Wichita City Council members finally went public with their frustrations with Mayor Carlos Mayans. They charge that the mayor is abusive and divisive, and that he is more interested in grandstanding than forming real solutions. Our editorial Tuesday argued that Mayans is his own worst enemy, and it urged him to “patch up relations with his colleagues, curb his worst instincts and focus on building a positive consensus for Wichita.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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27 Comments
Hum. Where to go with this one.
Not sure, so here we go.
I heavily supported Mr. Mayans in his election bid and have supported him for his entire term, even still. But i will tell you, his recent actions are either showing that the council is about to break (means Carlos is doing something right) or he is.
I have believed for quite a while that anyone left over (or still has contacts with) from the Bob Knight era of politics is corrupt. I also believe that some of the Newbies have become the same way because of the “good ole boy” network in this city (Paul and his family’s construction company have a lot to loose).
one of the first things Carlos said he was going to do was try to kick out corruption. well, if you look back in time (side note: this is what i remember so bare with me) you notice that Carlos was somewhat like Clinton, out in public, having a lot of news conferences, basically very open to everyone… Not sure how long but after a few months, maybe a year, he seemed to withdraw back into City Hall and was a lot less vocal, somewhat like Bush.
It seemed that at about that same time, some of the semi questionable deals started occurring and some of the distrust between the council started happening. It seems to me that about that time is when the water walk funding was finally passed (with a discount but not as much as Carlos wanted). It also seems that about that time other “pet projects” started coming around as well. i vaguely remember some property out east involving Andel (sp), some of the other funding problems, etc… It seemed with every one of those deals, Carlos was no where to be seen. It almost seemed anything he didn’t support or like he didn’t “attend”.
Now to me that tells me something… Either that he is a absolutely horrible leader and didn’t want to be mayor or that he generally didn’t like what was being done but kept his mouth shut to keep things moving. my honest guess is the latter. He kept up his charade for as long as he could until it came to something he really believed in than he finally had enough and let it out, direct to the public. Now the council is mad and demanding his apology?
I dont know.i dont trust the lot of them. I think Carlos might be better off going back to the State as a Rep.
As I posted before, the people of this city voted for change the last three elections. Only Carlos and Jim Skelton have even TRIED to keep their word to the people of this city.The GOBN is a formidable foe…but we can’t rest until the Gang of Four are gone from City Hall.We need to remind the two holdovers running next year that government exists for the convenience of the people…the people do not exist for the convenience of government.
City elections have poor voter turnout.
Mayans is a pitiful leader. He does not try to lead the citizens by announcing and pursuing a vision for the City, and he is petty and abrasive with his City Council colleagues and City staff. The most telling fact that demonstrates his lack of ability as a leader and uniter is that he claims to be a conservative Republican. Conservatives usually can be expected to stick together, but not here. Two other conservative Republicans – Paul Gray and Sue Schlapp – are among the members of the Council who have banded together to try to lead this City. I seriously doubt we would see this schism between conservatives unless the difficulties with Mayans were real, profound and long-simmering.
Mayans seems to be a loose cannon, running off at the mouth with whatever interests him at the moment. He doesn’t seem to be able to stop and think before jumping in with both feet.
Not a desirable attribute for a supposed leader.
I have objected to his positions ever since he jumped on the southwind bandwagon and wants to push his religious views regarding adult choice on the city. He brags about escaping a repressive government, yet tries to limit freedom here.
The ridiculous comments he makes are inappropriate and highly questionable. Like chasing out an adult business from Old Town was justified (in his mind) by wanting to maintain the “family atmosphere” of a bar district.
Leader? Or just out of control talker who bends whichever way the wind moves that particular day?
Mayans can’t go away fast enough.
People wanted change. We have not been able to get change because of the good ole boy system still being in place. We still have Bob Knights lackeys on the council as well as several of his lackeys still working for the city manager. Kathy Holdeman needs to go as well as a couple of others.
Kathy is now hiring her friend Robin Clements to lobby for the city. Does everyone remember Denny Clements? He worked for the Eagle and was famous for attacking Republicans on a regular basis. Now they want his wife to work with the legislature? Why should they? Not to mention that they have not lived in Kansas let a lone Wichita for several years. This is the good ole girl system at its best.
Bob Martz, Carl Brewer and Sharon Fearey are all Bob Knight lackeys. So their complaining is not a surprise. Remember Sharon says she has to do what staff tells her. What a joke. Bob Martz should probably spend less time on the golf course and more time on the issues. Carl Brewer has yet to figure out what he is supposed to do. Sue Schlapp is playing tennis, Jim Skelton is so new he is still figuring things out and Paul Gray is busy seeing that his construction company gets great deals and he says he wants to be mayor.
Gee with all of that you would wonder how they find time to even worry about the Mayor. I have disagreed with the mayor many times but I am impressed with the fact that he has tried to make the city business more visible to the people. The other council people have not worried about that. In fact several of them have supported illegal meetings.
If the other members don’t like what is going on then quit whining about it and get in and just take charge!!!!! How hard is that? If you have the votes then just show the mayor and the city that you can do something besides cry like babies.
The whining members should take the lead and show the people you are worth more than just whining. You are adults so act like them. Running to the press because you are upset with the mayor is childish and immature. Actions speak louder than words. The mayor needs to learn to work with others if in deed there is a problem with that now.
Raptor,
Oh yea… I had forgotten about the whole adult store thing… Yes, another illfated proposal.
Oh well… maybe Mayans isnt such a great guy…
Good observations RiverBoat – I think Mayans made a BIG mistake going along with the GOBN on too many things early on. Because of that he has lost many of us who supported him in the first place.
