Janice Ellis signs up Luther

   Luther Washington, a key player in both of Emanuel Cleaver's campaigns for mayor as well as his successful congressional campaign, has signed the dotted line with Janice Ellis.

   Washington will run Ellis' 2007 mayoral bid, and Ellis is thrilled.

   "I'm very fortunate," she said.

   The news comes just a couple of days after word broke that Kansas City political guru Pat Gray had signed up with another mayoral contender, Al Brooks.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Comments

The key to the 2007 mayoral election will be which candidate gets Pat O'Neill (who played the key role in Mike Sander's recent win)! Go Pat!!

Pat Gray gets MUCH more respect than he deserves. His record against anything other than token opposition (Glazer, Tolbert, Sanders, Rizzo etc.) is not good. Gray is over-priced, and inneffective. He alone may cost Brooks the mayor's race.

[Green Trees]

I don't think that consultants matter so much, but the singing washington would seem to be a promising step for the Ellis camp. Everywhere you hear that she is the person to watch and I think she raised a bunch of money so far.

[concernedkccitizen]

It is interesting to see this move by Luther Washington to join Janice Ellis. Should be an interesting spring in Kansas City. In her last run for Mayor Ms. Ellis couldn't pay her bills. Her printing bill was paid for by Swope Community Builders at the end of the campaign. Hope she does better with her finances this time around. This is more interesting because the two top minority candidates will be fighting it out for support within their own communities and trying to appeal to voters in other areas. Ms. Ellis's husband will be throwing his money around and it looks like Luther caught some of it. Yes, this should be an interesting spring in Kansas City for sure.

[Matt]

This is great news for Ellis! Luther would not have signed if she could not win and his judgement seems pretty good in these matters, ie. Cleaver. Not to mention she has already raised tons of money.

[Dan]

Don't know much about Ellis, but it seems to me that having Luther on board (with his connections and experience) should put her in the top tier of candidates. African-Americans make up something like 30% of the city's population, so you definitely have to win other votes to get elected. I got a mass mailing from Ellis; it had much more information on her platform than I have seen from anyone else. Looked like she was trying to broaden her appeal...

[Caroline]

Definitely a good move hiring Luther...way to go Janice Ellis for having a great team!

[Rachel]

Janice Ellis understands the importance and value in surrounding herself with stellar people. The decision to combine efforts with Luther makes good sense and will no doubt impact her campaign positively. She's the best candidate for the position and will serve Kansas City well!

[Barbara Capozzi]

I was happy to hear the news that mayoral candidate Janice Ellis signed on with political consultant, Luther Washington. I think Ellis is a great candidate for the job! I'm hoping with Washington in her camp she can win the election! She seems to be the person Kansas City needs; the right person at the right time!

[Piya R]

This is definitely exciting! Janice Ellis is definitely the person that Kansas City needs and I'm looking forward to this pairing helping with the election.

[BeProudAmerica]

Dan

You said that you got a mailing from Ellis, how does she stand on issues?

[Erin]

I think hiring Luther Washington will most definitely help Ellis' campaign. Good Move!

[concernedkccitizen]

Wow, all of Janice Ellis's supporters have commented on this blog. Nobody mentioned her basically being dishonest when she ran for the fourth district seat vacated by Jim Rowland. Telling everyone she had no other agenda and wouldn't use it as a vehicle for another office in the spring. The many different storeis she told during that experience should be good. Luther's wife must have been tired of him not working. Interesting he had to come back from Philadelphia to find work and couldn't find something closer. Going to cost Janice alot of money for him to commute back and forth. Luther will have his work cut out for him stoppping her from always talking about "ME, ME, ME, ME, ME".

[Political Expert]

I like Mrs. Ellis over Brooks. Brooks has spent 8 years on the council and what has he done? His ideas are old and so is he. Kansas City does not need a 70 something year old leading the city whose only claim to fame is crime, prayer vigils and extra-marital affairs. MOVE UP is on the verge of financial ruins and he continued to draw a $90,000 a year salary while he was president. He drew consultants fees for years. In addition he voted on funding measures on the council and turned around and benefited from them through MOVE UP. He does not have a platform and feels that people should elect him because of all he has done for the city. I like Ellis and I think people will see that his base in the Black community in spite of name recognition will not be that good. He has been running for 4 years and his bank account should reflect it. It doesn't. Luther is the master strategy and I am sure that he saw some flaws in Brooks' armour or he would not have taken the position and I think Cleaver sees some also or he would not have allowed him to do it, nor would Blackwell and Sanders

[My Friend]

concernedkccitizen,

The 4th district replacement free for all was a great litmus test of character. The public sentiment was that anyone wishing to run in '07 should not apply because it would create an unfair advantage. Did anyone listen? Not to my knowledge. They're all out there. Ellis, Marcason, etc. It shows the lengths these people will go to for power. Blackwood hasn't declared his intention to run so that made him the right choice as far as I'm concerned.

[concernedformercitizen]

I think concernedkccitizen should concentrate on their own campaign and current job...when you spread rumors it will come back to you.

[PoliticsGuy]

Just judging from the number of people who have publicly signed on to Ellis campaign, I'd guess she has many more friends than have logged on here. Certainly more friends than some of the other people in the race, who've been around on the city council for four or eight years. Don't really see how the 4th district thing plays in - she didn't get the job, so her plans changed. But absolutely right to My Friend - good for Blackwood that he's sticking to his word now that he is there.

[kcdowntowneyes]

With so many in the field for Mayor at this time it should be interesting. You have one, Mr. Klein, who vows to spend as much of his own money that it takes to win, two minority candidates who will be dividing their community and trying to garner votes in other areas, one ex-bar owner and tax cheat, and four members of the other members of the current City Council. If all stay in the race then the top two people out of all who can turn out a certain base will make the run-off. I doubt that Pat Gray and Luther Washington will be the last of the "big" name consultants to enter this fray. Voters will have alot of choices to decide upon.

[ezjay]

Has this lady won anything? I think she has been beaten in every race she has been in. Why is this time different?

[Ginine]

I think that Janice's partnership with Luther Washington again proves her commitment and dedication to improving the quality of life in Kansas City. Way to go!