TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! WINNERS, LOSERS AND MONEY QUOTES IN THE QUESTION 1 BLOWOUT DEFEAT ELECTION AFTERMATH!!!
The dust is starting to settle and now it's time to settle some scores among those in Kansas City's political landscape.
To wit . . .
CHECK THIS TKC FIRST LOOK AT WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE JACKSON COUNTY QUESTION 1 BLOWOUT DEFEAT!!!
This should be fun . . .
WINNERS
Freedom, Inc.
Kansas City's longstanding political leaders in the urban core proved to be "the linchpin to formation and mobilization of the opposition coalition" according to insiders. In plain English: Freedom, Inc. earned their money, once again PROVED THEIR POLITICAL POWER and delivered the urban core and many more to the NO vote side while helping to spread the "regressive" tax talking points far and wide among locals.
KC Man Of The Moment: Marcus Leach
Seen here to right of millionaire Brad Bradshaw . . . Marcus Leach was the point man on Question 1 opposition. Still in his 20s, Marcus Leach organized a citywide coalition against this tax and won despite having far less funds at his disposal.
Kansas City Neighborhoods
More than anything else this victory was a grassroots movement . . . Neighborhood activists and tax fighters found common ground in rejecting a tax that wasn't clearly defined and favoring the corporate elite.
Bishop Finn And Local Catholic Loyalists
TKC was FIRST to break the news that Bishop Finn and his Catholic Crew came out against Question 1 as if on a mission from God. This was important win for Finn & Co. that put them on the right side with their broke-ass and financially struggling flock.
Mayor Sly James
This is the easiest and probably one of the sweetest political victories Mayor Sly has ever won by wisely choosing to do NOTHING. The KCMO Mayor sent tax and spend advocates across the street and watched his political rival take an embarrassing loss, saved himself a lot of heartache AND positioned himself away from the taxpayer revolt that now might be taking hold in Kansas City.
LOSERS
Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders
More than anyone else Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders has been tagged with Question 1 defeat. He lost more than $2 million worth of campaign money and there are a great many people who will hold him responsible given that the blind and sick people used in the marketing campaign aren't going to be around long enough to return any favors.
GOP Consultant Jeff Roe
This is a step backward for a GOP political juggernaut who was heretofore touted for his journey into the "mainstream" thanks to better relationships with KCMO power broker Democrats. Mr. Roe lost double on this one given that his support of the tax struck hardline Republicans as a bit of a sellout. The silver lining is that Axiom remains one of the most respected consultancies in town and now has an even greater client base from which to draw . . . But there's no way to make this "L" look good on a highlight reel.
Jackson County Legislators Theresa Garza Ruiz And Crystal Williams
These so-called lady reformers lost big last night and their help putting this monstrosity on the ballot shouldn't be forgotten.
One TKC reader writes:
"When do we start holding Jackson Co. legislators accountable for this complete waste of money?. I can't wait to hear their excuse for spending over $800k on an issue that obviously nobody cared for. How can we trust their judgement moving forward?"
That question should start with legislators Garza-Ruiz and Williams given their otherwise fiery rhetoric regarding Jackson County reform.
Civic Council & Kansas City Corporate Elite
Even among Kansas City's 1% . . . Nobody has $2 million to throw away. The major defeat for Kansas City's ruling class is a setback that's best summed up by this EPIC quote from a TKC reader:
"That was such an arrogant display by the Civic Council and their leadership. The architects Jewel Scott, Jason Dalen and Pete Levi should never be able to direct anything again. The plan was flawed from the start but to ignore everything and tell everyone they knew better and we should all just listen to them while roping people into doing this in the memory of Adele Hall is just awful. They should all be out of a job today."
Ouch . . .
Local Democracy
Nobody should be bragging about 14% voter turnout. If Kansas City's Democracy was really vibrant . . . This thing never would have made it to the ballot.
A TKC Reader writes:
Tony, You should write about how much money this election will cost the taxpayers of Jackson County who will now pick up the lions share of the election boards' costs for this election.
The County Executive who approved the election ordinance and County Legislators who voted to put this on the ballot really wasted taxpayers money on this turkey!
How much did this cost??
Find out from the election boards and write it up. Hold them accountable!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(TKC NOTE: Easy . . . Most experts put the cost at around $800K . . . As for holding people accountable . . . That's mostly up to voters who mostly stayed at home.)
Accordingly . . . Locals face more taxes for transit, safety and KCMO bonds coming down the pike . . . Taxpayers shouldn't get cocky (hehe) about this win given that the will of the voting public will be tempted time and time again in the very near future.
LINKS:
- KC Biz Journal: Jackson County's translational research tax flatlines at polls
- Fox4: Research institute sales tax proposal soundly defeated on election night
- KCTV5: Clay County, Jackson County measures fail
- KSHB: $3 million spent on Jackson Co. election
- KMBC: Jackson County voters reject medical research sales tax hike
Developing . . .