Another Plea to All Local Media--On This Mayoral Race

The topic is Kansas City Mayor.

The election for a new one, after Sly James terms, is coming up, of course, April 2. Weeks away.

All I personally know is that there are at least several people running for the position. This is most of them, I understand

I've seen a few names. I've gotten some mail from a few but really, I've no idea who's running, who they are, what they stand for or what they say they will stand and work for.

I know Clay Chastain threw his proverbial hat in the ring. That's all I need to know about him.

And Jolie Justus. I know she's running and from where she's coming, mostly, since she's been around the area for some time.

I did a cursory Google search today and found this, thankfully, from our local NPR station, KCUR:

Here's Who's Running For Mayor Of Kansas City, Missouri

But if you go there, you'll see they are extremely brief descriptions of the candidates, of one small paragraph. That's it. It is also, brief as it is, the most complete description of these candidates I've been able to find. That's sad.

I don't think our Star newspaper has run articles on all the candidates yet. I don't see every daily paper but I do check in regularly.

There are a couple more links on the interwebs, from national sources:

Mayoral election in Kansas City, Missouri (2019) - Ballotpedia

According to that link, above, there are officially 11 candidates in the race. Six of those candidates are currently on the City Council. Three are on the Council for their first terms--Alissia Canady, Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas. Two are second-term candidates--Jermaine Reed and Scott Taylor while Scott Wagner is currently Mayor Pro Tem.

2019 Kansas City mayoral election - Wikipedia

The Star did run this piece:

Newcomers to 2019 KC mayoral race most active fundraisers

This is helpful, of course, but it more tells of their fundraising than anything, of course. It's important, sure, but still doesn't tell what they stand for and say they're going to work for in the office. It is also an extremely brief article. If that tells us anything, it's that the one candidate, City Council member and candidate Scott Taylor has the most money behind him and by a long shot. (This may make him the defacto winner. We'll see, of course). Another interesting thing coming from that article is that it doesn't even mention Clay Chastain. 

Finally, Flatland KC ran this online article.

What You Need to Know About KC's Mayoral Election

It gives the most perfunctory information, with links to the candidates own websites so again, it's up to you, the reader and voter to chase down any and all information.

So my question. Is any news media out there--KCUR, KCPT, the Star, Mike Shanin and his program "Ruckus", Steve Kraske and his, anyone, anyone doing any in-depth interviews and research on these people and who they are and where they come from and what they stand for and what they say they'll work for as mayor?

I surely hope there is. If someone's seen or heard something, please let me know. I want and need to know, before the election, just as we all do here in the area. 

It's coming down to election time. We need to know.

With the Star having famously/infamously and recently slashed its staff, it seems unlikely we'll now get this kind of article and coverage, however important.

Seems like the perfect program for KCPT, doesn't it? "Meet the Candidates"?

KCPT? Thoughts?

Link:

Meanwhilere's the scary part. The honestly, deeply scary part.

As Newspapers Close, Role of Government Watchdog Disappears

Ding, dong, the dork is done

Wow.

It's nice that's finally over.

We're finally going to get rid of the mistake that became Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

Funk, you were too expensive, what with all the lawsuits you and your wife cost us and you didn't get along and work well with others.  Those are two big and costly issues.  We just couldn't go on like that any longer.  It was a sick, twisted relationship that had to end.

Looking forward, the thing is, we're set up as a city in the same position as the last mayoral election with one African-American and one Caucasian and that's fine.  In fact, it's great.

Sly James and Mike Burke are both lawyers and friends of one another.  Both are, apparently, intelligent and well-spoken people who do, in fact, work well with others, know how to lead and can hopefully get things done for the city so either should be good for Kansas Citians.

The ONLY reason I bring up the issue of race here is because, like that last mayoral election when Alvin Brooks and the Funk ran, two things need to be pointed out.   As I recall, the Funk won by a slim margin, first, and second, I also recall the Star running coverage after the election showing voter turnout for African-Americans in the city was low.

If African-Americans have any real interest in this upcoming mayoral election and want to see Sly James get this office, they will need to organize and get out and vote in strong numbers, clearly, as didn't happen last time.

Let the best man win.

Observation

Kansas City, Missouri, if we re-elect Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

Just sayin'.


Keep warm, safe and dry today, folks!

Funkhouser for mayor

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Don't!  Stop!  You're killing me!

Man, that's good.

Seriously, that was the funniest thing I've seen all week.

Thanks, Tony, for pointing this out to us.  That's rich.

This, I think, could be the solution to the co-mayor's problems, once they're not returned to office next Spring.

Think about it.  It's a natural--comedy!  They can do stand-up.

If they can continue to write stuff this good, they'll make millions.


Enjoy your Sunday, y'all.