Mike Sanders has led a charmed political life since he stepped into the Jackson County Executive’s office. The Star, for whatever reason, prefers to focus its attention almost solely on the City government. Whenever scant attention has been drawn to the County, it’s usually because of some flamboyant nonsense undertaken by the legislature, such as the attempted labor sell-out by Henry Rizzo, or the Jackson County Ethics Blackout, when legislators brazenly attempted to exempt themselves from the Ethics Code they imposed on everyone else.
In other words, it’s not hard to stay out of the local circus spotlight when you have Mayor Funkhouser, the City Council, and the Jackson County legislature performing daily tricks on the trapeze.
Not that Sanders has been complaining about the lack of attention. Most of Sanders’ accomplishments have been achieved by avoiding the glare of sustained attention. The COMBAT tax appeared on a ballot carefully selected to draw a low turn-out, in an off-year election, a year before it was due to expire. Similarly, the changes to the Jackson County charter were accomplished before the prior charter called for a public review, and were pushed through on a low-turnout primary ballot.
Sanders has been pretty much having his way, but remaining quiet about it.
It’s easier to keep successes silent than failures, though, and Sanders may be reaching the tipping point where he could be dragged into the spotlight.
Most alarmingly, Sanders wound up on the wrong side of the Rizzo/Williams battle for the county legislature. Back when it appeared that the CCP Executive Committee might actually stand for County Progress and endorse Crystal Williams, he circulated an Orwellian email falsely portraying Rizzo as a supporter of ethics, despite Rizzo’s attempt to exempt the legislature from compliance. Later, when Rizzo tried to salvage his primary campaign against Williams by including Sanders’ picture on a mailing, it was too little, too late.
Other missteps are adding to the concern. He is pushing a “regional rapid rail” scheme, despite the unlikelihood that local voters would willingly saddle themselves with tens of millions of dollars for construction costs to create a system that will cost millions more, every year, to operate. It’s a nice dream, but the money’s not ever going to be there.
Speaking of money, only a compliant, spendthrift Kansas City Council saved Sanders from major embarrassment during the latest budget battles. Once again, the Council donated taxpayer money to the County to pay for the stadiums, despite the fact that the City is not obligated to do so. Had our City Council chosen to fund our city instead of giving money away, Sanders would have had a tough time explaining why he hadn’t ironed out an agreement before the issue came up again.
(See Update Below.) Most recently, the blame for the Kerr/LeVota debacle appears to be sticking to his teflon. The buck for the Jackson County clerk’s office stops at Sanders’ desk, and whether it was corruption or outrageous incompetence, it was a backroom blunder. Now that Phil Levota has generously and effectively smoothed over the problem, only the uncomfortable questions remain about whether it was corruption or incompetence in Sanders’ clerk’s office.
Mike Sanders has crafted a reputation as a quietly effective executive who makes things happen in the back rooms of Jackson County. Frankly, while I prefer transparency, I have a grudging respect for someone who can get things done without drama.
The past several months have been costly to Sanders’ reputation. Can he regain his magic touch, or have we seen the first cracks in a crumbling foundation?
UPDATE: As one of the commenters pointed out, I was wrong to lay the blame for the corruption or incompetence in the clerk’s office on Mike Sanders’ plate. The clerk is actually the clerk of the legislature; the incompetence or corruption is not Sanders’ fault. Thank you for the correction!
I heard (unofficial and totally un-attributable) talk during the latest campaign of a corruption investigation into the old legislature – Sanders name kept coming up. It wasn’t widespread enough to be simply malicious rumor; if unfounded it was undoubtedly wishful thinking.
But the fact that it was even being bandied about tell me Sanders reign will not be a long one.
you should be more careful. you don’t support any of these “facts” with actual substantive proof, and then when you do, you choose the one website in town that is fast and loose with its facts (and I use the term “fast and loose” generously; a lot of it is utter bullshit). Using information gleaned from Tony Botello as “proof” of anything is shaky at best, and “corruption” is a loaded word.
rethink this. as you are better than it.
Volunteer Editor -
Which facts do you want supported? Is there any doubt about the successes I mentioned? I don’t think so, and if you want links to newspapers, I think you can dig them up, really.
I received the email I mention about the CCP, where Sanders portrayed Rizzo as a supporter of ethics. I could probably dig it up if you need a copy.
Perhaps you’re referring to the info on the LeVota/Kerr flap. I’m sure there are lots of opposing views of what happened, but the irrefutable truth is that Kerr’s name was removed from the ballot. The only two possible explanations I can see for that are corruption (it was done intentionally) or incompetence (it was done accidentally – which would be a huge, unbelievably sloppy mistake, it seems). Is there a third option here? If so, please enlighten me . . .
Does your favorite Councilperson still support him?
are you going to approve my comment?
Favorite editor needs to get their head checked. Mike Sanders has been a bust since taking office. While unemployment has skyrocketed in the County and County employees haven’t received a pay raise in a long time he is spending over a million dollars on his pointless staffers.
The guy just causes messes and finds a way to jump out and pass the buck. Great post Dan. You couldn’t be more spot-on.
Anonymous 7:36 -
All comments have been approved.
Get a clue. The clerk’s office is run by the legislature. The executive has no control pusuant to the charter.
Thank you for the clue, 8:46.
The 8:48 AM county employee commenter that says the clerk’s office is run by the legislature is trying to pass the buck. Of course officially, “the charter” says it is the legislature that the clerk reports to, but the County Executive has such a tight grip over the legislature, the clerk’s office takes orders directly from the County Exective on a daily basis. Your first insight that Sanders has “some” control of that office is dead on. Don’t let someone that doesn’t like your truth in reporting try to spin you on a ‘technicality.’
Dan, color me impressed.
Both with your ability to criticize Sanders (since no other Jackson County Democrat has the balls to do it), and with the ability to admit your mistake.
Is there a Dem in Jackson County that will challenge him though? Not just in an election, but hold him accountable for his actions, or lack of action.
12:41 Mike Sanders is definitely beatable. Especially if you are someone as popular as say Theresa Garza-Ruiz. Which is exactly why he is searching for a governor appointed position, like Sec. of State, instead of an elected position.
Missouri Secretary of State is appointed? Damn, when did they amend the Constitution?
Dan that position is appointed if the current seatholder is running for office and wins.