Petition filed to oust Clay County mayor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A petition has been filed to remove a Clay County mayor with prior felony convictions, as they disqualify him from holding the position.

Prosecuting Attorney Daniel White filed a quo warranto petition to remove Kent Kavanaugh as mayor of Mosby, according to an announcement from the prosecutor’s office.

Kavanaugh, a write-in candidate, pleaded guilty in 1994 to two felony counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance.

"The statutes say no person can qualify as a candidate for elective office who has been convicted of, found guilty of or who has pleaded guilty to a felony under Missouri law,” Prosecuting Attorney Daniel White said in a news release. “This Randolph County conviction means Kavanaugh cannot hold office."

Kavanaugh was placed on and successfully completed three years of probation for the conviction.

He has a reasonable amount of time to file paperwork in state court refuting White's claims.