TKC SUNDAY QUESTION: ARE NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENTS RELEVANT??? SHOW-ME KANSAS CITY CANDIDATES ON THE RISE DESPITE DEAD TREE MEDIA REBUKE!!!

Amid an ongoing decline of newspaper influence, during this election cycle The Kansas City Star reveals not only that they're out of touch with the politics of this town's neighborhoods but also that they're simply promoting a small clique within the local Democratic Party structure that has more in common with just resigned and disgraced leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz than anyone would care to realize.

And so . . .

OUR TKC BLOG COMMUNITY OFFERS AN IMPORTANT LOOK AT THREE CANDIDATES WHOSE EFFORTS EXEMPLIFY THE WANING INFLUENCE OF THE NEWSPAPER ON KANSAS CITY ELECTIONS!!!

Again, a reminder that OUR TKC BLOG COMMUNITY DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES we simply share info, opinions and some of the most captivating, newsworthy perspectives in the Greater KCMO Metro Area . . . In fact, a media endorsement is simply an outdated relic of machine politics which gave birth to the short-lived dominance of the daily paper as part of the American political lexicon. That time has past and right now we simply offer a look at candidates who might not need need the newspaper.

Here's the word . . .

Rising Star Manny Abarca Has Been Working Tirelessly Throughout District 19


It's really a shame that the Star has taken the side of a school board quitter over an upstart candidate who has spent the past few months out in the heat talking to just about every voter who will listen about his efforts to earn more resources for District 19. One look at Manny's campaign should reveal a broad coalition across Northeast and anyone can see that he's really the future of urban core politics in Missouri and one of the best and brightest newcomers to Kansas City's Democracy.

MO House Rep. John Rizzo Increases His Lead Despite Newspaper Bias


The newspaper is once again showing their age and maybe a bit of ethnic bias toward one of the emerging leaders of Missouri politics - Rep. John Rizzo. The newspaper is seemingly bowing to Conservative media prejudices and the long forgotten vitriol of a close election that was decided years ago . . . The hack newsies at the Star helped propagate vicious attacks using old school stereotypes against Rep. Rizzo that weren't at all accurate and didn't hold true after he earned one resounding reelection victory after the next . . . But let's forget politics and simply look at data and facts . . . REP. RIZZO IS LEADING HIS RACE BY MORE THAN 25 POINTS AND RISING!!!

Again, the newspaper is simply operating out of spite as they refuse to acknowledge the work of Rep. Rizzo when it comes to saving Missouri Democrats from outright extinction in some rural areas and among more Conservative/Centrist denizens of the Democratic Party.

Derron Black Has Been Talking To His Community Daily About Equal Representation And Productive Alliances


A few of you have sent us notes on this one and it's about time we mentioned it again . . . Most Kansas City residents remember Derron Black as the guy who interrupted a speech from Mayor Sly out of frustration with his policies. He's now in a District 23 contest with incumbent Rep. Randy Dunn.

Recently, Mr. Black has been one of the most prolific proponents of Bernie Sanders in Kansas City and made inroads into other local social justice efforts.

Moreover . . .

Check social media and voters will notice: Derron Black has been talking to EVERYBODY about his election efforts. With no campaign infrastructure and simply a shoe-leather election effort, Mr. Black is a part of of just about everybody's social media feed and from a street level perspective, the solid work of Derron Black could upset his opponent.

It'll be interesting to see if Mr. Dunn's alliance with Councilman Jermaine Reed and his (Mayor Sly influenced?) bow tie fashion forward somewhat elitist but undoubtedly proficient style of leadership will resonate amid harsher times on the East side. 

And so . . . What we've seen in this primary election cycle is a departure from newspaper coverage or even significance in neighborhood and even large local races as many politicos are moving back to talking directly with voters rather than enduring the stubborn bias of the declining daily newspaper.

You decide . . .