Jackson County Democratic Committee

The Shamrock Democratic Club, Kansas City

President Tom Wrysch has been actively involved in politics since he was 18 years old starting with working for the election of Senator George McGovern for President. Even though he lost big it did not discourage Tom from his interest in politics. Tom has been lucky to have worked for some of Missouri’s biggest names. He worked for Senator Stuart Symington which included one year in his Washington, D.C. office. Tom worked for Senator Thomas Eagleton as his Western Missouri Field Organizer in 1974. Tom was the volunteer coordinator for the 1974 Mid-Term Convention held here in Kansas City.  He also assisted Congressman Jim Symington in his unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 1976 driving him and his wife all over the State. Tom worked for four years in the Kansas City office of Congressman Richard Bolling where he ran his mobile office for two years. He worked for four years for Congressman Karen McCarthy where Tom ran her Independence office. Tom has also worked in the offices of Jackson County Executive Dale Baumgardner, State Senator Harry Wiggins and City Councilwoman Becky Nace. President Wyrsch also served two terms on the Board of Alderman of the City of Lake Ozark. He has been a committeeman on the Jackson County Democratic Committee having been elected in the 8th, 9th and 10th wards over the years. Tom was honored to serve one term as Chairman from 2000-2002. He also was much honored to be a recipient of the Harry S Truman award.  Tom Wyrsch presently is the Director of Compliance for Jackson County.

Besides politics Tom’s other love is growing up in an Irish/Catholic family. The Shamrock Democrat Club was basically formed 25 years ago as a way to lobby by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Jefferson City for passage of the McBride Principles. The McBride Principles were a set of directives that the State would not invest in or do business with companies that were from Northern Ireland. These had been passed in about 30 other States and we were successful in getting them passed here with the help of Sen. Harry Wiggins and others. Since then the Shamrock Club has been involved in every election. The club is used to promote those candidates that we support and pass out a ballot. We pass that ballot out on Election Day and also when Tom goes door-to-door in his ward. Every fall the Shamrock Club with the assistance of the Jackson County Democrat Committee have a booth in the annual Waldo Fall Festival. It gives us great exposure and promotes the Democratic Party. Recently the Shamrock Club has partnered with the Concerned Citizens of Waldo in promoting various issues important to the Waldo and south Kansas City area. Anyone interested in the Shamrock Club can e-mail us at shamrockdemoclub@hotmail.com.