Step aside, Deb Hermann. At least for now.
The Star’s endorsement tonight of Mike Burke and Sly James in the Feb. 22 mayoral primary struck a blow to Hermann, who had rung up some key endorsements in recent weeks.
Even with The Star’s errant endorsement of Mark Funkhouser four years ago — and his subsequent election because of it — this is the best possible endorsement a citywide candidate can have. Better than the Citizens Association (which Burke has), better than Freedom Inc., (which Jim Rowland has), better than the firefighters (whom Funkhouser has), better than the downtown business interests (which Hermann has).
James
James was the first person to declare his candidacy; he raised a lot of money early; and he presents clearly and confidently at candidate forums. Now he’s in an enviable position — a position that Jim Rowland and Deb Hermann would love to be in.
The Star said: “Many Kansas Citians know little about James, a lawyer, partly because he has never sought political office. But as he shows in personal conversations, he would be the kind of impressive, charismatic and knowledgeable mayor Kansas Citians deserve.”
I still say he won’t win and shouldn’t win. In my opinion, to be an effective mayor, there is no substitute for service on the City Council, where, if you want to get something significant done, you have to figure out how to get the votes of six other council members.
Burke
Burke has been there. He served out an unexpired term in the late 1980s and, although he didn’t seek a full term the next time around, he learned the ropes. Then, he went out and served in leadership positions on just about every significant economic development agency in the city, including the Economic Development Authority and the Port Authority.
On top of that, he founded KC Riverfest, the annual Fourth of July festival at Berkley Riverfront Park.
The Star gave a nice nod to his experience, saying, “Burke…has an extremely accomplished resume…It’s evident he could be a well-rounded mayor working for the good of Kansas City.”
As for his supposed big drawback, being a development attorney, the city hasn’t had any development the last four years. The Great Recession and The Myopic Mayor made sure of that. This is just the time that Kansas City can use a mayor who knows a thing or two about development. This city needs to get back on track, for God’s sake!
So, bring it on. The race is coming into clearer focus.
If you want to see the mayoral candidates in action, here are the forums (that I know of) that are taking place this week:
10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 8, Kansas City Industrial Council, Sprint Center.
4:30 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb 8, Kansas City Business Journal/Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. RSVP at http://www2.bizjournals.com/kansascity/event/40321
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 9, Downtowners, Town Pavilion, 1111 Main.
7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, League of Women Voters, 10842 McGee.
5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, Crossroads Community Association, 122 Southwest Blvd., Second Floor.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
I read The Pitch, and learned a little about Burke and his Port Authority 9.2 million dollar payout to W. Sessions, the attorney who worked with the city and Port Authority, and, wow, just think of it, happens to have an excavating company so he could pick up a little no-bid, pocket change.
Couple a weeks ago, a guy corrected me on TKC and said it was no big deal, that it happened all the time and was comme il faut (he didn’t say that, I just know you will like the word (:, heh heh) and part of what makes the city tick.
I am not being a smartass (Sure I am…but…), but WTF? Is there, or is there not, a huge elephant in the room concerning these types of transactions in city govt.?
Isn’t this an example of impropriety? (These guys are ALL lawyers, so apparently nothing “illegal” was done.)
Seriously, I feel like Dennis Hopper in the trailer, asking, “Am I wrong?”
While I agree that The Star’s endorsement of Burke and James was a slap in the face to Herman, I doubt it will have a seriously negative impact on her campaign for several reasons.
First, numerous studies on the subject have shown that simple name recognition -right or wrong- is the most significant factor for voters at the ballot box. That fact alone will cause James to trail both Hermann and Burke.
Next, short of a highly publicized polarizing cause/topic, people tend to vote against politicians, rather than for them. Funk’s election was a repudiation of the glaring incompetence of city hall re day-to-day issues: potholes, sidewalks and basic services. The upcoming election may ironically remove Funk from office for the same reasons, but none of Funk’s challengers has promised to improve, nor indeed are able to realistically promise to improve, the city’s capabilities in these areas.
(The mayoral candidates are aware the city’s coffers are nearly bare, the E-tax referendum is scant weeks after the mayoral election, and the the city’s water department is going to soon start the first of many rate hikes to pay for the desperately needed sewage/run-off improvement project. With what funds would they make improvements?)
Thus, their best strategy is to claim they’re not Funk. Name recognition again.
Third, The Star is a shadow of its former self and carries not nearly the influence it once did, and then with fewer and fewer subscribers every day.
Finally, race is and always has been a factor in Kansas City elections. Unless the African-American population swings solidly behind James, or he inundates the local airwaves (as he’s reportedly about to start doing) with wildly popular, funny and likeable political ads the last few weeks before the election, The Star endorsement will be nothing but resume filler, with some tandem of Hermann, Burke and Funk advancing to Final Jeopardy.
Thanks for the comment, Chuck…Yes, on this, you’re wrong. Here’s the deal…Back in 2008 when this occurred, Burke was general counsel to the Port Authority, and Session was another attorney getting a piece of Port Authority business. The deal in question was not between the Port Authority and Session’s company, however. A private company called CenterPoint Properties, which had been selected by the Port Authority, was developing the former Richards-Gebaur airbase. Session, more interested in serving his own interests than those of his client, saw an opportunity to get a piece of the land-clearing action with the private company. So, the contract was between the developer (not the Port Authority) and Session’s firm. Burke — and presumably most or all of the Port Authority board members — knew nothing about it until several months after the contract had been signed.
As soon as Burke found out about it, he sent a scolding letter to Session, rapping him for not telling the Port Authority about his side deal and advising him to put his cards face up on the table in the future.
Burke’s only mistake, in my opinion, was citing attorney-client relationship and refusing to comment on it when The Star first reported the story in December. Subsequent reporting by the same reporters– Michael Mansur and Dave Helling — has shown that Burke acted entirely appropriately.
The dirty dog in this deal is William Session, who chose to line his own pockets instead of looking out for the interests of the agency that he’d been hired to represent.
Jim
Finally. Ok, I get it.
I did NOT get that from what I have read prior to your explanation.
Did I just miss it?
Anyway, thanks.
Chuck (and anyone else who’s interested in the facts on the Port Authority situation) — Here’s the link to that Jan. 22 story. It’s worth a careful read….http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=134EAE3A1CD3A380&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111020704163602308&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=1000020118&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F31%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F31%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=kcstarsub&s_accountid=AC0109072214141209745&s_upgradeable=no
I regularly attend three neighborhood meetings here in Northeast. I have never seen Burke or James at ANY of them…. nor have I seen them at any other function over here. Deb Hermann, on the other hand, has been here many times answering questions and being interested in our problems. I really don’t think in the current economic climate that our choice should be between and development lawyer and a political novice. I want someone whose been interested in neighborhoods long term and NOT just during an election cycle.
That’s good testimony on behalf of Hermann, David. Dick Berkley demonstrated clearly the power of just showing up for neighborhood meetings.
…I want to add that when I said “step aside, Deb Hermann,” I did not mean to dismiss her as a strong contender. What I meant was that, for the time being, at least, the Star’s endorsement puts a brighter light on Burke and James and significantly boosts their prospects. Hermann was the “hot candidate,” the one with the momentum, a couple of weeks ago. But, just as in any horse race with a big field, you have candidates surging and dropping back at various times.
Hermann will certainly be a factor, and it looks to me like a three-person race at this point — Burke, Hermann and James.
Jim
Nick — Sorry about the delay in publishing your 2/6 comment. For some reason, it was stuck in my “awaiting moderation” area, and I just saw it today.
Jim