Platte County Elected Officials

My wife Kelly and I and our two sons, Will and Luke, moved to Platte County in 2005 because we fell in love with the charming small towns, wide open agricultural areas, great schools, low crime rates, affordable lifestyle, and vibrant economy.  These are the things that brought us here, and these are the things that have made Platte County one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and a great place to live, work, and raise a family for so many others.

Kelly is a real estate agent who grew up in Mason City, Iowa, received her BS in Economics from the University of Northern Iowa and her Masters in Economics from Colorado State University. She loves to garden, bird watch, and travel. She’s a fantastic mother and I’m so lucky to have her as my wife.

Our sons Will and Luke graduated from Park Hill South High School in 2020 and 2022.

My Dad was a highly decorated Marine Corps officer and a veteran of the Korean and Viet Nam wars. And my Mother Mary, a William & Mary graduate, postponed her professional life to stay home and raise her two sons. When my brother Glenn and I went away to college, she became a business reporter and best-selling author. Glenn is happily married with two sons and is a general contractor in my hometown of Sebastopol, California.

I grew up in Northern California and attended the University of California at Davis where I earned a degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics. And over the past 20+ years, I’ve owned and operated a successful commercial real estate business.  Prior to running for Presiding Commissioner, I served on the Platte County Board of Equalization, the CARES Act Small Business Advisory Committee, the Platte County Industrial Authority Board, and the Platte county Sewer District Board.

While serving as Platte County’s Presiding Commissioner, I’ll focus on the three core principles of Public Safety, Economic Prosperity, and Fiscal Responsibility because I believe that these are the principles that lead to policies that benefit ALL Platte County residents.

You can reach Commissioner Fricker by calling 816-858-3331 or by emailing [email protected].

Commissioner's Office Home

I am Allyson Berberich, a driven community leader and volunteer. My husband and I moved to Platte County in 2008 and have been active in the community since. I served on the Union Chapel PTA Board for many years, and then the Thousand Oaks Homeowners Association Board. I served on the City of Parkville Planning and Zoning Commission for 4 years before being elected as an Alderwoman in 2023. I also volunteer with local swim teams, school committees, and at a variety of community events. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and an MBA in Finance and worked in a corporate setting for over 20 years. We reside in Parkville with our two teenage daughters. 

I am passionately committed to serving Platte County. As your commissioner, I bring decades of local experience and will focus on keeping Platte County a great place to live and work. I recognize the vital role that law enforcement plays in keeping our community safe. I pledge to work collaboratively with local law enforcement agencies to provide them with the support and resources they need to effectively carry out their duties. As a business owner myself, I understand the challenges facing local entrepreneurs. I will advocate for policies that promote economic development, attract investment, and create opportunities for small businesses to thrive in Platte County. I will also prioritize infrastructure projects that improve transportation and other essential services for residents and businesses. I believe in responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I am committed to ensuring that county resources are allocated efficiently and transparently to meet the needs of residents while maintaining fiscal discipline. 

Commissioners' Office Home

Joe Vanover is an experienced problem solver. He has worked inside and outside of government as an attorney for over 20 years. Mr. Vanover has tackled complex and difficult challenges and achieved positive results. Mr. Vanover is thorough and professional. He treats all parties fairly and respectfully.

Dedicated Family Man: Joe Vanover and his wife, Julie, have been married for over 20 years. Together, they've raised their two children right here in our community. Joe Vanover wants to
make sure Platte County stays a wonderful place to build a life and raise a family.

Experienced: Joe Vanover is a former prosecutor who worked for years to keep our community safe. Joe Vanover has put that hard-won experience to work for the families of Platte County.

Trustworthy: A leader in his local church, Joe Vanover knows the value of trust. People in our community rely on Joe Vanover to help them prepare for the future with wills, trusts and estate planning. He is a responsible steward of Platte County’s tax dollars.

Professional: As an attorney, Joe Vanover focuses on helping regular people find solutions to challenging legal situations, frequently real estate and business disputes. Joe is willing to take a stand and help those in need.

You can reach Commissioner Vanover by calling 816-858-3333 or emailing [email protected].

Commissioners' Office Home

Platte County residents elected David Cox as their new County Assessor in November of 2012. He officially took office on September 1, 2013. David is a 30-year Platte County resident with extensive real estate as well as sales and asset management experience.

 Since 1980, he has actively invested in the residential real estate market. In 2004, David earned his real estate license and began brokering and selling property across the county. From 2011 to 2012, David proved to be an excellent steward of taxpayer money by enhancing the District’s financial position by serving on the Park Hill Board of Education.  

