TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! CANCEL CHRISTMAS!!! CRITICS STILL CONTEND JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE CONFRONTS ETHICS QUESTIONS AFTER LUXURY COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA HOLIDAY PARTY!!!
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 . . .
Not even a month after his election, he is running into trouble.
ReplyDeleteFrank White acting like a celebrity is going to be exploited by his enemies. The fact is, nobody cares about all star athletes living beyond their means but politicians doing that kind of thing tends to be frowned upon by both parties.
I get the feeling that Frank never really wanted to be County Executive and now that he has the job, he's obviously in over his head.
DeleteNice hat!
DeleteI'm a fan of Frank and realize that he's got great name ID and there's nobody close who can challenge him.
But I like the hat and his campaign logo. Sorry but that's how most people vote.
it's not any trouble for him if he ignores the morons who don't understand the law and how they don't apply.
DeleteHe should take a vow of poverty.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone go to this party? Can we all just call and RSVP and then show up?
ReplyDeleteLiving the good life on the public's dime.
ReplyDeleteHe's a fast learner, but there's nothing different here from any of the rest of the Jackson County politicos, or those in KCMO, for that matter.
Another man of the people.
No, he didn't mean you!
when is the next party?
ReplyDeleteLavish parties paid for by county contractors, and its all kept secret! What a gig! How do I get on that gravy tr4ain!
ReplyDeleteTeam Frank's counter argument is that the ethics rules don't apply to the boss?!! Just the "little people?!! But if ANYONE ELSE in the courthouse did what he did they'd be prosecuted?! But for FRANK its all AOK, cuz there's a loophole? Are they for real with this? What a team of con men.
ReplyDeleteLOl. Just another grifter.
ReplyDeleteFrank knew what he was getting into and is laughing all the way to the bank at you who think other wise.
ReplyDeleteFrank has been a huge disappointment. Thought he was honest and not just out for a quick shady buck. I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteEthincs/ Ethice? iI don't need no stinkin' ethecs
ReplyDeleteDirty sleazy stuff.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm. Good luck with that spin, that $30,000 plus in gifts to a politician don't have to be reported in any way. Nothing to see here people! Just full-on kick backs and aa little pay to play! Business as usual for team Frank.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGood grief Tony, ya just won't let it go, you're just like Clay and the damn train.....let it go, no one cares!!
Sleazy politicians and huge wads of unreported cash. Yep. Nothing to see here. TKC just needs to move on. Yep. Everyone should just turn the other way while team Frank get greased under the table. Yep. Nothing but good government here folks. Yep. We should all be happy that Christmas came early for Frank to the tune of big sacks of free cash. Yep. Caleb is doing a great job......for Dan Tarwater that is.
ReplyDeleteunbelievable what politicians think they can get away with these days
ReplyDeletethis is emblematic of the soft corruption of the whole system, from architectural review boards to city officials to congressmen to a secretary of state to presidents.
ReplyDeletea non-crony who hasn't played the game is sol.
Had Frank's autograph from last year for my son. I'm throwing it away. Sad to say he's just another tool.
ReplyDeleteIf you understand the Reconstruction Era and the first time Negroes had political power and you will see why most Negro politicians are corrupt and dishonest.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it would be a good time to review again just exactly what the Jackson County legislature and executive actually do.
ReplyDeleteThen, if you have only a very little time to spend, to take a look at what they do WELL.
Then, if time is really short, what they do for the county's residents.
What an embarrassment and a complete waste of hundreds of millions of tax dollars!
That boy seems to think that he's not anyone's servant, just so he can have a White Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGreed is one of the 7 deadly sins. Just sayin.
ReplyDeleteTony I bet you are really missing Skippy these days......lol
ReplyDeleteWhere the fuck is the STAR on any of this shit? Do they even exist any more?
ReplyDeleteI smell the need for an FBI probe.
ReplyDeletethe local newspaper doesn't do good-government reporting anymore.
ReplyDeletethat's why a blog that does is nice to have.
Frank, you did the wrong thing here. You need to file a disclosure and clean up your image.
ReplyDeleteNice hat by the way.
Totally disgusting conduct.
ReplyDeleteLets talk ethics next time people in this county want to spend millions on the sports complex so a few can enjoy it. I could make a list, but it seems to me that if a few of the complainers had been invited to the party we wold not be reading all this baloney. I'm not sayings it is right, but as a single tax payer who ends up supporting everyone’s bastard kids in this county and being jacked on property taxes Frank's pow wow is way down on the list of issues.
ReplyDeleteFrank is a fraud. The man got this job because of his name. Before doing this he worked for a local roofing company as the Face-Name Model because it was an easy job. The owner of the roofing company uses Franks image to better himself which in his case would be impossible. Frank hires his son to run a department when all he was was an insurance salesman who was pretty freakin lazy himself from what I hear. I may have moved away from KC but all of my bird friends still chirp. He is NOT the person you think he is.
ReplyDeleteI've got a question for Frank and Jackson County. How can the County have a director of public works with zero government experience, with no PE license, and who lives in Johnson County Kansas?
ReplyDelete153, because residency rules are fucking stupid.
Delete