Fmr. Kansas City '1st Lady' Gloria Squirtiro Pens Memoir Nobody Wanted

Apropos for #TBT and with thanks to TKC Tipsters . . . We notice an "author from Kansas City's past resurfacing and pushing a questionable version of local history.

An excerpt from her book promo . . . Here's how Gloria Squitiro imagines her story . . .

"When Funk, the quiet, ethical auditor of Kansas City, announces he wants to run for Mayor against an entrenched political regime, his wife, Gloria, puts aside her own ambitions—temporarily (ha!)—to run his campaign. Here is a true story of democracy at work: a rented, broken-down trailer for HQ; a campaign cobbled together by scrounging, loans, and thousands in family savings; a staff of one plus volunteers; fear, anxiety, financial instability, and the recognition that with Funk’s resignation as city auditor, the family has no income unless he wins. Gloria is the glorious heroine of this page-turner memoir that reads like a novel, busts open politics today, and makes you want more Gloria. "

The cover is actually pretty cool . . . Like a new wave romance noel and the city in flames is a nice if not overly dramatic touch. The reality is the KCMO is much better off without yet another political power couple . . . They cashed out of their Brookside home last we heard . . . A good move for those who pay attention to crime stats . . . 

But here's the much needed TKC fact check on this tawdry bit of fiction . . . 

Gloria Squitiro single-handedly destroyed Mark Funkhouser's political career and I guess she doesn't want to give up on embarrassing the poor guy.  Her public post about her latest opus reveals that the dude will be playing mail-boy for her self-publishing efforts. 

A few key points . . .

- Tax fighters propped up former City Auditor Mark Funkhouser because he was silly and easy to manipulate. The majority of his "work" at City Hall was highlighted by conveniently leaked info & dox to the Kansas City Star back when people still read their columns. 

- Within a week of taking office the Mayor had expended his political capital with needless public drama and fighting over minor issues. 

- In the end, employee lawsuits and agonizing debate resulted in Mark Funkhouser earning the tragic distinction as the first KCMO Mayor to lose a reelection in more than 70 years. 

Worst of all . . . Beyond the bare feet at the office issue that I don't have time or will to get into right now . . .

Mark Funkhouser & Gloria Squitiro wasted everyone's time. There were serious people ready to help them with a desperately needed agenda that focused on fiscal conservatism and building greater efficiency in local government . . . That effort & a great deal of money was wasted on this pair. As politicos they were so incompetent, arrogant and loony that they were easily bested by urban activists and then became so desperate for friends that they ended up pushing light rail by the end of his term. 

Gloria Squitiro's first chapter in this saga merited only a bit of mention . . . This one doesn't seem to be garnering much traction outside of a few dozen worthless likes. 

We wish her luck attempting to clean up her image but the Kansas City Funkhouser/Squitiro legacy has already been written and is now quickly, deservedly forgotten.