A graduate of Rockhurst University, David and his wife, Jacque, of 33 years have three grown children.

Assessor's Office Home

Platte County Auditor, J. Kevin Robinson, MBA, was elected in 2010. He brings diverse experience and leadership background to the Auditor’s Office with twenty plus years of executive management experience and business ownership. His leadership was instrumental in Platte County’s 2011 Going Green Initiative, and his audit experience has proven invaluable in launching compliance audits throughout the County; ensuring proper cash handling and transaction recording procedures. 

Kevin has proven himself to be a community leader by sharing his knowledge and experience with college students, and by donating his services to various Boards of Directors; including, the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, State Professional Associations, Maple Woods Community College Academic Advisory Board, Platte City Area Chamber and Economic Development Commission, and Kansas City International Rotary Club and Scholarship Foundation.

Auditor's Office Home

With more than 28 years of experience in the Platte County Collector's Office, Sheila served as Assistant Chief Deputy Collector from 1993-2010, and was elected County Collector in 2010. 

Sheila received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Missouri. While in office, Sheila has offered the taxpayers the option of paying their real estate taxes in quarterly installments, paying taxes by phone, added the physical address and appraised value to the real estate statements, itemized tax amounts and VIN numbers for each vehicle on personal property statements, added a live chat feature to better serve taxpayers and sends daily paid files to the Missouri Department of Revenue to make licensing easier.

Sheila currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the Missouri County Collectors Association.

Sheila is dedicated to serving the citizens of Platte County as your Platte County Collector.

Collector's Office Home

Jera Pruitt was elected to the office of Platte County Clerk in November 2022.

Jera is a lifelong Platte County resident and currently resides in South Platte County with her husband and two children.

Jera has a degree in Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Park University. Jera has a deep understanding of county government and is committed to serving the citizens.

Please stop by our office anytime. See how records are currently kept and then take a step back in time and view some of Platte County’s historical records dating as far back as the 1800’s!

County Clerk's Office Home

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd was originally elected in 2002. He is now the longest-serving prosecutor in Platte County history. He also has the longest tenure of any elected prosecutor currently serving the Kansas City metro. Mr. Zahnd’s team of fifteen attorneys and fourteen staff members are responsible for handling thousands of cases each year, ranging from traffic offenses to first degree murder.

Mr. Zahnd's top priorities are protecting children, prosecuting sex offenders, and cracking down on career criminals. Under Mr. Zahnd and the Sheriff‘s leadership, Platte County’s Cyber Crimes Unit became one of the first in Missouri to hunt down and prosecute Internet predators. At the same time, Mr. Zahnd is a strong supporter of diversion programs and treatment courts for nonviolent offenders. His office operates Platte CARES (Community Alternative with Restorative and Educational Services) and drug, DWI, mental health, and veterans’ courts programs.

In 2006, Mr. Zahnd successfully pushed the Missouri legislature to pass Jessica’s Law to put child rapists in prison for life and enact tough mandatory sentences for Internet predators. In 2012, Mr. Zahnd wrote a Missouri constitutional amendment to allow juries to know about prior criminal acts of repeat child sex offenders, and he chaired the successful effort to pass that amendment in 2014. In 2005 and again in 2010, he helped write laws to increase penalties against repeat drunk drivers. And in 2009, he wrote the law requiring police to record interrogations of people suspected of committing dangerous felonies.

Mr. Zahnd was recognized as Missouri’s Prosecutor of the Year in 2014 for his efforts to establish best practices for Missouri prosecutors. He is one of only two Missouri prosecutors selected in the inaugural class of “Super Lawyers,” an honor given to the top attorneys in Missouri and Kansas. Mr. Zahnd is a past President of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association, where he serves on the executive committee.

Prior to his election, Mr. Zahnd was a business litigator with one of the nation’s largest law firms. He has also worked in the Missouri Attorney General’s office and served as a staff assistant to the Governor’s Commission on Crime.

Mr. Zahnd graduated with honors from William Jewell College and Duke Law School.

Prosecutor's Office Home

Shanna L. Burns was elected to the Office of Platte County Public Administrator in November 2020.

The Public Administrator serves as a “Public Guardian and Conservator” for people who are declared incapacitated by the Probate Division of the Circuit Court. There are approximately 200 people in Platte County, Missouri under guardianship and conservatorship with the Public Administrator’s Office.

