10 November 2010

Kander endorses Sly James for KCMO Mayor

Another Jackson County Democrat has weighed in on the upcoming elections for Kansas City, this time endorsing a close friend for mayor.

Democrat Jason Kander of the 44th House District issued support for Sly James' bid to become mayor of Kansas City. In an e-mail to supporters, Kander wrote that although James has long been a family friend of his and mentor during his legal career, the endorsement is more than personal friendship.

"Sly’s been a go-to leader in our city’s non-profit sector helping to steer organizations like United Way and Operation Breakthrough. His volunteer service has always been about improving life in Kansas City," Kander wrote. "Moreover, Sly is a small business owner and a professional mediator, experienced in bringing people together and building consensus in tough settings.

"A husband, a father, and a great friend, Sly is one of the best people I know."

Kander added that although he has worked personally with nearly every other candidate that has announced their candidacy for mayor of Missouri's largest city, he believes James is best fit to generate consensus at City Hall.

"In Sly, Kansas City has a rare opportunity to elect a gifted leader who can end the gridlock, produce results and get us back on track," Kander wrote.

The representative, recently elected to his second term in the Missouri House, will appear on behalf of James at a reception in Waldo on Dec. 7.

James is one of at least six candidates who will challenge incumbent Mark Funkhouser for the four-year position. Filing began yesterday and will continue until Jan. 25 in Kansas City as well as in Platte and Clay counties, whose election boards serve the city north of the river.

The primaries for mayor and all 12 city council seats will take place on Feb. 22. The top two vote-getters from each race, regardless of whether one candidate has an outright majority, will advance to the general election on March 22. The March 22 ballot is also expected to ask voters to renew the one percent earnings tax, as promulgated by the passage of Proposition A last week.

09 November 2010

Holsman decides against Kansas City council bid

The depleted ranks of Democrats in the Missouri Legislature will not take another hit.

Jason Holsman, who won re-election to Kansas City's 45th House District last week by a 3-to-2 margin, announced that he will remain in Jefferson City rather than run for Kansas City's city council. In an e-mail to supporters, Holsman admitted that he had seriously considered running for the council seat being vacated by Cathy Jolly.

"I made a pledge to the voters of the 45th district that I would continue to represent them in Jefferson City and that is exactly what I intend to do," Holsman wrote. "I look forward to returning to the General Assembly and working on legislation that benefits the residents of the 45th district and moves Missouri forward."

In commenting about the decision to not run for Kansas City's 6th district at-large, Holsman added that a need for common-sense leadership was needed at the city level.

Holsman's accomplishments in the last session of the General Assembly include House Bill 1848, establishing a task force that will look into the feasibility of building vertical urban farms, and inserting language into House Bill 2178 that allows cities to establish programs encouraging homeowners to make improvements to their homes that increase energy efficiency or generate energy.

Jolly announced in September that she would not seek a second four-year term to the city council. She spent three terms in the Missouri House representing the district that Holsman now represents.

Had Holsman opted instead to run for city council, his departure would have been the second among Democrats from Kansas City. Yvonne Wilson, senator from the 9th District that covers the historic Northeast, announced last week her plans to step down with two years remaining in her final term. Governor Jay Nixon has yet to set a date for a special election to fill the seat. Wilson, 81, said she plans to spend more time with her husband of 58 years, among others in her family.

Following last week's election, Republicans have a 26-8 majority in the Senate and 106-57 in the House, three shy of veto-proof majorities.