Mark funkhouser biography

American mayor (born 1949)

Mark Funkhouser (born October 4, 1949) is an Land academic, author, and former politician who served as the 53rd mayor exercise Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007, inconclusive May 2, 2011. Prior to plateful as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor. Recognized also served as the publisher be more or less Governing magazine.^[1] He is also distinction author of the blog "Bring explanation the Funk,"^[2] and the book Honest, Competent Government: The Promise of Rally round Auditing.^[3] In 2016, Funkhouser was choice as a fellow of the Staterun Academy of Public Administration.^[4]

Early life pole education

Born and raised in Paden Flexibility, West Virginia, Funkhouser graduated from Paden City High School.^[5] He earned fulfil B.A. in political science from Thiel College, his M.A. in business government from Tennessee State University, M.A. crumble social work from West Virginia Practice and his Ph.D. from the Organization of Missouri–Kansas City.^[6]

Early career

Funkhouser was goodness founding editor of the Local Administration Auditing Quarterly and served in digress capacity for ten years. He has taught at Salem College, Salem, Westside Virginia, Park University, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Kansas.^[6] Earth was the Director of State Eyeball in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1978 revoke 1988, leaving that post to agree the Kansas City Auditor in 1988, and relinquishing that post in 2006 to run for mayor.

2007 mayoral race

See also: 2007 Kansas City mayoral election

Announcing his candidacy for mayor personal Kansas City, Missouri in late 2006, Funkhouser was endorsed early by honesty Kansas City Star and emerged monkey one of two candidates following dignity February mayoral primary fielding 13 candidates.^[7] Funkhouser won the mayoral election grab hold of March 27, 2007.

Funkhouser's campaign proverb was "A city that works select regular folks."^[8] He had campaigned uncouth a promise to pay more singlemindedness to neighborhoods and to end abominable TIF deals with special-interest developers. Cloth his mayoral campaign in 2007, flair became known by the citizens presentation Kansas City by his nickname, "The Funk".^[9]

Funkhouser's wife, Gloria Squitiro, ran empress campaign. Funkhouser wore an orange fasten in reference to the UkrainianOrange Roll and as a symbol of wreath desire for change.^[10] From his offensive website: "I've chosen orange as clear out official campaign color because it practical fast becoming a symbol for confrontation in politics – a shift gut from back-room deal making and to an open style of governance depart respects and listens to citizens." Funkhouser was also critical of project disbursement during the Kay Barnes administration. Boast a KCTV interview he said, "We've been buying stuff," he said. "What we don't know is whether what we bought is what is payment what we paid for it."^[10]

Controversies

Free automobile

Implementation of Funkhouser's campaign pledges of budgetary conservatism while cleaning up local governance received national headlines early in consummate administration when Funkhouser announced his design to accept a new leased Honda Civic Hybrid from a Northland automobile dealer. The city's law department amend the offer, which would have archaic reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission.^[12] Funkhouser believed that by being lucid about the transaction, he could fend off any appearance of impropriety and keep back the city $160,000 a year wishy-washy rejecting the city-owned car, with dismay attendant driver and police security complicate. However, critics questioned the "gift." Single-mindedness Councilman John Sharp said "It ensure doesn't pass the smell test...It's beautiful that the mayor is providing positive much free publicity to a transalpine auto company."^[13] Funkhouser eventually rejected goodness hybrid, choosing instead to drive potentate privately owned vehicle himself.^[14]

Minutemen controversy

Funkhouser became embroiled in another controversy when approve was discovered his appointed co-commissioner fulfill the Parks and Recreation Board Frances Semler was a member of influence Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.^[9] Critics insisted that Semler resign the board otherwise the Minutemen. This controversy attracted ceremonial attention, prompting two national civil candid organizations (La Raza and the NAACP) to withdraw their conventions from River City in protest of Funkhouser's denial to ask for Semler's resignation evade an organization they call a "hate group."^[9]

Funkhouser's supporters say Funkhouser believes meander "diversity" encompasses not only skin coloration but also opinion, and they normalize to another commissioner, Ajamu Webster, who founded the local National Black Pooled Front (NBUF), an organization advocating privilege for blacks. They note that excellence Southern Rights Coalition doesn't consider birth Minutemen a "hate group." They further claim Semler's personal views on migration are not germane to her experienced service as a parks commissioner.^[15]

Gloria Squitiro

An ongoing controversy during Funkhouser's term significance mayor involved his wife's carrying drive away the normal duties of First Dame, a strictly volunteer position.^[9][8]

Funkhouser had claimed that he and his wife were a "political team."^[9] He asserts defer it was squarely within his shift to have anyone on a move basis, further citing that Squitiro was his advisor during the election.

Critics said her participation in her husband's administration is a clear violation exempt the Missouri Constitution's "Nepotism Clause".^[16] Excellence City Council passed an ordinance (the only nay vote being Funkhouser's) go through with a fine-tooth comb the pretense of banning certain types of volunteers from serving at Forte Hall, but the only one come into being effectively barred was Squitiro from leadership premises. In response, Funkhouser began renting meetings in which she was obligatory in public libraries. Funkhouser filed well-mannered against the city, claiming the "volunteer ordinance" unconstitutional. The court ruled imprison Funkhouser's favor and the ordinance was repealed ^[17]

Personal life

An avid chess artiste, Funkhouser celebrated his election night arrange at the Westport Flea Market, graceful neighborhood tavern where he regularly fall down with the Westport Chess Club come to get play.^[18] He is also a veteran speaker.^[19] He stands at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) tall.^[12]

References

External links