Shanna has been a proud resident of Platte County, Missouri for over twenty years.  For seven of those twenty years she has worked to improve the lives of those in Platte County through employment with the Platte County Sheriff’s Department and the Platte County Public Administrator’s Office. It has been an honor to serve citizens in their time of need.

Shanna is married and has 3 sons. Her youngest son has special needs, which gives her a unique insight into caring for those who cannot care for themselves.    

Public Administrator's Office Home

• Recorder Wright was elected to his first term in November 2022
• He and his wife, Mariela have one son.
• Chris has served on many local boards and participated in many countywide activities as well as being a member of many organizations that Mariela and he supports:
  • Village of Ferrelview, Mayor
  • Village of Ferrelview, Town Board
  • Village of Ferrelview, Street Commissioner
  • Platte County Republican Party, Committeeman 13-3
  • Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Board of Directors
  • Platte Land Trust, Board of Directors
  • Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Fellow (for soon to be published research on French Colonial Land Ownership in French Indochina 1887-1946)
  • Platte City Chamber of Commerce, Member
  • Northland Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors
  • Property Records Industry of America, Government Member
  • Honorary Citizen of Wyoming, Bestowed by Governor Freudenthal
  • Honorary Citizen of Austin, Texas, Bestowed by Steve Adler, Mayor
  • NRA, Member
  • Ducks Unlimited, Member
  • Missouri Cattleman’s Association, Member
  • Kansas Livestock Association, Member
  • Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors, Member

Recorder's Office Home

Sheriff Erik Holland started with the Platte County Sheriff’s Department in 1999 and was elected as Platte County Sheriff in 2024. Sheriff Holland has served in the ranks of Sergeant, Captain and Major with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and served as the agency’s General Counsel. While providing law enforcement services to the citizens, his office also operates a 180-bed detention facility, provides security services to the courthouse and courts, provides dispatching services to 24 police, fire, and ambulance agencies and is responsible for emergency preparedness and animal control for the county.  

Sheriff Holland was born in Columbia, Missouri and first moved to the Kansas City area in 1999. Sheriff Holland’s education includes a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from Park University, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

From 2008-2012, Sheriff Holland served as chairman of the Law Enforcement Liability Committee of Midwest Public Risk. From 2017-2024, he served on the Board of Directors for Midwest Public Risk and served as chairman of the Board of Directors. Sheriff Holland is a graduate of the 260th session of the FBI National Academy and served on the Executive Board for the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. Sheriff Holland is a licensed attorney. He also has written for Police Chief magazine and has served on committees for the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Platte County Sheriff Department Home

Kendall is a lifelong Platte County resident with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in finance, accounting, and leadership. Currently he serves as Controller for the American International Charolais Association (AICA), a nonprofit dedicated to registering and promoting Charolais cattle nationwide. In this role, he managed finances, oversaw budgeting and payroll, and coordinated with local taxing jurisdictions, demonstrating his skill in fiscal responsibility and organizational efficiency.  

Prior to AICA, Kendall worked as a Client Business Consultant and Project Manager for Paladin FS, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in IT banking contracts, where he secured favorable terms for community financial institutions. His career began at the Westin Hotel Company in Kansas City as an Assistant Controller, followed by various roles at First National Bank of Platte County, Clayco State Bank, Farley State Bank, and Strunk.

Kendall earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1989 and enhanced his expertise through advanced training in investment and asset/liability management, as well as a three-year graduate school of banking program. He also holds a Master of Ministry from Colorado Theological Seminary (2017), underscoring his dedication to both professional excellence and personal growth.

Deeply engaged in the Platte County community, Kendall has served as Pastor of Salem Christian Church near Weston, Missouri, since 2015, leading church operations, providing spiritual guidance, and partnering with local charities. He has also worked as a substitute teacher for the West Platte R-II School District, reflecting his commitment to education. Kendall’s leadership extends to roles such as Treasurer for the West Platte Booster Club and Friends of the Canto Chorale, as well as an elected Farley Special Road District Commissioner. His volunteer efforts include coaching youth sports, advising the West Platte FCA, and serving as a camp counselor for the Nationwide Youth Roundup in Colorado.

“Christopher Kendall’s proven financial stewardship and dedication to our community make him an outstanding choice for Platte County Treasurer and we look forward to his leadership” said Scott Fricker, Platte County Presiding Commissioner. “We are confident his leadership will ensure sound management of county funds and support our region’s continued prosperity.”

Kendall is enthusiastic about his new role. “I am honored to serve Platte County and eager to apply my experience to safeguard and strengthen its financial future.  I look forward to improving the County’s already strong financial position.” he said.

Treasurer's Office Home