Midwest Voices

Yael T. Abouhalkah

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The word “no” can be a powerful tool in making the best decisions on important issues in the Kansas City area.

Sure, I’m often urging readers to take a positive view of local matters. That often means voting “yes” on critically needed funds for important civic needs — from restoring Union Station to fixing roads to upgrading the Kansas City Zoo. Or saying “yes” to politicians who have the best ideas for making progress in this region.

But as Election Day 2010 arrives, voters have more reasons than usual to cast ballots against a particular issue or candidate next Tuesday.

Some examples:

• Proposition A deserves a “no” vote — maybe even a “hell, no” decision by voters.

This is the attempt by one multimillionaire in St. Louis (Rex Sinquefield) to eventually kill the earnings tax that supplies $200 million a year to fund critical basic services for Kansas Citians. The misleading promotion of this statewide issue as something that will merely “let voters decide” deserves special scorn from all Missourians.

• In the congressional race for Missouri’s 4th District seat, voters ought to say “no” to Vicky Hartzler’s belligerent campaign to knock off longtime incumbent Ike Skelton.

Admittedly, Skelton has grown too comfortable in his job, one reason pundits give Hartzler a chance of winning in this year of the supposed GOP tidal wave.

But that would be a disaster for 4th District residents. Hartzler, of all the local candidates I’ve interviewed this year, has the most vacuous answers on important issues. She offers little more than ultra-conservative sound-bite positions. In particular, her naïve “get Washington out of our lives” attitude looks hypocritical coming from a family that’s received hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal farm aid.

• In Kansas, voters should say “no” to Kris Kobach’s pitiful “be scared, be very scared of illegal immigrants” campaign to become secretary of state.

Current officeholder Chris Biggs can cite chapter and verse of how to smoothly run the office and actually encourage people to legally register to vote. Not Kobach. He’s running around warning that the state is inundated with illegal voters — even though the facts compellingly show otherwise.

The election of Kobach would be an embarrassment to the state of Kansas. Biggs is clearly the better candidate.

• We’ll find out next week if Johnson County voters have the good sense to say “no” to Ed Eilert’s disingenuous attempt to portray opponent Annabeth Surbaugh as a spendthrift.

The race for Johnson County Commission chair deserves to be won by someone who will do the job full time and who deeply cares about all kinds of issues that are important to residents. That’s Surbaugh, the lone woman remaining on the commission.

• Clay County voters booted Pam Mason out as county clerk four years ago. But she’s back, running a smear-filled campaign for presiding commissioner against incumbent Ed Quick, a capable and veteran public official. Clay Countians ought to say “no” again to Mason.

Her campaign appears funded by her new husband, former county auditor Vic Hurlbert, who resigned in disgrace in early 2009 amid allegations of mismanagement and misconduct.

More recently, the county filed a civil lawsuit against Mason and Hurlbert because of their irresponsible actions when they were both in office in late 2006. The county wants to recoup $9,700 it cost to remove a wall that Hurlbert and Mason childishly ordered built to separate auditor and clerk staffers.

If voters next Tuesday channel some of their anger at the right people and issues, the results could turn out to be quite positive for this region’s residents.

Reach editorial board member Yael T. Abouhalkah at abouhalkah@kcstar.com or 816-234-4887. He blogs at voices.kansascity.com. He appears on “Ruckus” at 7 tonight on KCPT, Channel 19.

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