Sports authority candidates need not apply?
With fanfare, Jackson County legislators announced Monday they were taking applications for the five-member Sport Authority Complex Commission. Besides overseeing the zillion, er, almost a billion dollar Truman Sports Complex overhaul, commissioners get cushy sweeeet, I mean, suite tickets to Chiefs games.
The legislators made clear it was an open process and anyone of any political stripe could apply to be on the three-person panel submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt, who will have the final say (with Senate approval). County honchos said interviews would occur in two weeks.
Of course, legislators would want to go above and beyond about being transparent since a previous appointment of a sports authority member led to a federal investigation of Jackson County, Executive Katheryn Shields and former executive Bill Waris. (Shields was cleared but Waris pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI).
But at Tuesday's sports authority meeting, folks were buzzing that the panel members had already been selected: Albert Riederer, Bob Lewellen and Tony Romano. All three are Democrats.
Riederer is a former judge and prosecutor. He was challenging incumbent Henry Rizzo until Rizzo accused Shields of getting Rierderer into the race against him and threatened to go ballistic on the eve of the April stadium vote. Riederer then bowed out. Lewellen served with Shields on the city council. Romano's term just ended (he serves until someone replaces him) and Legislator Dan Tarwater wants him re-appointed.
Rizzo confirms that Riederer, Lewellen and Romano are keenly interested in the gig and are strong contenders. But he insists no deal has been struck and other viable candidates are also emerging, including Kansas City Southern's Warren Erdman, a staunch Republican.
Some county folks (hint: Shields) think only a Democrat should get the seat and want to send up only Democrats to Blunt.
But the two Republicans on the Legislature -- along with some other county officials -- question whether Blunt will pick from a list of three Democrats or keep rejecting the panel until he gets an independent or Republican to choose. That's because state law allows the five-member sports authority to have up to three members from the sitting governor's party and Blunt has made clear he wants a Republican majority. And right now the authority has just two Republicans: Mike Smith and Richard Hastings. Blunt twice rejected panels in 2005 because they didn't include a Republican. Why wouldn't he do so again in 2006?
Time will tell who the county submits and who Blunt picks and how many times the submission/rejection dance occurs. But if history is any guide, it will be almost as entertaining as a Chiefs-Denver game (at Arrowhead, not Denver, of course).
Posted by DeAnn Smith
Are they really that stupid? As you point out, this is exactly what led to a 2 year federal investigation before. Some people never learn. I guess it's true. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Posted by: JoJo | July 19, 2006 at 10:04 AM
I really can't wait for Shields' campaign for Mayor to start having debates and meetings so the public can start questioning to her face about this kind of crap. I'm making a list. It's going to be really fun (at her expense).
Posted by: Jeff | July 19, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Jackson County government is a joke.
Scandals, Federal Investigations,
boxing matches...
The legislators gave themselves a raise to $25,000 annually and cushy
pension benefits , FOR A PART-TIME JOB !!!
Meanwhile, the parks and the Longview and 140th & Holmes ballfields are deteriorating and look awful because of lazy management and the Legislature does not spend the money for upkeep !!!
The unfortunate matter is that these baffoons will be re-elected !!
Posted by: milwolf | July 19, 2006 at 12:31 PM
Have things really gotten so bad that our leaders don't even care about the appearance of impropriety anymore? Did they ever?
Posted by: Mark Forsythe | July 19, 2006 at 01:08 PM
Now we REALLY know why Albert Riederer dropped out of the "race" for County Legislature don't we????
Posted by: Joe Blow | July 19, 2006 at 01:55 PM
The statute says no more than three members of the Sports Authority can be from one party, it says nothing about three members from the Governors party. Since Jackson County is a majority Democratic county the majority of the members should be Democrats not Republicans, whoever the Governor is. And does anyone believe Warren Erdman is any less political than the other indiviuals mentioned. Wasn't he on Blunt's government review commission that recommended turning over parts of state government to the Governor's buddies. Why don't we turn the enire state government into one giant fee office.
Posted by: J Tuscan | July 19, 2006 at 01:57 PM
Damn! I guess I won't send in my resume!
Posted by: Ian | July 19, 2006 at 04:04 PM
I hate to tell you this, Ian, but you probably wouldn't qualify for the Sports Authority anyway. You spelled the word "resume" correctly in your post.
Posted by: | July 19, 2006 at 04:21 PM
Damn! Foiled again!
Posted by: Ian | July 19, 2006 at 06:04 PM
Hey Ian, no problem, get with Glorioso and have him fix it.
Posted by: arewethereyet | July 24, 2006 at 08:14 PM
Hi bros,
very, very good. Nothing to be concerned about. - http://www.allsteroidsworld.com
What do you think?
See you
Posted by: djhorserider | August 05, 2007 at 02:47 PM