About Leigh Phillips

I've lived in Independence for more than 40 years. I've raised a family here, watched the city change, and spent the past several years digging deeply into how our local government works.

That has meant a lot more than attending Council meetings. I've spent years reading budgets, ordinances, development agreements and public records; attending Council, Planning Commission and public hearings; and following issues from the first proposal through the decisions that followed.

I currently serve my second term as an elected Jackson County Committeewoman and was the only citizen who participated in Independence's two-day City Council retreat, where I had the opportunity to listen and learn as City leaders and staff worked through the City's operations, challenges and priorities.

I tend to get in the weeds. I want to know what was planned, what was promised, what we've spent, what happened afterward and whether something is actually working.

That's the experience and approach I would bring to representing District 1.

How I Approach Leadership

I ask a lot of questions. Usually because one answer leads to three more.

I like to understand how something got where it is — what was originally planned, what decisions were made along the way, what changed and what the records actually show. Sometimes that means going back years before looking at what should happen next.

I also don't expect to have every answer myself. Residents often know things about their streets, neighborhoods and businesses that won't show up in a staff report. I think that knowledge matters.

Then I do what I've always done: dig into the details, ask questions, listen to the people involved and keep following the issue until I understand it well enough to make a decision.

Rooted in District 1

Independence isn't just where I live. It's where I've spent more than 40 years raising a family, building relationships and watching our community change.

District 1 has its own character — older neighborhoods, historic places, longtime businesses and areas with opportunities we haven't fully explored yet.

I care about what happens here because this is home. I want to build on what's good about District 1, understand what needs attention and help make sure the decisions we make today give the people who live here good reasons to be proud of where they live.

Why I’m Running

I believe preparation for public office should happen before the first day in office.

If elected, I have the ability to make serving District 1 my full-time work. To me, the job is more than attending Council meetings. It means being in our neighborhoods, working with residents and businesses, doing the research before decisions are made, and following issues through after the vote.

For years, I’ve been learning Independence government from the citizen’s side of the dais — studying how decisions are made, where they begin, what they cost and what happens after the vote.

That work now includes more than 6,272 hours of civic research, more than 250,000 documents reviewed, six months studying the Independence City Charter with other citizens, and years following issues affecting our neighborhoods, businesses and taxpayers.

And I’m still learning.

I Showed Up to Learn the Job

When the Independence City Council held its two-day retreat, I attended both days. I was the only citizen there.

I wasn’t required to be there. I didn’t hold a Council seat. I went because I wanted to learn.

The retreat gave me an opportunity a regular Council meeting cannot: to listen as Councilmembers, the City Manager, finance staff and department leadership worked through priorities, challenges and the issues facing our City.

I wanted to understand how our City government works — and how decisions begin before they ever appear on a Council agenda.

I believe you should learn the job before asking voters to give you the job.

Already Doing the Work

My preparation hasn’t stayed behind a computer screen.

I’ve participated in City Council and Planning Commission processes, public hearings and neighborhood issues. I’ve researched major City financial commitments and redevelopment projects, including the GO bond package, Noland Fashion Square, Englewood and Winner Road, and the development that ultimately became the Nebius data center.

I spent months studying the Independence City Charter with other citizens. I’ve pursued questions about financial accountability, City auditing, development incentives and how taxpayer dollars are committed. I’ve challenged and followed City processes when I believed the public record did not clearly show how a decision was made.

When years of Independence agendas and records became difficult for the public to access, I didn’t just complain about it. I documented the problem, contacted the City and followed it until public access was restored. Then I built a searchable Independence Public Records Archive preserving historical agenda material dating back to 2007.

When residents bring concerns to me, I take them seriously. I research them, bring questions to the appropriate people and follow what happens afterward.

And when I saw a need for a better way for District 1 residents to communicate with their representative and see that follow-through, I built D1 Community Table.

Now I’m taking the table directly into District 1 through 100 Tables Before the Election — sitting down with residents in homes, neighborhoods and local businesses to listen before asking them to trust me with their vote.

Representation shouldn’t suddenly begin after an election.

I’m showing District 1 now how I intend to serve District 1 later.

The Record Is Public

I don’t expect voters to simply take my word for any of this.

My research, public participation, neighborhood advocacy, proposed solutions, reporting, leadership and community service are documented in a searchable public record.

You can see the work for yourself.