson County Campaign Archive

In 2026, Bill Baird sought the Democratic nomination for Jackson County Executive following eight years of service as Mayor of Lee's Summit. This website is preserved as a historical archive of the campaign, its priorities, speeches, endorsements, and policy proposals.

The campaign concluded with the August 4, 2026, primary election with a second place finish. Stacy Lake won the primary. Bill remains grateful to the volunteers, supporters, organizations, and voters who believed in the effort to build a stronger Jackson County.

For Bill Baird's current work, biography and public-service record, visit BillBaird.com.

Bill ran for County Executive to fix and stabilize property taxes, expand access to quality mental health and community-based services, support policies that ensure every resident has the opportunity to succeed, cut government waste, increase transparency, and bring cities, businesses, labor, and community leaders together to solve problems.

Jackson County deserves experienced leadership that puts people before politics. Bill Baird wanted to restore stability, lower costs for working families, strengthen access to essential community services, and build a county where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Bill believes every decision we make shapes the lives of others, often in ways we never see. That belief has guided Bill Baird since he was young, inspired by the message of It’s a Wonderful Life. It is not just something he believes. It is how he leads, how he serves, and how he shows up for his community every day.

Bill learned early the value of discipline and hard work. As a four-sport letterman in high school and a two-sport athlete in college, he built a foundation of teamwork and perseverance. He carried those lessons with him to Baker University, where he earned degrees in business and psychology and began preparing for a life centered on service and impact.

He started his career in the classroom, helping students unlock opportunity through education. That same commitment to building stronger futures guided his work in real estate, where he founded Infinity Realty and grew it into a company of more than 130 agents. After selling the business, he continued as a commercial real estate broker with Baird Realty Group, helping shape economic growth across the region. His peers recognized his leadership when he served on the Heartland MLS Board from 2008 to 2013, including as board president in 2012.

For nearly three decades, Bill has invested in Lee’s Summit not just as a resident but as a leader. He served on the Lee’s Summit R 7 Business Roundtable, the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation Board, and was elected to the Lee’s Summit R 7 School Board in 2014. He remains actively involved in the Rotary, the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council, Downtown Mainstreet, and dozens of nonprofit organizations that strengthen the community.

As Mayor, Bill turned that commitment into results. He brought together partners across the city and the region to deliver more than $3 billion in new, responsible development, expand access to good-paying jobs, and increase affordable housing options. He championed the development of Green Street, a vibrant farmers market and performance venue in the heart of Lee’s Summit’s award-winning downtown, creating a space where residents and visitors come together year-round. Efforts like these have strengthened the city’s economy, enhanced the quality of life, and reinforced a strong commitment to public safety. Today, Lee’s Summit stands as one of the most thriving and livable communities in Jackson County.

Bill ran for Jackson County Executive because he knows what effective leadership looks like. It means listening first, building coalitions, and delivering results that improve people’s daily lives. He has done that work at the local level and is ready to bring that same focus and accountability to county government.

At the center of everything Bill does is his family. He and his wife, Hillory, built their life in this community and are raising their children, Bailey and Grant, with the same values of service and responsibility. For Bill, public service is not about titles. It is about making sure every decision moves the community forward and creates opportunity for the next generation.

Bill Baird offered a proven record, a clear vision, and a commitment to lead Jackson County with integrity, purpose, and results.

Why Bill?

Bill Baird ran for Jackson County Executive to restore trust, accountability, and common-sense leadership to county government.

As a former public school teacher, school board member, and two-term Mayor of Lee's Summit, Bill has a proven record of delivering results. He balanced budgets, invested in working families, strengthened public schools, created the city's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission, and helped create good-paying jobs while keeping taxes under control.

democrat Bill Baird for Jackson County

As County Executive, Bill promised to fix and stabilize property taxes, expand access to quality mental health and community-based services, support policies that ensure every resident has the opportunity to succeed, cut government waste, increase transparency, and bring cities, businesses, labor, and community leaders together to solve problems.

Jackson County deserves experienced leadership that puts people before politics. Bill Baird was ready to restore stability, lower costs for working families, strengthen access to essential community services, and build a county where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Throughout my career as a teacher, school board member, and mayor, I've focused on delivering real results for the people I serve. From raising teacher pay and expanding opportunities for students to strengthening public safety and balancing budgets, I've always believed leadership is about getting things done.

Democrat Bill Baird for Jackson County

Safer communities are Stronger Communities

Democrat Bill Baird believes every decision we make shapes the lives of others, and he has built his career on delivering real results for the communities he serves. From his start as a teacher to building a successful business and serving as Mayor of Lee’s Summit, he has focused on creating opportunity and strengthening neighborhoods. As Mayor, he helped lead more than three billion dollars in responsible development that brought new jobs, revitalized downtown, and created spaces like Green Street that bring people together.

Jackson County families are feeling the pressure of rising costs, skyrocketing property taxes, and a county government that has lost their trust. Bill has a proven record of raising wages for teachers and first responders, investing in public safety, and delivering real economic growth. He will bring transparency, accountability, and steady leadership to county government with no backroom deals and no excuses.

