TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! HARRIS WILDER AND A FEW OTHER LOCAL ELITES CLAIM THEY'LL LEAVE KANSAS CITY IF MAYOR FUNKY WINS RE-ELECTION!!!

It's important to clear up any kind of erroneous rumor that Mayor Mark Funkhouser is gaining traction or support in the last remaining days of his lame duck tenure.

Get it straight . . .

THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THIS TOWN ONLY GIVE MAYOR FUNKY A CHANCE AT WINNING RE-ELECTION BY ACCIDENT!!!

Smart people acknowledge that in a crowded field with no clear front runner the privileges of an incumbent could be enough to give Co-Mayors Funkhouser & Squitiro another close victory.

In light of this fact, I'm officially bestowing THE KANSAS CITY HONOR OF "LESSER OF ALL EVILS" ON MIKE BURKE!!!

Over the course of the race, the title might go to someone else but in the early running Burke seems like the best hope to end Kansas City's long running nightmare if the Mayoral race was held today. Regular TKC readers should note this isn't an endorsement just a biased observation aimed at making Gloria Squitiro's daily foot massage just a tad uncomfortable.

But I digress . . .

The point here is that Harris Wilder is a hardcore denizens of Kansas City's political scene. He shows up to all of the fundraisers, politicos seek his advice and as one of the big time attorneys in town there are a great many people who want him in their corner. Close media watchers might remember him as the spokesman for the "Recall Funkhouser" campaign.

I had a brief opportunity to talk with Mr. Wilder recently and he showed a great concern for the direction that Kansas City was taking in light of recent job losses and this town's mounting budget deficit. Most of the conversation was off the record but one tidbit Mr. Wilder shared was his reluctance to stay in Kansas City if Mayor Funkhouser earns another term.

"I'm outta here," he said. "We're talking about a worst case scenario where the voters of Kansas City admit that they don't care about the budget, small business or the reputation of our city. I would seriously think about leaving and so would other people I've spoken with . . ."

It's a bold statement but something that I'm sure Wilder isn't keeping secret. And he really isn't alone . . . In just the past few months Cerner, The Wizards, J. P. Morgan have bailed out on Kansas City Proper under Mayor Funky's reign. So, while leaving town if Mayor Funky beats the odds and wins re-election seems like an EXTREME step . . . Just remember that a mass exodus from this town already took place in 2009.