Graf Ann Corruption?

Kansas City Confidential post leads to official’s resignation.

The official story might be different from that, but in just about the amount of time it would take for our earlier post to filter into the traditional media, Chuck Eddy’s appointee to the Public Improvements Advisory Committee, Mike Graf, was quietly replaced with Ann O’Hare.

Though apparently just as much an Eddy lackey as Graf, Ms. O’Hare’s oh so polite demeanor contrasts with that of the gruff Mr. Graf. At a public meeting where a 6th district resident was voicing concerns about an infrastructure project, Graf walked out of the room bellowing “I don't have to listen to you!” Actually, listening is kind of his job description. Or was. What goes around, comes around, Mike.

Meanwhile, Alvin Brooks’ appointee to the PIAC, Lou Austin, is a prominent figure on the east side of the 6th. But look him up in the phone book and he doesn’t appear to live in-district either!

It’s a “concern” alright

Getting around the campaign finance laws isn’t so hard. The contributors just give to a political action committee and then the PAC gives to a candidate. The Jackson County Taxpayers Association is hot on the trail of some mysterious contributions to State Representative Cathy Jolly. From their press release:

“Jackson County Taxpayers Association files Ethics Commission Complaint against PAC making contributions to Cathy Jolly and Jay Nixon.

Bob Gough of the Jackson County Taxpayers Association filed an Ethics Commission complaint against the PAC Public Safety Concern for its Financial Disclosure report dated 5/4/06.

This PAC contributed funds to Cathy Jolly and Jay Nixon but failed to disclose the source of the funds.

Voters are entitled to know the source of funds given to candidates seeking public office. The report fails to reveal the source of funds given to Cathy Jolly and Nixon for Governor. The report only discloses that the funds came from an ambiguous PAC (Public Safety Concern) operating out of a PO Box. The voters deserve better and the law requires better disclosure.”

Who does Mike Graf think he’s fooling?

District Representatives on the Public Improvements
Advisory Committee (PIAC) are required to live in the
district they represent, yet 6th district
representative Mike Graf lives in the 4th district. On
official documents, he gives his old 6th district
address, but his new 4th district phone number,
showing a clear intent to deceive.

Moreover, he sits on the Steering Committee of the
Hickman Mills Area Plan. Hickman Mills is on the
opposite side of south K.C. from Graf’s Ward Parkway area
home. What’s someone from Ward Parkway doing deciding the fate of people in Hickman Mills?

It’s not the first time this has happened: 3rd
District Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver
appointed an out-of-district resident to represent the
3rd on the PIAC. When confronted with that fact,
McFadden-Weaver claimed ignorance and the unlawful
representative resigned.

6th District Councilman Chuck Eddy, the man Graf has to thank for his job, may have to follow the McFadden-Weaver script.

Chuck Eddy's campaign literature says he "was elected to office to represent Kansas City's 6th District." Why is it then, he has shown a complete disregard for those who elected him? Why does he steam roll through projects that his constituents oppose? His stand on Red Bridge Road is very reminiscent of his stand on Richards-Gebaur. In fact, there are a growing number of people who believe the two are connected. If that's the case, then certainly Chuck would feel the need to appease the moneyed interests and completely disregard his public.