INAUGURATION EVENTS NEXT WEEK

Kansas City, Mo., mayor-elect Sly James and City Council members will be sworn-in at 9:30 a.m. May 2 in the City Council Chambers on the 26th floor of City Hall.

James will deliver his inaugural address. A public reception will follow in the first floor rotunda of City Hall.

James has announced plans to forgo the traditional black-tie ball and instead host a picnic for his inaugural celebration, which will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road.

“I want to begin my term as mayor by thanking the thousands of men and women who serve our city and are constantly asked to do more with less,” James said. “We have a lot to do in the next four years, and I am committed to working together and being inclusive as we move our city forward – my inaugural celebration will be no different.”

About 3,000 tickets will be made available to city employees and the general public to attend the event. Additional tickets will be sold for $10 each through Starlight Theatre. Traditional picnic and barbecue food will be served for free to ticketed guests, and the band Full Blast will provide live music.

The overall cost of the inaugural picnic will be less than $50,000, with a majority of the budget underwritten by private donations. An inaugural fund, TogetherKC, has been set up at the Mid America Regional Council to collect those contributions.

For tickets, call 363-7827 or stop by the Starlight box office. More information about the inaugural picnic is available at www.togetherkc.com.

CHASTAIN SUES OVER ELECTION

Clay Chastain is suing Kansas City, Mo., and the city attorney for allegedly preventing him to run as a write-in mayoral candidate in this year’s general election.

After the March 18 ruling in a circuit court, Chastain stated he would take no further legal action and instead focus on his light rail initiative. Chastain has collected more than 4,000 signatures, enough to place the measure on the fall ballot.

“I woke up at 4 in the morning,” Chastain said. “Something stirred me in my sleep and I thought, ‘This is really more important than light rail even.’”

Chastain said the city should not be allowed to change election law during a campaign. He filed the suit April 13. He is seeking a new primary election with all previously named primary mayoral candidates including himself as an official candidate, and a new general election.

Chastain said if another election is held and he is in the race, the outcome could be different.