MD PoliBlog

BREAKING: Sinquefield drops another $750,000 on anti E-tax campaign

BREAKING: Sinquefield drops another $750,000 on anti E-tax campaign: "

  On Friday, Missouri Ethics Commission reports show.

  His total contribution to Let Voters Decide: $1.75 million.

  Petitions to force a vote on changes in Missouris earnings tax law are due May 2.

  A statement from Marc Ellinger of the committee:

  'Some politicians, bureaucrats and big corporate and union interests want to prevent a public vote on local earnings taxes. And, they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a paid harassment effort to try to block voters from signing our petitions.

    'But thanks to the strong voter support we’re receiving, we are confident that we’ll have more than enough signatures to qualify the Let Voters Decide Initiative for the November 2010 state ballot. And, thanks to the continuing financial support from retired Missouri philanthropist Rex Sinquefield, we’ll keep moving forward with our campaign to pass the initiative.'

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(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Terry Riley To Run For County Legislature. May Make Opponent’s Age an Issue

Terry Riley To Run For County Legislature. May Make Opponent’s Age an Issue: "

Veteran Kansas City Missouri City Councilman Terry Riley is running for the County Legislature against veteran legislator, Fred Arbanas.
Riley flirted with a run for mayor, but then chose to run for the county post. He is term limited on the City Council.
In his announcement statement, Riley made it clear he’ll make Arbanas’ length of service an issue.
Arbanas has been a member of the County Legislature since it was created in 1972. ‘Fred is the ‘poster child’ for term limits in county government,’ Riley said in his announcement statement.
Arbanas filed for another term back in February, just after the filing period opened. The deadline to file office in Missouri passed at 5pm today.

(Via 20 Pounds Of Headlines.)

Stringfield Entry to County Exec Races Draws Primary Challenger

Stringfield Entry to County Exec Races Draws Primary Challenger: "

Another candidate is entering Jackson County Executive primary. 45 year old Center School District teacher K.J. Wilkinson is in the race.
Wilkinson says he’ joining the race just because former Jackson County Legislator Bob Stringfield filed for the same office.
Stringfield’s tenure on the County Legislature generated some unwanted headlines.
One time he was involved in a very public shoving match with fellow legislator, Dan Tarwater. In his announcement statement, Wilkinson noted that controversy.
‘Even Jay Leno on the Tonight Show picked up the story and made fun of Stringfield’s bizarre actions on national TV’, Wilkinson said.
‘Sadly, Stringfield’s actions brought national ridicule and scorn on the community I love.’

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(Via 20 Pounds Of Headlines.)

Terry Riley running for Jackson County legislature

Terry Riley running for Jackson County legislature: "

UPDATED 4:50 p.m.

Kansas City Councilman Terry Riley filed this afternoon to run against Fred Arbanas for the 3rd District At-Large seat on the Jackson County Legislature.

Riley is challenging Arbanas in the Democratic primary, scheduled Aug. 3.

A third candidate has also just filed -- H. David Brown, to run for that same seat in the Aug. 3 Democratic primary.

Arbanas has served in the legislature for 38 years. Riley is in his last term as a councilman.

Riley had earlier been rumored as a possible Kansas City mayoral candidate.

In a press release this afternoon, Riley said, 'Fred has been on the Jackson County Legislature since its creation in 1972. Im not a historian, but I cant think of anyone in this area who has held a public office for that long. Fred is the poster child for term limits in county government.'

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(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Can Deb Hermann Get Kansas City's Vote?

Can Deb Hermann Get Kansas City's Vote?: "

Deb Hermann is slated to party with her Council Peeps this evening. It's not a public meeting, just a local politico social. However, what's on the mind of most of them is whether the Council lady will run for Mayor.

As time goes on Hermann's name is moving toward the forefront of potential Mayoral candidates that could not only present a serious challenge to Mayor Funky but also carry the Northland Vote. Still a question about her candidacy remains . . .

WILL KANSAS CITY SUPPORT DEB HERMANN AS MAYOR?

So far she hasn't asked but she's been taking meetings with a great many people and the topic has come up.

TKC Friends (they do exist) speak very highly of this lady and her work on the budget has been serious rather than politically minded like the incompetent Mayor and his barefoot wife.

However, if this whole town doesn't support her than she'll do nothing more than completely split the Northland vote and make way for Sly James.

So far, the wost that's been said about her is that she doesn't have as much of an education of Mayor Funky PhD . . . I almost think that's to her benefit. Nevertheless, I notice that Hermann doesn't have many connections to minority communities in Kansas City and she gets her feelings hurt very quickly when the topic of race comes up in local politics . . . Which happens most days. If Hermann is serious about a potential Mayoral Run . . . Look for her to start making friends with people of color faster than a suburban kid just discovering hip-hop.

