Charles Hazley. Former City Councilman. A man I will not miss.
The Star reported today that Hazley died recently. The news story did not say when.
The headline over political reporter Dave Helling’s story read “KC political powerhouse Charles Hazley dies at 71.”
I knew Hazley well. As a reporter for The Star, I covered City Hall from 1985 to 1995. Hazley was on the council from 1971 to 1991. It took a Kansas City Charter Amendment to get him and his long-term ally Bobby Hernandez off the council.
The charter change, which voters approved, limited council members to two consecutive four-year terms. The proposal was aimed partly at Hazley and Hernandez, who were elected in districts — not citywide — and had been virtually invulnerable to election challenges.
Council members are supposed to work part time, giving them time to work at other, primary jobs. But that’s about all that Hazley (and Hernandez and some others) did. They made a career out of part-time service on the City Council.
Helling called Hazley “one of the most important politicians in Kansas City for three decades.” If, by important, he means manipulative and crafty, that’s true. But, no, hardly one of the most important. Not compared to truly important former council members such as Bruce R. Watkins, Bob Lewellen and Emanuel Cleaver.
Hernandez and Hazley were in the pocket of the developer Frank Morgan and his cronies, including lawyer I.I. Ozar. They also kowtowed to development attorney Jim Bowers, a partner with White, Goss, Bowers, March Schulte & Weisenfels.
Morgan and Dreiseszun are dead. I believe Ozar is still alive, and Bowers is still going strong.
Hazley was fairly successful at rounding up the seven votes (out of 13) needed to get pet projects approved.
I remember one time (but not the issue) when he had the votes he needed but someone who had committed to him inadvertently voted the wrong way. The measure came up a vote short. Very calmly, Hazley rose and asked for a re-vote. The second time, the errant council members changed his or her vote, and the measure passed.
…Helling said that Hazley “often tangled with reporters.”
That’s right. And the main reason was that when reporters would challenge him on something, he often threw down the race card.
I recall a time when I was working on a story where it appeared that Hazley had a conflict of interest. This was before the council voted. The day in question a newly hired reporter was tagging along with me as I made my rounds.
With her in tow, I caught up with Hazley in the City Hall parking garage, below City Hall, and expressed my concern. Hazley immediately got defensive and started yelling at me, saying several times, “That’s racist!
The new reporter stood by, watching wide eyed. Just to rub it in, Hazley turned to her before heading for his car and said, “Good to meet you; if you ever need anything, give me a call.”
A few days later, when the issue came before the council for a vote, Hazley rose and asked the city attorney if the circumstances tying him to the issue amounted to a conflict of interest.
I’ll never forget the brief exchange that followed.
Rich Ward, city attorney at the time, stood up and said, “Not necessarily.”
As soon as Ward began to launch into an explanation, Hazley cut him off, saying, “That’s OK; that’s all I need to know.”
With that, he announced that he had a possible conflict of interest and would be abstaining on the issue.
I recall another time that Hazley tried to engineer a large payment of taxpayer funds — several thousand dollars — to a professional basketball player (I believe it was Sam Lacey of the Kansas City Kings) to appear at some event for youngsters.
When I challenged Hazley on that, he denied any involvement and said that Assistant City Manger James I. Threatt had put the deal together.
Threatt, a guy I liked a lot and who had a great sense of humor, came up with some vague, lame explanation and essentially took the fall for Hazley.
Thereafter, Threatt, who died several years ago, occasionally would greet me, especially when others were around, by saying:
“There he is — the man who tried to kill basketball!”
Anyway, I hope Hazley is in heaven today…But I hope we don’t see another one like him on the City Council.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Jim:
This is most interesting. You were a gutsy reporter. You should send this to Dave Helling.
All best,
Laura
Thanks, Laura…I appreciate the compliment.
I think enough current Star reporters read the blog that someone will call it to Dave’s attention…I thought it was important to tell both sides of the Hazley story.
Fitz,
Former political figures of Kansas City should be remembered for how they served. Their obituaries should reflect their lives, accomplishments, background and arrangements for services etc..
Often the greediest public figures dislike the media most. Solid reporters, like you Fitz called them out. So you had to defend yourself against false accusations. I have not read the story, obituary or whatever, I will. But I remember Councilman Hazley and others that used volatile tactics to skirt their thievery. Reminds me of Carol Coe.
And the time released a call at the City Desk, my individual desk with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. for not giving him education reporter Faye Silas’ home telephone number. She told me he would be calling as she hurried out of the newsroom. She suggested getting his contact details, relaying them to her and NOT to share her home number. Inform Rev. Jackson, Sr. she would return his call.
Well I had already learned the policy about private telephone numbers. He screamed loudly over and over at me as if I exposed his marital issues. I knew I was covered and informed the editors. Rev. Jackson, Sr. gave no contact information. besides I had a “The Luper Report” minutes away.
I knew was covered, but as a joke, they (Bob Lynn) enrolled me in a telephone etiquette seminar at, of all places, KU. Lynn and I laughed so hard as Steve Shirk, with a straight face tried to tell me it was a joke and I did not have to attend.
Of course we would never laugh at Rev. Jackson, Sr., our enjoyment came over the Saturday seminar in Lawrence at “the Harvard on the Kaw.”
Just when I needed something else killed to associate you with Fitz. Usually it was in a bottle. Now the NBA in Kansas City. We have been blaming Joe Axelson and Gregg Luckenbill for the ARCO Arena and our NBA exit
With respect to the question of “when,” some people are essentially dead long before they’re biologically dead (and I’m sure you get my drift), and Mr. Hazley would appear to fall into this dubious category. Alive in the flesh but dead in the spirit, consumed by a warped view of their self-importance and thus blinded to the needs of those they should be helping. Servant leadership? Not here. Finally, ah, yes, the old race card “trick.” It’s as much to be expected as fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Nice post.
Thanks, John…I was afraid people might think I was too critical of a guy who just bought the farm, but he got his glowing send-off from Helling.
+1
You committed an act of journalism by writing what you knew to be true. Helling wrote a puff piece that should have been handled by an intern.
I’ll say five Our Fathers for committing “an act of journalism” outside the box.
Unfortunately the only way to get rid of a crooked politician (most of the time) is to wait for nature to take its course.