The ghost of former political consultant Steve Glorioso still haunts City Hall as his influence threatens to dominate yet another mayoral administration.
Steve Glorioso was a KCMO political operative for generations before he died of a heart attack last year. He rose to prominence as the Chief of Staff for former mayor Kay Barnes but he earned contracts and consideration from politicos across the metro for nearly half a century.
Nevertheless, Steve is dead but still not retired.
His legacy . . .
A protégé of Mr. Glorioso, Jim Giles currently works as Director of Council & Community Relations, in the Office of Mayor Sly James.
In the small world of KC politics where Mr. Glorioso had rivalries going with just about everybody . . . He spoke only kindly of Mr. Giles and often mentioned sending information, respect and advice (unsolicited and otherwise) to the rising star political leader.
Nowadays, they even kind of look alike . . . But more to the point . . .
INSIDERS FEAR THAT IF COUNCIL LADY JOLIE JUSTUS WINS THE RACE FOR MAYOR, JIM GILES AND THE SO-CALLED CITY HALL "PINK MAFIA" TRAINED BY GLORIOSO WILL DOMINATE 12TH & OAK!!!
Fact check . . .
For the most part, this fear is unfounded. Mr. Giles has proudly worked as an LGBT advocate in KCMO since he was a much younger man. However, over the years at City Hall Jim Giles has amassed more influence and along with LGBT leaders in both the Communications Department and Legal . . . If Council Lady Jolie Justus wins, she would not only be the first openly LGBT Mayor in Kansas City history but also will likely champion a support staff of LGBT activist leaders in the Mayor's office . . . Otherwise known as, for better or worse and lovingly nicknamed, the Kansas City "Pink Mafia" among colleagues.
NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! Still, this progress for the LGBT community undoubtedly represents a "culture shift" for the denizens of City Hall and Kansas City biz people who often don't share the same worldview as the denizens of 12th & Oak.
One more time for the cheap seats . . . We want to emphasize
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THIS . . . Mr. Giles has a lot more friends than his mentor Steve Glorioso ever did and he's generally regarded as a much more genuine and caring political operative . . . Many might fear growing influence of LGBT leaders at City Hall but the fact is they're
ALREADY in high ranking positions and while they might benefit from a Jolie Justus Administration . . . They're gonna do well either way.
And so, the ghost of Steve Glorioso seems just a bit more friendly despite the more divisive American discourse overall as Kansas City's politicos buck national MAGA trends and might lean in a far more progressive direction.
Developing . . .
