May 17, 2011 – Greater Kansas City, MO Local 42 -- like every other IAFF local -- represents, the interests of professional fire fighters and paramedics. But unlike other affiliates, Local 42 also represents more than 65 assistant prosecuting attorneys. Two of those members – Kenny Garrett and Jean Peters-Baker -- were recently appointed to prestigious positions.

“While these new positions mean Garrett and Peters-Baker can no longer be a part of the bargaining unit, it helps in an anti-labor environment to have people who understand what it is to be a part of labor in high-level positions,” says Local 42 Political Director Sherwood Smith.

Garrett has been appointed as the Associate Circuit Judge of the Sixteenth District of Missouri by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Before his appointment, Garrett was an active member of Local 42 for more than seven years, serving on several committees. He will now hear all types of felony cases in his capacity as a judge.

Peters-Baker was appointed as the Jackson County Prosecutor. Her office prosecutes all felony complaints in Jackson County, Missouri, the second-largest county in the state. Before her appointment, she was instrumental in organizing the Jackson County Assistant Prosecutors with Local 42 in 2001. She, too, served on several committees within the local.

The assistant prosecutors became part of Local 42 after approaching and discussing their issues with Local 42 President Louie Wright, who is a labor law professor at the University of Missouri. Both Garrett and Peters-Baker are graduates of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.