By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
So KC Mayor Mark Funkhouser thinks The Star has a vendetta against him? Talk about a short memory.
Let's see, the newspaper has endorsed:
-- Funkhouser for mayor! Just to make it clear, that helped him get a big dose of confidence -- and attention -- during the crowded primary last year. How do I know? He told me at the time.
-- Funkhouser's crackdown on economic development incentives.
-- Funkhouser's attempts to tighten the city budget.
-- Funkhouser's capital improvements sales tax renewal to improve basic assets, promised in his campaign.
-- Funkhouser's attempt to improve the bus system.
How has The Star opposed the mayor?
Two mistakes come to mind.
-- His refusal to remove Frances Semler from the KC parks board.
-- His refusal to separate his personal and business lives by keeping his wife as a "volunteer" in his office.
I understand that Funkhouser is angry about the continued controversy swirling around his political mistakes while at City Hall.
But he should not carry through with his irresponsible threat to ignore a City Council-approved ordinance that would force Gloria Squitiro from his office.
If that happens, he can probably expect some more outrage from this newspper -- and plenty of other Kansas Citians.









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Dog with bone- ego check
He didn't do what you asked and you won't just say that is our opinion and he won't do it. You are going to dog him every step of the way. You can't even wait until she does something that you can remind him of your opinion and say you were right. You have to play the same song over and over. I generally change stations when that happens.
You are so busy trying to control him that you have forgotten the position you should be defending, innocent until proven guilty. Let's wait to see how that turns out before calling for her to leave. Isn't that what every public figure is entittled to?
What DO you smoke, Yael?
What DO you smoke, Yael? I'm sure it's not cigarettes, but it must be some REALLY GOOD stuff. Read the Friday Star, page B-5, "Few cities address officials' kin volunteering" by DeAnn Smith. It's FACT, not opinion, but don't let that stop you.
nice work Yael
You outted him based on a private conversation and at the end of this post, threatened him with more nastiness to come from the Star.
Does he have any other friends?
OMG YOU ARE STILL WHINNING ABOUT FRANCES SEMLER!
OMG, you guys are simply nuts, no change that, totally nuts!
How the hell long did you beat on that poor old lady because some whacko activists in this sorry town hated her?
You guys are simply disgusting.