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'Funk Out' Quest Takes Off

Petition request on counter at city clerk's office.
photo: Dan Verbeck, KCUR
Petition request on counter at city clerk's office.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-829945.mp3

Kansas City, Mo. – A citizen petition drive seeking an election to recall Mayor Mark Funkhouser became legitimized on April 6, 2009 as the Kansas City Missouri City Clerk determined that language in the petition meets city requirements.

The drive makes three claims: that the mayor has violated the volunteer ordinance and nepotism law in the way his wife acts as advisor; the use or misuse of city resources; and it questions Mark Funkhouser's ability to work with other elected officials.

Anne McGregor is one of the five petitioners. McGregor describes herself as a thirty-year local resident who thinks the city is regressing with the current mayor's leadership style. She wants Funkhouser out and has organized a door-to-door effort to raise 20,000 signatures. Her group needs 3,000 fewer to mandate a special election. In McGregor's words, "Last poll that I read, I think 47 percent of the voters said that they favored a recall. I'm guessing half the people will sign."

The mayor has dismissed the effort as inconsequential.

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