Fred Arbanas became the temporary Jackson County Executive during a ceremony Tuesday at the golf course that bears his name.
Arbanas, a former Chiefs player who served 42 years in the county legislature, stepped into the role after Mike Sanders announced last month he would step down just one year into a four-year term.
“After working in the county for so many years, you really get attached to it,” says Arbanas. “I want to see Jackson County keep moving forward and have good, honest government.”
It’s unlikely Arbanas will occupy the job for long. County legislators are expected to name another Kansas City sports legend, Frank White, to serve as interim county executive until voters can elect someone to serve out the remainder of Sanders’ term. White won a seat on the Jackson County Legislature in 2014.
Arbanas said he didn’t know if he’d serve for three days or three months, “but there won’t be any earth-shaking things that I do.”
He said Sanders, who’s held Jackson County’s top job for nine years, is the best executive the county has ever had.
Sanders had similar praise for Arbanas.
“Through his entire career, he’s been a guy as a tight end who blocked for other people so they could score the big touchdown,” Sanders said. “He’s guy that was perpetually out there doing everything he could to make that team better, and he’s doing that here today in this period of time to make sure that this county continues to work.”
A special election is scheduled for November.
Elle Moxley is a reporter for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.
