Endless Pajama Lark ([info]scratchtasia) wrote,
2007-02-26 21:48:00
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KC elections

It's Election Day in Kansas City tomorrow--for mayoral and city council elections. Twelve different people are running for mayor (tomorrow will narrow them to two), which has been a bit overwhelming in terms of making a choice. And I just haven't paid much attention to the city council candidates. So I've been doing some digging tonight to figure out who I should vote for tomorrow. I posted the following links to the [info]kansascity group on LJ:

Kansas City Election Board (sample ballots and other information)

2007 Kansas City, Missouri Mayoral and City Council Election Info (links to candidates with a web presence, etc.)

The Kansas City Star's Interactive Guide to the Mayoral and Council Races

Kansas City Star Election Stories (questionnaires, etc.)

The Pitch's Guide to the Mayoral Race

"At-large" candidates for city council are voted on by all residents of Kansas City, no matter which district you live in.

For the record, these are the choices I've made:

Mayor: Mark Funkhouser. This was the hardest one to decide, as half of the 12 candidates seem reasonable (while the other half are easy eliminations). But Funkhouser seems most poised to tackle what I think is one of KC's biggest problems--the abuse of tax-increment financing (supposedly to be used for blighted areas) to reward developers of projects in areas that are far from blighted. For what it's worth, Funkhouser also received the endorsement of the Kansas City Star.

Councilman-At-Large, 3rd District: Melba Curls, by a nose.

Councilman-At-Large, 4th District: Deth Im, recommended highly by people I think I can trust.

Councilman, 4th District: Not all KC residents will vote on this, but this is my district. I'm a little torn between Jan Marcason and Mark Forsythe. Marcason has the endorsement of my greatly admired state representative, Beth Low, but I need to spend more time looking at Forsythe's web site. I'm probably leaning toward Forsythe, but I'm still undecided here. And at the moment, I've gotta run.

Councilman-At-Large, 5th District: Evaline Taylor. I like her credits.

Councilman-At-Large, 6th District: Cathy Jolly.

So I guess those are my "endorsements." Get out and vote!

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  • 11 comments

[info]shmigs

February 27 2007, 05:05:06 UTC 5 years ago

The Becky Nace proposal to eliminate the KC earnings tax caugh my eye. I wonder how other big cities get by without an earnings tax? Wichita, Des Moines, Springfield. Are their property/sales tax rates higher? I think their sales tax rates are comparable, not sure about their property tax rates.

I know KC boosted property taxes astronomically over the past few years.

Just speaking unscientifically, one would think the city of KCMO should be heads and tails above the competition with all that money rolling in. 1% of the earnings of anyone who lives or works in the city is a lot of salami.

Then the city had to go and slap a $4 per day surcharge on rental cars to pay for the Sprint center and related redevelopment, which brought all kinds of negative national publicity ala "KC is the most expensive airport to rent a car in the entire country."

Don't mind me, I can't vote for anyone, since my place is in Oz. I like Funkhouser's ideas.

[info]scratchtasia

February 27 2007, 15:26:35 UTC 5 years ago

Yeah, it would seem like KCMO should have overflowing coffers, with the earnings tax and all their other ways of making money. But I don't know the reality of it, compared to other cities.

A couple of things that give me pause about Nace are that, according to the Pitch article, she hired Jeff Roe as her campaign manager (he's slimy--I've heard about him before), and she received almost $3000 from far-right state senator Matt Bartle. Yech.

[info]sunshine_burn

February 27 2007, 06:38:07 UTC 5 years ago

I'm just glad you're not voting for Rita Valenciano. I actually know nothing about her politics but her son irritates the shit out of me, so...

(And, yes, I know that's the wrong reason not to vote for someone.)

[info]scratchtasia

February 27 2007, 15:49:05 UTC 5 years ago

Nope. Im is my man in that race.

[info]phenomenull

February 27 2007, 08:33:28 UTC 5 years ago


Im, Deth?????

[info]scratchtasia

February 27 2007, 15:49:53 UTC 5 years ago

Yep. It's pronounced "date."

[info]icecat

February 27 2007, 22:01:48 UTC 5 years ago

Hm, I just heard taht Funkhouser wants to privatize the water department. If this is true, and he wins, and this happens and I lose my job, it's all your fault!

[info]scratchtasia

February 27 2007, 22:19:29 UTC 5 years ago

I haven't heard that, and I oppose needless privatization. Ugh. I hope it's not true.

[info]icecat

February 27 2007, 22:22:31 UTC 5 years ago

I've been thru his website and I can't find it either. I hope the person who said that (someone who's pretty knowledgable about politics, and also pretty liberal) got his facts wrong. :)

[info]scratchtasia

February 28 2007, 15:08:22 UTC 5 years ago

I guess we have another month to learn about him and Alvin Brooks now. Nobody else was even close.

[info]videoleslie

February 28 2007, 03:35:29 UTC 5 years ago

"Melba Curls". What a great name.
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