The District One Candidates Speak
The following letters are from District 1 Commission Candidates Bill Quitmeier and Kathy Dusenbery.
Dear Luminary:
This letter is in response to your editorial and article in last week’s paper. I am running for First District Platte County Commissioner and want to ensure that the voters have the facts before they vote.
During Kathy’s term as Mayor, the City of Parkville used what they called in the minutes “creative financing” to buy the new city hall, borrowing $4,000,000 for the city of 4,000 people. That is $1000 for each man, woman, and child in Parkville. The City had been in the previous building for only 10 years. Obviously Kathy and the City did not trust that the voters would approve this financial commitment. I hope creative financing works out better for the city of Parkville than it has for homeowners across our country.
I respect Jim Brooks personally and as Alderman. We did speak at Parkville days in late August. He told me that the city based their financial decision to finance the new, large City Hall, on expectations of a continuing building boom that has now subsided. I do not consider this fiscally conservative, or having the best interest of the taxpayers in mind.
I think the voters deserve to see the serious differences in our two candidacies. A debate would help bring out positions based on the issues. Otherwise, an election depends on which is your favorite letter R or D, signs, and money. I prefer to decide my candidates on the issues that matter to me and my community.
Kathy has discussed no issues in this campaign. One of the principal reasons I am seeking this office is because of my concerns about the direction of economic development in our county. I believe our neighborhoods need a much greater voice in economic development decisions. The decision makers need to be those who have at heart the long term best interest of our community. Together we can preserve our beautiful hills and valleys, build more parks, and preserve our Platte County feel.
– Bill Quitmeier
Weatherby Lake
Dear Luminary:
It has been a pleasure to meet and visit with you about the concerns of Platte County. As you enter the polls this coming Tuesday I want you to remember that as Commissioner I will give my full attention to the needs of Platte County and work full-time for you. The salary deserves candidates who will fully dedicate themselves to the job. My training as a journalist helps me know how to listen to people to understand their positions and concerns and to ask the right questions to get the information needed to make sound decisions. My experience as an elected official in Parkville has exposed me to the public sector the demands that are put on limited resources and the need to work within a limited budget. Serving as an elected official also teaches you a lot of patience and how to build partnerships with people in order to address issues and problem solve.
Platte County has grown to a point where we can now be more particular about what we want and where we want it. We do not need cookie cutter developments that wipe out every tree and hill to ease development. We need to focus on preserving the natural beauty of this county through Conservation Districts or other planning tools that allow developers to concentrate development on a site and reserve the beauty of the site.
I have served as a member of the Mid-American Regional Council Total Transportation Policy Committee for four years as a representative of Platte County working on regional transit issues. It was through working as a member that money was secured for the further widening of 45 hwy.
My opponent has based his campaign on a series of half-truths, outright lies and falsehoods. In a recent campaign piece he made numerous, negative and unfounded allegations against me. These assertions have been investigated and rejected by the local media. Reject these lies and false assertions and vote for positive leadership on November 4th. I would appreciate your vote.
– Kathy Dusenbery
Parkville
BONUS: Jim Brooks reply to Quitmeier’s allegations…
During the past week, Democratic candidate for 1st District Platte County Commissioner and former Parkville Mayor Bill Quitmeier has claimed that I made certain statements to him about circumstances and conditions within Parkville’s city government. The statements that he attributes to me are generally used in a way that are critical of the performance of former Parkville Mayor Kathy Dusenbery who is also his opponent in this Commissioner race. It is true that I had a lengthy conversation with Quitmeier at the Parkville Days event in English Landing Park back in August. During that conversation, we discussed a variety of topics including some related to Parkville government.
In last week’s Luminary, Quitmeier is quoted as saying that I told him the City of Parkville was “scrambling to pay bills”. Then, during this past Monday night Luminary Hour radio show I understand that he claims I told him several things about the new City Hall building that would cast that project in the light of being a poor financial decision by the City.
I made none of these statements to Bill Quitmeier. First of all, I don’t know enough of the details of the City’s cash balances compared to obligations payable at any particular point in time to be able to make a statement like “scrambling to pay bills”. I do know that the surpluses generated by responsible fiscal practices during the past few years has given the City a comfortable cash position, so “scrambling to pay bills” is not a very likely scenario. Perhaps he meant that I told him how fast the accounting staff works to get bills paid on time. While I know that staff does work diligently, I wouldn’t have characterized it as “scrambling”.
Regarding City Hall. I am a supporter of the decision to build the new City Hall. It is not “too big” or “too fancy” as some contend. The building is appropriately sized for the expected growth of the City and its staff over the next decade and beyond, and it provides a comfortable and professional atmosphere for the conduct of City business. It is in no way beyond the financial means of the City.
I did tell him that the City had not made the “held-back-for-warranty” final construction payment yet because of several defects that needed to be corrected by the building contractor. This is a common situation and has little to do with the overall quality of the building, and nothing to do with the City being able to “afford” the building.
Why would he say that I told him these things that I didn’t? Three probable reasons. First, I think Bill Quitmeier assumed I would support him in this race. When he discovered that I was supporting Kathy Dusenbery, I’m sure he was disappointed. Next, he knows that I have a substantial amount of respect in the community, and that if people think I said something, then it’s probably true. Finally, and most important, he can get away with it. Nobody else was in on that conversation, so it’s just his word against mine. He can say whatever is politically expedient for him and use me as the source. Basic slimeball politics 101!
All things considered, I understand why he has chosen to drop my name in this gossip-like fashion. It appears to lend credibility to the predominant bash-the-opponent side of his campaign, and it seems to offer up a hefty portion of personal revenge toward me. Trickery such as this is typical in political campaigns. Voters need to look carefully at what is being said and how it is being said. The manner in which the message is sent frequently says a lot about the person behind it.
Bill, being “for neighborhoods” is just slick, impersonal marketing. How you treat your neighbors is what really counts.
– Jim Brooks
Parkville
Editor’s note: Mr. Brooks is a Ward 1 Alderman.