The Christmas season in Kansas City isn't so bright for Jackson County Executive Frank White after controversy persists regarding his luxury holiday party at the posh Country Club Plaza InterContinental Hotel.
Check the rundown . . .
Our blog community was FIRST to identify a questionable invitation and poor decision to celebrate the holidays in grand style overlooking all the plebs on the Plaza during the Christmas season.
And then . . .
EXCLUSIVELY . . . We talked about the implications and ethics of the party while insiders deflected criticism and claimed it was misplaced given the intricacy of the County's Charter.
To wit . . .
CRITICS OF COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL EXPLAIN ETHICAL QUESTIONS CONFRONTING THE NEWBIE POLITICO AND DERIDE THE POOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE JACKSON COUNTY EXEC'S PARTY!!!
Here's the word . . .
"The county code cited applies EQUALLY to any "public servant", which INCLUDES both elected officials and employees. (FYI- Frank also faces questions about Missouri Ethics Commission reporting requirements and rules so he can't hide there anyway (e.g.-"paid for by" indicia, 24 hour mandatory expenditure reporting of amounts over $5,000, etc.), but that's another matter independent of the County's code (which, by the way, applies REGARDLESS of the state law; For example, KCMO had adopted campaign finance rules that act in addition to the State rules (e.g.-contribution limits). Read for yourself, it is impossible to escape the fact that Frank faces SERIOUS ethics code questions with his largess. Section 902.33 clearly makes what Frank did questionable for any "public servant." A "public servant" is defined in section 902.35 below, which INCLUDES elected officials.
This is not even a close call TKC:
"902.35. "Public servant" means any member of the governing body or of any County agency, board, commission, committee, or other voting body, and any agent, department head, employee, official, supervisor, volunteer, or other person, whether elected or appointed, legally authorized by contract or in any other manner to act in any capacity under the authority of the County."
"Frank is in a jam if anyone files a complaint."
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Accordingly, we put this one to our blog community and offer all the info we have on this topic given that Dead Tree Media has given up reporting on local politics critically . . .
DID JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE RUIN CHRISTMAS AT THE COURTHOUSE WITH HIS LUXURY HOTEL PARTY?!?!
Reasonable people can debate about ethics rules BUT the fancy fine dining for the politically connected during this season of charity reveals to many locals that the County Executive has forgotten the spirit of Christmas as he enjoys his position as celebrity politico and not a public servant.
You decide . . .
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