Bill is running to restore trust, grow our economy, and make sure every family has the opportunity to succeed. Sign up for campaign updates, donate, get a yard sign, and let’s fix this mess together.

PRIORITIES FOR JACKSON COUNTY

Bill’s career as a former teacher, successful small business owner, Lee’s Summit School Board Member, and two-term Mayor of Lee’s Summit gives him the experience we need to deliver results for us and fix the problems we face. Not just talk. Bill takes action.

Check out Bill’s platform below

It has been bad headline after bad headline about how past and current County Executives have mishandled property taxes in Jackson County. But this is not just about headlines. Families across the county are feeling it in their pocketbooks every single day. Gas prices are up, property taxes are skyrocketing, utility rates are out of control, and inflation continues to stretch household budgets to the breaking point.
Property taxes in Jackson County have been mismanaged for years, and the consequences are real. People are struggling to stay in their homes, and first-time buyers are finding it harder to put down roots. That is not sustainable, and it is not acceptable.
The solution is not to keep raising taxes and pricing people out of their homes or out of future homeownership. It is not to rely on short-term fixes that weaken public services and make the problem worse down the road. What we need is steady, experienced leadership that understands how to take on a complex issue and deliver lasting results.
Bill has worked on these challenges as the Mayor of Lee’s Summit and as a School Board Member. He understands that stabilizing property taxes requires coordination across local taxing jurisdictions, transparency in the assessment process, and strong advocacy at the state level to protect taxpayers.
On day one, Bill will bring people together from across the county to reset this process and implement practical solutions that restore trust and deliver stability. No more chaos. No more excuses. Just responsible leadership focused on getting this right and putting Jackson County families first.
The future of Jackson County can be bright, but we need stable, experienced leadership to get there. That starts with a clear focus on bringing high-quality, good-paying jobs to our community and making sure working families can build a future here.
The Kansas City metro is growing, and the opportunities are real. But Jackson County is falling behind surrounding counties and Kansas when it comes to attracting new investment and the jobs that come with it. We should be leading that growth, not watching it happen somewhere else.
Bill has a proven record of delivering results. As Mayor of Lee’s Summit, he helped drive more than $3 billion in responsible development that brought new businesses, expanded industries, and created thousands of jobs for working families. These were not abstract plans. They were real projects that strengthened the local economy and gave people more opportunities to live and work in their own community.
He also understands that job creation and strong wages go hand-in-hand. During his time on the School Board and as Mayor, Bill helped secure meaningful pay raises for teachers, police officers, and firefighters, because the people who serve our communities should be able to afford to live in them.
That is why voters can trust Bill to deliver for Jackson County. He has done the work, built the partnerships, and followed through on major economic projects that produce results.
As County Executive, Bill will bring that same focus to growing our economy, attracting new employers, and making sure that growth benefits everyone. His approach is simple. Build strong partnerships, invest in smart development, and create real opportunities so more families can afford to call Jackson County home.
Jackson County residents deserve a government that works for them, not one defined by broken promises, insider deals, and constant infighting. For too long, leadership at the top has said one thing and done another, eroding trust and leaving people wondering who the government is really working for.
That ends with Bill Baird as County Executive.
Bill believes public service is an honor and a privilege, not a right. It should be earned through hard work, accountability, and a commitment to deliver results, not handed out based on who you know or which side you have already chosen in courthouse disputes.
As County Executive, Bill will bring a new standard of transparency and accountability. No backroom deals. No politics as usual. He will open up the process, communicate clearly with the public, and make decisions based on what is best for the people of Jackson County, not political insiders.
Bill has a proven ability to work with people across differences, build coalitions, and move communities forward without getting pulled into the dysfunction that has held the county back. He will focus on delivering results, following through on commitments, and restoring trust in county government.
Jackson County does not need more excuses or more division. It needs steady leadership that is accountable to the people and focused on doing the work the right way, every time.
When Bill Baird talks about public safety and strong public services, it is not a campaign promise. It is a record of results.
Eight years ago, Bill ran for Mayor of Lee’s Summit on a clear commitment to support first responders and strengthen city services. From his first day in office to his last, he followed through. He delivered.
Under his leadership, Lee’s Summit made real investments in the people who keep the community safe. Police officers and firefighters went from being among the lowest paid in the metro to earning competitive wages in the top tier. The city built new fire stations, opened a police substation, and developed a modern joint operations safety center to improve coordination and response times. He ensured first responders had the equipment and resources they needed to do their jobs safely and effectively.
That is what leadership looks like. Not talk. Not promises. Results that people can see and feel in their daily lives.
As County Executive, Bill will bring that same focus and follow-through to Jackson County. He will work side by side with fire districts, law enforcement, cities, and schools to strengthen coordination, improve efficiency, and make sure public services are centered on the needs of our neighborhoods.
He understands that safe communities and strong services do not happen by accident. They require consistent investment, clear priorities, and leadership that shows up every day ready to do the work. Bill has done it before, and he is ready to do it again for all of Jackson County.