JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC

Chamber President Jim Heeter and the mayoral candidates

In the second half of Tuesday’s mayoral doubleheader, the candidates gathered in the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s new board room at Union Station.

The space that you might remember as the Harvey House Diner is now the chamber board room, and it was a sparkling, comfortable and well-lighted venue for a give-and-take among the seven mayoral candidates. By my estimate, about 200 people attended the event, which the Kansas City Business Journal co-sponsored.

Here are some of the more notable quotes to come out of the 90-minute session:

Former Mayor Charles B. Wheeler: “I’m running on a platform to end dissension at City Hall. There have been some 12-1 votes (against Mayor Mark Funkhouser) on the council. That’s all right for Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, but it doesn’t work for Kansas City.”

Deb Hermann: “One of the things that has really, really bothered me the last couple of years is the mood of Kansas Citians about Kansas City. How do we make Kansas Citians believe in Kansas City again?”

“Some people have told me, ‘You’re too serious.’ My answer to that is, ‘There’s a whole lot to be serious about.’ I’m going to stay serious.”

Sly James: “The strength of leadership is not claiming that you’re right and everyone else is wrong. The strength of leadership is bringing people together and charting a path. You take the ego out of it.”

“Until I see a headline that says, ‘Ph.D. shoots master’s candidate at 39th and Troost,’ I’m going to continue to believe that education is the key to long-term reduction of crime.”

Mark Funkhouser: “It took the council two years to agree with me that we needed a professional city manager. Once they did, we began to make great progress.”

“We need a Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in addition to a regional chamber.”

Mike Burke: “We have an arts infrastructure that is second to none. We need to tell that story nationally, internationally and to our own people.”

“I want Kansas City to be a young person’s town. I want to keep them here and make them feel welcome…They are our future; they are the next generation of leaders of Kansas City.”

Jim Rowland: “What’s happening on the east side of our city (in terms of homicides) is inconceivable. We need a mayor who will shine a light and tell this story.”

Henry Klein: “I think the city needs to be run a little more like a corporation, with the city manager as the c.e.o. and the council as the board of directors.”

Brian Kaberline, moderator: “Congratulations, candidates. There’s a lot of running still to be done, but you’ve made it through one more forum.”

Brian Kaberline of the Business Journal and Kristi Wyatt of the chamber