There were many days in the mayor’s office that were dark-dark.
I’ve had trauma in my lifetime, but that came mostly during my childhood. So it is that I am better equipped to deal with anything current. That said, I cope much better when I feel love and support from the people surrounding me.
When Funk was running for office, I felt the citizens’ presence so much. They were right there with us, rooting for Funk to win, rooting for the city to win, saying kind words about me helping my husband get elected.
The Establishment never expected Funk to win, so they did a bang-up job of making sure he wasn’t re-elected.
And that’s when the dark days began.
I no longer felt the citizens’ presence, and that made the difficult work Funk was doing harder to bear. It just didn’t make sense that so many believed what the Establishment was selling. Not when the media and citizens had revered Funk the previous 18 years, yet their opinion was swayed by made-up scandals in just a matter of months.
This is why the 1% stay in charge.
It’s okay what happened in the mayor’s office. Not many people get the opportunity Funk and I were given—To do a whole lot of good for a whole lot of people. The experience made me stronger than I ever thought possible and I wouldn’t change that for anything.
My ONLY regret is that Funk didn’t get a chance to finish what he started.
He saved the city from financial ruin, but I was really looking forward to him starting on the fun stuff! Making Kansas City more livable for the people the city had long-since forgotten about.
I feel the positive regard of citizens returning. It’s comforting and healing, and I am deeply grateful for it. Here’s to you if you’re thinking of risking it all to run for office! I’m here to say that you can do it! And that our country needs you.
The photo: (My daughter and one of my sons—Nick, the owner of the storefront, the sign maker, and others.) So much hope setting up for re-election. Looking back, it reminds me of a Grateful Dead song (Hey! Don’t roll your eyes—I can feel you!) High Times: “We could have us a high time, living the good life, well I know.”