The Deep Dive
The letter, annotated.
County Executive Phil LeVota's April 2026 letter to Alderwoman Theresa Garza — every page, with the context that makes it make sense. Quotes are verbatim; annotations are ours. Download the original PDF.
Page 1 of 4
The $199,000 salary
LeVota opens by noting he appointed Garza Chief of Staff at $199,000 a year — roughly triple the typical Raytown household income.
“Out politicking”
He describes a running dispute: she wanted to attend public events; he wanted her managing the courthouse. In his telling, she never accepted that the Executive — not the Chief of Staff — defines the job.
Job hunting behind his back
He says he learned from outsiders that she was pursuing new positions — and that she hid the activity, including maintaining a second Facebook page he was blocked from and labeling job-pursuit meetings “private” on her county calendar.
Page 2 of 4
The CBIZ conflict
The letter's most serious claim: she pursued a position with CBIZ while the county was negotiating a multi-million dollar contract with CBIZ — a contract she was a decision-maker on. “Anyone could see that is inappropriate and unethical.”
Taxpayer resources for personal goals
“You continually utilized official county, taxpayer resources … to set up and pursue personal employment opportunities for months. That can equate to stealing county resources.”
“Solve problems, not create them”
On management: LeVota says staff issues she supervised lingered without solutions — and that raising them only in her exit letter was an attempt to deflect blame.
Page 3 of 4
Divided loyalties
“In all of your public activity, it was not clear if you were acting as the Chief of Staff or Raytown Alderwoman running for reelection.” Two public roles, one calendar — and, he says, no loyalty to either above self-promotion.
Working with his rivals
He says that even after discussing a new position for her, she was “even working with other people running for County Executive.”
Page 4 of 4
The separation offer
LeVota describes offering a resignation deal: a month's salary and extended health benefits in exchange for a resignation letter — and says she stopped responding until the county counselor followed up. She never resigned; the letter itself fired her.
“Setting up a lawsuit”
He accuses her of positioning for litigation. Reporting since confirms she hired an attorney — and that the dispute unfolded while LeVota himself was under federal investigation. Read both sides; the documents are linked across this site.