The race for Platte County Clerk consists of two candidates – Republican Mary Calvillo and Democrat Hans Peter.
MARY CALVILLO
Calvillo, 67, is from Kansas City. Married, she has no children and holds a degree in personnel management and marketing.
“With more than 45 years of experience in office management, team leadership, supervision, and customer service, I deliver measurable results. I have designed processes, streamlined requirements, trained staff, and improved outcomes for end users – skills I will apply to create efficient, taxpayer-focused systems in the clerk’s office.”
Calvillo said she is committed to effective, well-run local government.
“My professional background aligns directly with the responsibilities of the clerk’s office, and I believe public service is an opportunity to apply proven skills for the benefit of the community.”
Calvillo said she is detail-oriented, decisive, and focused on ensuring taxpayers receive the services they need with minimal effort, including whether they even need to make a trip to the county seat.
“It would be an honor to lead an office dedicated to clear answers, efficient processes, and responsive service.”
Calvillo said the county’s strength lies in its quality of life and engaged residents. Maintaining that requires a government that consistently meets taxpayers’ needs, remains accessible, and operates on their behalf.
If elected, she said she would modernize the clerk’s office processes to reduce response times for Senior Tax Credit applications, expand online options for those applications and Sunshine Law requests, and prioritize taxpayer interests. Office hours would be extended to 5 p.m. immediately to improve accessibility for businesses and working families.
HANS PETER
Peter, 27, is originally from Cascade, Wis. Single, he graduated from Benedictine College in 2021 with a degree in international business and finance as well as accounting. He worked as an import specialist, as a membership representative at the Platte County Community Center South in Parkville and currently works as a freight forwarder and customs broker.
“My background in supply chain management and logistics, and the understanding of process management that I have developed from that provide me with the qualifications and skill set necessary to do the job of clerk and do it well.”
Peter said he is running to make a difference in his community.
“Platte County’s elected leaders are not making the kinds of decisions that will keep Platte County the kind of place that draws people in and makes them want to call this place home. I am the son of two teachers, so I grew up in a household that valued service and giving back to the community you live in. I will bring those values to the clerk’s office.”
Peter said he has a deep understanding of process management through his career.
“This understanding will help me examine processes that currently exist in the clerk’s office and, in partnership with the experienced staff who work there, allow us to make meaningful changes to how we currently operate to improve efficiency and accessibility, while providing Platte County taxpayers the value for their tax dollars that they deserve and should expect.”
Peter believes the biggest issue the county currently faces is lack of investment in infrastructure, due to its junk bond rating. This, combined with concerns about the high property taxes, threatens to slow the growth and expansion of the county.
“The clerk’s role in addressing those issues is as part of the whole. The direct route is by improving the administration of programs that the clerk’s office oversees, like the Senior Citizens Tax Credit program. Additionally, this comes through improving the timely distribution and access to commission agendas and meeting minutes, making it easier for citizens to participate in the decision-making process of the county commission.