Democracy: Good, Bad and Better

I want to start off by saying how much I believe in the electoral process and how fortunate we as Americans are to possess the privilege to vote and to govern ourselves.

Too often the right to vote is taken for granted. Too often we forget the terrific price our ancestors paid and our armed forces continue to pay to earn us that right.

We owe them elections that are free of smear, slander, deceit and trickery. We owe them a media more keen on promoting the truth than on pushing an agenda.

We owe them something very much like this year’s mayoral election in Kansas City, Missouri.

First, each of the candidates should be commended for his or her genuine interest in the future of Kansas City and respect for the democratic process and their civility to their opponents.

Barring the unforeseen, this race may go down as one of the cleanest and best spirited in this city’s history. The story of this election should be shared with future generations.

I don’t often sugar coat my columns, but I am so impressed with the city’s mayoral race that I wanted to go on record with my appreciation for each of the candidates. What also impresses me is their willingness to participate in any number of debates, if for nothing more than 1/12 of the available face time.

If there is a blemish to the 2007 mayoral race it is that of the fraud allegations facing Katheryn Shields. Shields deserves a good deal of respect for devoting many years of service to Jackson County and Kansas City. I hope voters will remember that no person is guilty until proven so.

I find myself more than a little suspicious of the timing of these allegations, but I will hold my fire until I know more.

Speaking of Jackson County, my father, John Sweeney, was the last elected Jackson County Assessor in 1968 and served for two terms.

In his final days, while battling cancer, I enjoyed a memorable conversation with my dad. He knew of my interest in serving the community, but he encouraged me to use caution in considering the pursuit of an elected position.

He was an ethical man, perhaps much more than the political fabric in Jackson County could, or perhaps in his case, could not manage.

His recommendation was to serve in a support role and remain profoundly independent and accountable to no one.

I hope he can see that I have followed his advice. We do our best to operate Ingram’s independently for the betterment of the people of the greater Kansas City area and far away from political pressure.

Given my father’s sage advice, I am all the more impressed that so many serious people have stepped forward to serve. I’m not certain what caused such a turn of events this year, but I think it appropriate to commend each of them.

For the elected mayor, and those chosen to the city council, I would give one word of advice: govern the city and do not leave multi-million dollar decisions to the caprices of an electorate that has not even been educated on the issue at hand.

Gondolas, anyone?

Our Best!

Joe Sweeney

Editor-In-Chief & Publisher

JSweeney@IngramsOnLine.com