3 New Members Appointed
To County Drug Commission
JANUARY 25, 2012 -- Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders has named three new members to the county's Drug Commission, which is tasked with overseeing the Community-Backed Anti-Drug sales tax program, better known as COMBAT.
In addition to the new appointees -- Cathy Jolly, Keith Querry and Marc Radasky -- Sanders issued an Executive Order on January 19 also reappointing five individuals to serve new terms on the commission. The Drug Commission was formed in 2008 as part of the reorganization of COMBAT that Sanders initiated upon becoming County Executive in 2007.
Jolly coordinated the Drug Abatement Response Team (DART), while a Jackson County Assistant Prosecutor from 1997 through 2000. She served three terms (2001-2006) representing the 45th District in the Missouri House of Representatives, working on several legislative committees, including the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. As Kansas City's 6th District At-Large Councilwoman (2007-2011), she chaired the Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee. She is currently a member of the Center School District Board of Education.
After working as a general practice attorney for DeWitt & Zeldin, LLC, Radasky became Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Burlap & Bag Co. in 2011. Previously, he was a Legislative Assistant (2002-2003) for United States Congressman Sam Graves (Missouri 6th District), Deputy Director of Grassroots (2003-2005) for the Washington, D.C.-based Republican Jewish Coalition and Middle East Research Assistant (2007-2008) at the Hoover Institute.
Querry held key leadership positions with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) before retiring in 2007. He was appointed Business Representative to the IBEW (1975-1981) and elected IBEW Business Manager/Financial Secretary (1981-2005). He also served on the IBEW International Executive Council from 1992-2005. The Heart of America United Way presented Querry with its Outstanding Leadership Award in 1988.
"We are fortunate to have citizens of this caliber stepping forward to serve on this vital commission," Sanders stated. "The work of COMBAT and the drug commission plays an important role on one of the most critical issues in Jackson County. Moving forward, we must continue to build off the positive strides we have made in the past as we look to prevent drug abuse and crime throughout our community."
Sanders reappointed Vanessa Maxwell-Lopez, Tony Miller, Pamela Petrillo, Anita Russell and Dr. Joseph Spalitto to continue serving on the Drug Commission. The commission is comprised of nine members. Each Jackson County Legislative District is represented on the commission, while the other three positions are designated for an "At-Large Substance Abuse Professional Member," "At-Large Legal Professional Member" and an "At-Large Public Health/Health Care Professional Member." In June 2011 Gene Morgan was appointed as the at-large substance abuse professional member to fill the vacancy occasioned by a previous resignation.