Well, never let it be said that the Star is one to shy away from making a grand statement. Today’s paper brings us a sprawling analysis of Mayor Funkhouser’s tenure in office by the estimable Steve Kraske. His conclusion? Funkhouser has had kind of a rocky term. Um.
Although some say the city remains eager for the mayor to succeed, others wonder whether too much damage already has been done to patch up his frayed relations with a skeptical City Council and rebuild coalitions around the city.
Two years and four months remain in his term.
Funkhouser has heard the talk. He acknowledges that the start of his administration has been anything but smooth. But he divides the array of issues before him into two groups — the trivial and the substantive.
He concedes that he struggles with the trivial. But the substantive issues, especially the city budget and the flight of citizens out of the urban core, are right in his wheelhouse, Funkhouser said.
Soon to be seen in the Star:
“Crime problems are cause for concern.”
“Power & Light generates profit, controversy.”
“Kansas, Missouri not crazy about each other.”
