Star’s Hendricks Apologizes to Funkhouser

Web Staff (Bottom Line Communications) – Give credit where credit is due.

After being called out by this site (See “Funkhouser Owed Apology“) for personal remarks about KCMO Mayor Mark Funkhouser’s appearance, Kansas City Star columnist Mike Hendricks has apologized.

In a mean-spirited Oct. 20 column attacking the Mayor Hendricks had referred to “that horse face of his that only a mother could love.”
Sources had told Bottom Line that Hendricks had apologized to the Mayor. After Bottom Line asked Hendricks for confirmation of the apology, Star Readers’ Representative Derek Donovan wrote about it.

Funkhouser Keeps His 80% Council Voting Record – Turns Council Around On TIF Chair

Lynn Horsley (The Kansas City Star) – What a difference a week makes.

The City Council voted 8-3 last week not to support Mayor Mark Funkhouser’s recommendation to reappoint Claudia Onate Greim as chairman of the Tax Increment Financing Commission.

On Thursday, Funkhouser asked council members to reconsider, and this time they voted 8-2 to reappoint her. Council members said they were willing to put their differences with the mayor aside and move the appointment forward.

KC Star & Hendricks Owe Funkhouser an Apology

Web Staff (Bottom Line Communications) – It is almost commonplace today for newspapers to decry the lack of civility in politic discussions.
This is often done in response to conservative comments from individuals like Rush Limbaugh and others when it is felt they have crossed a line of civility in political discussions.
In the case of the Kansas City Star, it now looks as if it is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Veteran Star columnist Mike Hendricks may have taken incivility to a new low with his ugly and personal comments regarding Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser.
In his column (10/20) Hendricks’ referred to Funkhouser as having a “horse-face” and “having a face only a mother could love.”

Star Says Funkhouser in it to Win It

Lynn Horsley (The Kansas City Star) – Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser formally kicked off his re-election campaign today, flanked by signs bearing his slogan: “Your money, your voice, your mayor.”
Funkhouser said he ran four years ago on a platform of change and challenging the power elites, and that’s as true today as it was then. (Even though he’s now the incumbent, so true change would mean a new and different mayor).
He acknowledged there have been plenty of fights with his council colleagues but “fighting is worth it.” He claimed credit for improving the city’s fiscal and debt situation, reining in sweetheart TIF deals, and refocusing attention on basic services, like removing the “metal plates” from the streets. He said he will continue to push for a city that works for ordinary, average citizens.

Mayor Mark Funkhouser: 2011 Campaign Kick-Off

Mayor Mark Funkhouser

Funkhouser For Kansas City

523 Walnut Street

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

816.283.8774
http://reelectmayorfunkhouser.com

Funkhouser Vetoes Redistricting Because Of Political Antics

Lynn Horsley (Midwest Democracy Project) — Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser on Monday vetoed a measure calling for a November ballot question that would change the redistricting requirements in the city charter.
The veto is yet another wrinkle in the ongoing argument between those, like Funkhouser, who think the council should redraw its district boundaries now and those who think the city should wait until 2010 census figures are available.

New Districts Coming for KC

Web Staff (Liberty Tribune) — The Kansas City Council voted unanimously to draw new voting districts prior to next spring’s municipal elections. As a result, the current redistricting process will move forward, and the City Council will approve new districts citywide prior to Tuesday, Nov. 2.

“This is great news for all of Kansas City, but especially for our residents north of the river who are significantly under-represented both on the City Council and in funding decisions,” said Mayor Mark Funkhouser in a press release. “The goal of redistricting is to provide a one-person, one-vote environment, and I am pleased that we now will be moving toward that goal.

“While the City Council did override my veto yesterday on the charter change vote, the goal of my veto was purely to make sure we redistrict now, as required by both federal law and the current city charter. We will be doing exactly that, and I’m pleased to know that my veto pushed us to the correct outcome,” he said.