Missouri Ethics Commission, Sedalia agree on “letter of concern” over Facebook posts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The city of Sedalia and the Missouri Ethics Commission agreed on a letter of concern related to Facebook posts made earlier in 2026, according to a filing on the MEC's website.

According to the filing, the commission investigating a complaint about posts on the city's official Facebook account which "contained language relative to the merits of mayoral candidates in the April 2026 municipal election."

A city employee made the posts without approval, and the posts were not meant to be official statements from the city, according to the commission's filing. It further said the city "promptly dealt with the situation and has since taken measures to strengthen the oversight of official communications."

The commission filing cited state statutes that public funds are not to be used to support or advocate for or against any candidate for public office.

It finds that the city did violate state statutes, and as a result the letter of concern will remain as an open record and public document.

It was signed by Sedalia mayor Traves Williams, MEC executive director Stacey Heislen, and attorneys for each party.