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(Via Tony's Kansas City.)

Haley eyes Senate bid

Haley eyes Senate bid: "A Kansas state senator says he will decide in another month whether to jump into the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate.

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(Via Topeka Capital-Journal - Legislature.)

TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! Allen Dillingham To Challenge Ed Ford For City Council!!!

TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! Allen Dillingham To Challenge Ed Ford For City Council!!!: "

Far across the river in Kansas City there's a Northland City Council race that has people throughout this town chatting about political fortunes.

Everybody knows John Dillingham in Kansas City political circles, he owns a big construction company and he's one of the area's top political donors. His son Allen Dillingham has been wanting to make a splash in local politics and thinks the City Council race is the right place.

Funny thing: Allen Dillingham initially wanted to challenge incumbent City Council Dude Russ Johnson but it was explained to him the In-District races are won primarily on shoe leather. Dillingham The Smaller didn't want any part of a time consuming grass roots campaign so he quickly switched up his plans.

Additionally, Johnson has already beat Jeff Roe's last candidate who had more money and a bigger organization. So the decision to run At-Large was an easy sell to an aspiring politico who still seems to be finding his footing.

Dillingham, with his Builders' Association Connection, has now set his sights on Ed Ford's Council Seat and I think it's gonna be one of the most fun, interesting, mean-spirited upcoming City Council competitions.

Why?

Basically, because the Northland's loyalties are up for grabs.

People who vote in the 2nd District aren't really in love with Ford and he has a few curious moves that might have alienated the significant contingent of Conservative, affluent and sometimes reactionary voters. Meanwhile, more grass roots and community minded Northlanders have told TKC that Ford isn't really a Northlander at heart and several collaborations with Council folk Riley, Sharp, Marcason and Gottstein might speak to this concern. Generally, TKC respects a great deal of Ford's work if only for his solo anti-nuke vote and the fact that he has consistently pointed out Mayor Funky's stupidity.

Meanwhile, so far Dillingham seems to be an empty suit and only the most connected Northland folks know what he's about . . . BUT his lack of experience against a City Council that has garnered a great deal of negative perception might be beneficial.

The KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS who have provided background on this post think this is a 'race to watch' that just might determine the character of the next City Council.

I would note that the composition of characters on the 22nd Floor of City Hall couldn't get any worse but I think we all know that's just wishful thinking.

Developing . . .

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(Via Tony's Kansas City.)

Silvey to Funkhouser: Give $2M to the stadiums or lose $2M from Bartle Hall

State Rep. Ryan Silvey tried in a budget hearing this afternoon to send a $2 million message to Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

In pair of amendments, the Kansas City Republican proposed stripping from the state budget a $2 million subsidy for Bartle Hill, and then applying that $2 million to the Jackson County Sports Authority, which maintains Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.

The move comes in response to a decision from Funkhouser to cut the citys $2 million subsidy to the stadiums.

In short, Silvey said: Give the stadiums their money, or well take your money for Bartle Hall.

Pulling the money breaches the citys contract with the Chiefs and Royals, Silvey said, perhaps giving them the freedom to leave Kansas City and take the 'tens or hundreds of millions of dollars' they generate in state tax revenues with them.

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(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

KC Chamber endorses KC E-tax

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement endorsing the 1 percent Kansas City earnings tax.

A petition drive is under way that could lead to a citywide vote on repealing the levy.  The drive is sponsored by a group funded by St. Louis businessman Rex Sinquefield.

The Chambers statement:

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce believes that the City of Kansas City, Missouris 1% earnings tax is essential for the livelihood of not just the City of Kansas City, but also the entire Kansas City metropolitan region. 

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(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Expect More Layoffs and Cuts to Capital Improvements at City Hall

Acting City Manager Troy Schulte is expected to release his budget recommendations today. What might we expect?

I asked Deb Hermann that today and she warned that we'll probably be seeing more cuts to the city's capital improvement budget and 100 layoffs, as well as a wage freeze for city employees.

The cuts to capital are because the city will have to use the money to pay off general obligation bonds. Some of that money will likely have to come from the city's Public Infrastructure Advisory Committee fund, better known as PIAC.

That's bad news for folks all over the city who want to see their curbs and sidewalks fixed, and other basic things like that.

They lay off scenario is tough, too. Every indication I have is that city staff is too thin already. It's bound to impact basic services.

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(Via KC Downtowner Main RSS Feed.)