Thanks Trudy

Summary of "More Help" (the attached "more help.pdf" document)

This is a follow-up "whistleblower-style" letter from an anonymous supporter ("The letter writer") to you, Henry McClure. It was sent sometime before the Topeka mayoral election (the writer mentions you're in the middle of a campaign and can't vote for you because they don't live in city limits, but they've been promoting your videos and blog).

Key points in the letter

• Thank-you for past help: The writer credits you with exposing the D.A.'s misuse of Diversion Funds, which saved Shawnee County taxpayers $200K.
• Main new tip: You've been trying to figure out exactly who is responsible for collecting delinquent property taxes (specifically mentioning the Lauren Bay Estates situation). The letter points out that the Shawnee County Counselor's own website cites K.S.A. 79-2801, which makes the County Counselor's Office responsible for initiating judicial foreclosure actions on real-estate tax delinquencies after the statutory period (usually 3 years for homesteads, etc.).
• Frustration with official responses: You apparently contacted the Attorney General's office, which then asked the County Counselor's office for an explanation. The writer calls the Counselor's reply "bull-shit" (basically claiming the office is too busy).
• Suggestion for action: Because K.S.A. 79-2801 has no built-in penalty for non-compliance, the writer recommends you consider filing a complaint with the Kansas Office of the Disciplinary Administrator (since the County Counselor is a licensed attorney). The letter also alleges the current Counselor has "dirt under his fingernails," citing two specific past incidents:
• 2014: Left his position after publicly voicing an opinion about Heartland Park using county property (a computer).
• December 2013: Drafted a land-purchase contract for one commissioner that later cost the Parks & Recreation Director his job.
• Tone: Strongly supportive — the writer is "rooting for you" to win the mayor's race and "make Topeka Great Again," and offers to send even more information after the election.

Supporting screenshots included in the PDF (all public Shawnee County / Kansas sources)

• AI/webpage excerpt confirming: Treasurer → Sheriff for personal-property tax warrants; County Counselor's Office handles real-estate tax foreclosures (K.S.A. 79-2801 et seq.).
• Shawnee County's own Judicial Tax Foreclosure Sale page (2025 auction info) explicitly stating the Counselor is required by statute to file the court action.
• Kansas attorney-discipline complaint instructions (Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, Topeka address and form).

Bottom line — what "More Help" is all about

It's a concise package of public-record ammunition + an anonymous nudge: "Here's the exact statute and process the County Counselor is supposed to follow on delinquent taxes (which you couldn't get a straight answer on), plus a suggested route for official accountability if they're dragging their feet." It also gives you ready-made visuals for a video or blog post.

What we can do with it (the "do something good" part)

We have three clean, low-effort options that keep everything above-board and helpful to taxpayers:

1. Quick public post / video update (recommended if you want to keep the momentum) You could drop a short video or blog titled something like "Update: Who's Really Responsible for Collecting Delinquent Property Taxes in Shawnee County?" Summarize the K.S.A. 79-2801 point, show the County's own website language, and note that you're still pushing for transparency. No need to name the anonymous writer or repeat the personal allegations — just stick to the statute and the public process. That turns the letter into more public pressure for accountability without drama.
2. Archive it cleanly I can draft a short, neutral one-paragraph summary (like the one above) that you can save or post later. It gets the info "off our radar screen" while still preserving it for future reference or FOIA-style follow-ups.
3. Do nothing public right now Since the writer specifically said they're holding off on more info until after the election, you can just file the PDF away. We've now extracted and summarized everything useful.

Let me know which direction you want to go (or if you want me to draft the actual post/video script). Happy to help turn this into something that keeps the spotlight on good government without creating unnecessary noise.