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

The campaigning is just about over, and our mailboxes are about to get considerably less full.

So, what to do? Who to vote for?

Flatteringly, a few friends have taken to asking for my suggestions before local elections, and, being a closer than average political observer, I always indulge them.

Today, then, I thought I’d put my recommendations out there for the vast JimmyCsays world to see.

The ballot is mercifully simple: It consists of mayor, the six at-large council seats, the in-district seats, an up-or-down vote on the retention of several municipal judges and the issue of whether to limit tax abatement on economic development agreements to 50 percent of the taxes due.

Because I don’t closely follow the campaigns and candidates in the individual districts — other than my own 6th District — I’m not going to offer recommendations on the in-district races.

Here we go…

For Mayor — Jolie Justus

Justus’ 12 years’ of elective experience are a major factor in my preference for her. She’s done a good job, in my opinion, on the City Council the last four years, and before that she spent eight years in the Missouri Senate. The fact that she could rub elbows with hidebound, narrow-minded, outstate conservatives in Jeff City for eight years and still come back to Kansas City with a smile on her face says a lot about her temperament and willingness to give and take. I think she would represent Kansas City very well on the national stage, and, let’s face it, at this stage of our politics, both locally and nationally, it’s time to give as many women as possible the opportunity to lead. The men, for the most part, have made a mess of it.

For Council Member, 1st District at-large — Kevin O’Neill

Kevin O’Neill

O’Neill, editor of the KC Labor Beacon, got lucky when he filed and no one else did, even though the seat was open and O’Neill had never held elective office. He will win by default, but I’ve met him and contributed to him, and he seems to be a good guy. He lives in Kansas City North and is the brother of Pat O’Neill, a well-known marketing executive and political consultant who lives in Brookside. You just have to accept, up front, that Kevin O’Neill will always be on the side of organized labor.

For Council Member 2nd District at-large — Teresa Loar

I’m not a big fan of Loar, mainly because she had her head in the sand on the need for a new airport. Until it became clear a council majority was intent on proceeding to approve a new terminal, Loar was a holdout. But like Kevin O’Neill, she is unopposed, so there’s no alternative. This will be her fourth term on the Council: She served two terms years ago, took a break and then ran again successfully four years ago.

For Council Member 3rd District at large — Wallace Hartsfield II

Wallace Hartsfield II

I’m not crazy about ministers in politics, but when the choice comes down to a minister (Hartsfield is pastor at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 2310 E. Linwood) or a state representative who carries a gun on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives (Brandon Ellington), I’m with the minister. (Ellington is running for Council because he is term limited in the General Assembly.)

For Council Member 4th District at large — Katheryn Shields

I don’t know anything about Shields’ opponent, Robert Westfall, a political newcomer, but I do know Shields has been a good public servant for many years and there’s no reason to vote her out now. Like Loar, this will be her fourth term on the Council over a period of many years.

For Council Member at-large 5th District — Lee Barnes Jr.

Lee Barnes Jr.

I am not familiar with Dwayne Williams, Barnes’ opponent. Barnes is one of the quietest members of the Council, and although he doesn’t offer leadership, he hasn’t done any major harm, as far as I can tell. In the airport debate, he pushed hard for a company that did not get the nod — AECOM. He told me he liked that company because they were the biggest — and he thought — the best of the companies that submitted proposals. There may have been more to it than that, but, in any event, it appeared to me the contract went to the right company, Edgemoor. Freedom Inc. supported Barnes four years ago but is backing his opponent now. That’s not enough of a reason for me to throw my vote to an unknown.

For Council Member 6th District at large — Stacey Johnson-Cosby

Now we’re talking about my district and candidates I know. Andrea Bough is a development attorney and a member of Country Club Christian Church, where I, too, am a member. She’s a fine person, and her husband, Steve Bough, is a U.S. District Court judge. Stacey Johnson-Cosby is a Realtor and longtime south Kansas City political activist. She is also one of two 6th District representatives on Kansas City’s Public Improvements Advisory Committee (PIAC).

Stacey Johnson-Cosby

I’m for Johnson-Cosby partly because, two years ago, after the Sea Horse Fountain at Meyer Circle broke down, she recommended $285,000 in PIAC funding toward a total renovation of the fountain. The Council subsequently approved that funding, and it spurred a public-private partnership that got the fountain renovated and raised about $400,000 in private funds for a permanent endowment fund for the fountain. I was co-chairman, along with David Fowler of Mission Hills, of the fund-raising committee…Like I said, Andrea Bough is a fine person, but the kind of help Stacey Johnson-Cosby lent my neighborhood was phenomenal.

Municipal Court judges — “Yes” on all

People ask me from time to time how to vote on the retention of judges, and I always say, unless you have some good reason — based on personal experience or reputation — to vote “no,” then vote “yes.” I don’t know of any good reason to vote against any of the nine Municipal Court judges who are up for retention, so vote “yes,” and don’t fell guilty because you don’t know anything about them or haven’t heard of them.

Question No. 1 — “No”

The proposal to limit tax exemption to 50 percent (from the current 75 percent) got on the ballot through an initiative petition. I applaud the petitioners — members of a group called the Coalition for Kansas City Economic Development Reform — but they’ve done very little campaigning. The Star said they raised $2,310 between April 1 and early June and spent $556.45 on yard signs. That’s pathetic. If you’re going to go to the trouble to get a couple of thousand signatures to get something on the ballot, you ought to follow up with a significant campaign effort…In addition, I’m not sure all development projects should be limited to 50 percent abatement. There could well be projects that cry out for 75 percent, or more. (The Council can authorize exceptions to the 75  percent.)

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I intend to monitor and report on voting in the mayor’s race. Check me out Tuesday night. ‘Til then, if you live in KCMO, be sure to vote.