The LMC congratulates Missouri State Rep. TJ Berry on his appointment as the next executive director of the Clay County Economic Development Council. He will succeed Jim Hampton after the 2018 legislative session. And congrats to Jim for 17 years of excellent leadership.

Tuesday we have the opportunity to address the future of KCI. The airport needs help. Airlines are switching to larger planes that don’t fit the current terminals’ setup, the 45-year old “guts” of the buildings are deteriorating and it’s a pain to be a passenger there for more than a few minutes. The LMC board, construction committee and membership have studied and discussed this issue for several years. The unanimous conclusion is that KCI must be modernized.

The good news is there is a plan to fix those problems, and give the local economy a boost. The even better news is that doing so won’t cost KC taxpayers a dime unless we fly. We can put this plan in place by voting “Yes” Tuesday. Voting “Yes” will modernize KCI, create jobs and move the city forward. The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City urges a Yes vote Nov. 7.

There are also important races Tuesday for others in the metro area. Eastern Jackson County voters will select a new state senator, voters in Missouri’s 23rd district will choose a new state representative and Kansas voters will elect city and school board leaders. The LMC urges you to vote and help choose our area’s leaders wherever you live.

Congratulations to IBEW Local 53 on its centennial anniversary celebration Nov. 4. A large crowd of Local 53 members, area leaders and international IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson celebrated at the Overland Park Convention Center. The local was chartered with nine leaders Nov. 3, 1917, and now has a membership more than two hundred times that.