Dan Tarwater

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Dan Tarwater

Prior offices

Jackson County Legislature District 4

Successor: DaRon McGee

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 20, 2023

Education

High school

Rockhurst High School

Bachelor's

Rockhurst University, 1986

Personal

Birthplace

Kansas City, Mo.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Sales

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Dan Tarwater was a member of the Jackson County Legislature in Missouri, representing District 4. He left office on January 1, 2023.

Tarwater ran for election to the Kansas City City Council to represent District 6. He lost in the general election on June 20, 2023.

Tarwater completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Dan Tarwater was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Rockhurst High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Rockhurst University in 1986. His career experience includes working in sales.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Kansas City, Missouri (2023)

General election

General election for Kansas City City Council District 6

Johnathan Duncan defeated Dan Tarwater in the general election for Kansas City City Council District 6 on June 20, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Johnathan Duncan (Nonpartisan)	56.5	6,903
		Dan Tarwater (Nonpartisan)	43.5	5,313

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,216
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Kansas City City Council District 6

Dan Tarwater and Johnathan Duncan defeated Tiffany Moore, Cecelia Carter, and Michael Schuckman in the primary for Kansas City City Council District 6 on April 4, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Tarwater (Nonpartisan)	45.4	5,304
✔		Johnathan Duncan (Nonpartisan)	24.0	2,805
	Submit photo	Tiffany Moore (Nonpartisan)	12.4	1,450
	Submit photo	Cecelia Carter (Nonpartisan)	11.6	1,350
	Submit photo	Michael Schuckman (Nonpartisan)	6.4	744
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	34

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,687
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Tarwater received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Tarwater's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

• Construction and General Laborers' Local 264
• Fraternal Order of Police
• Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades
• International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 23
• Roofers Local 20
• Freedom Inc.
• Northland Strong

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Jackson County, Missouri (2018)

General election

General election for Jackson County Legislature District 4

Incumbent Dan Tarwater won election in the general election for Jackson County Legislature District 4 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Tarwater (D)	97.6	30,269
		Other/Write-in votes	2.4	749

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,018 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Jackson County Legislature District 4

Incumbent Dan Tarwater defeated John Maloney in the Democratic primary for Jackson County Legislature District 4 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Tarwater	61.7	10,024
	Submit photo	John Maloney	38.3	6,232

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 16,256
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dan Tarwater completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tarwater's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have served South Kansas City as a legislator for the past 28 years and decided not to seek reelection so that I could run for City Council. I have served on many boards and love Kansas City. I have lived in this area for all my life and want to see more things get done. I want safe streets for all of us. We need to decrease crime by enforcing our laws and prosecuting the people that are committing these crimes. We need to improve our sidewalks, roads and infrastructure in South Kansas City. We need to invest in the Basic City Services that we all deserve. By being elected in the past I know how to work to build consensus so we can have solutions for our needs. I have the experience that is needed to get things done. I also have a record of protecting and utilizing our tax dollars efficiently.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Experience matters to get our wonderful city back on track. I will be able to work with others to secure the 7 votes need to pass key legislation.
• We need to put an end to the crime that is sweeping our city. We can do this by enforcing/prosecuting the people that are preying on citizens and businesses. We need to help these people with their mental health needs and drug addiction issues.
• Our roads and sidewalks need repairs and I would like to see progress when these projects get started.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

It is very important to involve residents and I will do this by having meeting in the neighborhoods. I will also always be available for phone calls and visits.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

I am in favor of building the new jail with Jackson County as a partner. This will save the taxpayers over 100 million dollars. We need to have consequences for those that keep breaking the law. We need all the wrap around services so that we can evaluate the people so that they can get the help that they need as it relates to mental health and drug addiction. We also need job training and fathering and other services for people in the New Jail.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

We need to improve our services.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Crime, Mental Health, Drug addiction need attention right now. This will also help our Homelessness problems. I am for helping people that need help and I am for helping people that need a new path. We need to address the affordable housing problems that we are experiencing. We also need to get back to basics with our city as it relates to sidewalks and street repair.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I want to follow the moto of being a man for others. I will answer my phone and return calls and always have an open-door policy. I can be better thru you and your ideas.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Consensus builder

What legacy would you like to leave?

I was able to help.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Valves and fittings for nuclear power and process. Then owned a small business in the Automotive finance business and then moved into the Insurance field.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Home Sweet Home

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

All the Unions, including Firefighters, Fraternal Order of Police, Carpenters, Operating Engineers, Local 500, Local 124, AFLCIO, Local 20, Local 518, Local. 3808, Local 778, and many more

The Heavy Constructors Association, KC BizPAC, the Political Action Committee of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in Partnership with the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Freedom Inc, Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, Home Builders Association, Stinson, Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors, The Builders A chapter of the AGC., and more.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

See also

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Candidate

Kansas City City Council District 6

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