Crispin Rea was born in Kansas City and grew up the youngest of three children on the east side of Kansas City. Crispin’s mother enjoyed working at the Local Investment Commission (LINC) where she provided after school programming and social services for other low-income families. His father was a forklift driver at the United States Postal Service for 36 years and was a proud member of the Postal Mail Handlers Union.
Crispin was awarded an athletic scholarship to Park University and was a first generation college graduate. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Public Administration. While finishing college, he began work in a staff position at the Mayor’s Office of Kansas City. During his time at City Hall, Crispin saw first hand the vital importance of delivering Basic City Services to all Kansas City neighborhoods.
He was recruited by community leaders to run for the Kansas City Public School Board. Upon winning election, he became the youngest member ever elected to serve on the board and the only Hispanic board member during his term. He went on to serve as Vice President and was a leader of the reform movement that brought much needed stability to the school district through fiscal solvency, ethics reform, governance changes, and additional support and resources for teachers and staff of the district.
After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UMKC’s Bloch School of Management and a Juris Doctorate from UMKC’s School of Law, Crispin began his career as a prosecuting attorney. He has served seven years in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, spending most of his time in the Special Victims Unit prosecuting those who sexually and physically abuse women and children. Crispin takes pride in his work advocating for victims and working with police and neighborhood leaders to improve safety for children and families.
Previous to being a prosecutor, Crispin was a case worker with the Kansas City No Violence Alliance (KC NoVA). His work aimed to keep high-risk individuals from becoming victims or perpetrators of violent crime by offering resources and programs to build a new life free of violent crime.
Crispin’s service to the community continues through his volunteerism with the Mattie Rhodes Center and the Police Athletic League, both of which he is a member of the Board of Directors. In addition, he has volunteered his time with Mothers In Charge and has been previously elected to the Jackson County Democratic Committee representing the Historic Northeast’s 13th Ward. Crispin is a proud dues paying member of IAFF Local 42.
He and his wife Emma are active members of the Valentine Neighborhood Association and enjoy spending time walking their beloved rescue pit bulls, Indie and Lucy, traveling, hiking, and spending time with family.
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