RIGHT ON sotheysaid!
Thats exactally what i have been trying to say…
RiverBoat said:”(side note: this is what i remember so bare with me)”
Sorry, RB, but getting naked is not my idea of the best way to clean up government. You might try the Libertarian party. I hear they enjoy nudist camps. ;)
So what do we have to do get the Gang of Four off the 13th floor?
Who is the gane of four?
Who is the gang of four?
Rebenstorf, Holderman, Pajor and Bell.
Bring it on, ghost, this has GOT to be good!!!
Bring it on, ghost, this has GOT to be good!!!
Censorship? What happened to the other posts that were here yesterday?
Most Wichita people assume that Mayor Mayans is the leader of our city. Actually the leader of Wichita under our form of city government is the hired city manager. This form of city government stems from Wichita’s former commission-city manager form of government. Historically, Wichita was one of the earlier cities to adopt the “pure” city manager form of government probably back in the 1920’s.
I suspect its time for Wichita to consider adopting a “stronger Mayor – city manager” form of government. Currently, our mayor has very little power over the other councilmen and can’t hire a single employee. I understand he is paid a little more than regular city councilmen and, of course, chairs council meetings, but those are about the only differences.
As I understand it, Topeka has changed their form of government but I’m not up to date on their changes. Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte county government has combined services in some manner to be more efficient. KCKs, by coincidence, has been beneficiary of lots of commercial growth on its west side around the relatively new race track.
Johnson County government has reorganized its form of county government but hasn’t combined with any of the many municipal governments up there.
Several years ago, perhaps 15 years ago, Jackson County, Missouri, home of Kansas City, Independence, Raytown and Lee’s Summit changed its form of county government to make it more effective.
About five years ago, a local fellow who had been a reporter and later a spokesman for the City of Wichita (I don’t recall his name) moved to Kansas City, Kansas to participate in their reorganized city-county government. An interesting first step might be to invite him to come to Wichita to comment on his observations in comparison to what could be done here in Sedgwick County. Or perhaps the EAGLE could send a reporter up to KCKs to interview him.
What is wrong with our form of government? A commission form of government was considered the antequated one. You need a professional to run the day-to-day operations of the government.
You think that Sedgwick and Wichita will combine? I serously doubt the outlaying parisitic suburbs wouldn’t go for that. Especially Pit Stop Park City.
I know who you are talking about. Forgot his name, but I remember him when I work for the city. Man! Was that guy a heavy smoker. I’ll be surprised if he is still alive. He must have put away 3 packs a day. I guess he was a heavy drinker too, from what I hear form others. KCK/WC can have him.
JWink! Question?
You KCK/WC is a beneficary of economic growth, especially near the race track.
Ok! The Race Track was funded by tax dollars. It is barely used, maybe 10 times a year, with the exception of an entertainment driving school that people pay for.
So you account the spending of vast millions of dollars for a whie elephant like the Kansas Speedway that hardly any events are done and nothing more than go-cart driving during the rest of the year. Closed completely for the Winter, yet this accounts for growth?
You! The man against the downtown arena is saying this White Elephant in KC is a success? The Downtown Arena will be used much more than the Kansas Speedway. Plus all the development around the track is done through Star Bonds (more taxpayers money) to provide incentatives for development. They didn’t develop on their own. Was it worth the $250 million dollars on the race track, including the star bonds for hotels and restaurants, with your 8x multiplier effect, we are talking about $5 billion dollars in economic depletion of the community that could have gone elsewhere, like schools.
While residents leave KCK/WC in droved to move to Johnson County. Makes you wonder.
Consolidation of county and city governments is the one solution no one wants to talk about. A strong mayor form of government might need discussed, but let’s be truthful, that conversation cannot be had with the current personalities in the mix.
Joe – I find it rather amusing that you call the racetrack a white elephant while complaining when we call the arena the same thing.
I’ll bet the annual attendence at the track will exceed what your arena gets.
The gang of (Rebenstorf, Holderman, Pajor and Bell) four is right on target. Now Holderman will have even more power with the hiring of Denny Clements wife Robin for the city lobbyist. She will report to Holderman. Sounds like a good ole girl system to me.
For those that remember Denny worked for the Eagle and was always going after Republicans. Now the city expects the Republicans to want to work with his wife? Give me a break! Not to mention the fact that Robin and Denny have been living out of the state for several years.
The city wonders why the legislature does not pay much attention to them. They send people that do not know the issues and they send people that are so one sided on their views that they cannot work with both Republicans and Democrats.
Wake up Wichita! Send the gang of four packing, hire a city manager that is willing to be innovative and get a city council that is willing to do the work instead of just operating off of staff instructions. Also have a city council that is interested in the wellbeing of the entire city and not just special interest things for their district.
Pit Stop Park City?Once again Williams, your ignorance is amazing. Who do you think you are, Jason Watkins?The Four Cities area is on the move…and the time will come when just as Overland Park, Lenexa and Olathe have overtaken Kansas City, they will overtake Wichita and its backward, parochial, elitist city staff.
I seriously doubt it Mrcontroversy. Park City has not grown very much besides the accesses off of 1-135, which unfortunantly they annexed. Nobody cares about Park City and it isn’t the city that is bringing anything, it is the Interstate Access.
You look at Derby, Andover, and Goddard, and they outpace Park City big time. Goddard was the fastest growing city in Kansas, Park City barely made a blip on the radar.
Andover has a Dillions, and will be building a new one, along with Home Depot will be building one there. You got BCCU and a huge medical park along with massive housing developments in Andover.
Park City doesn’t have a Dillion, nor will ever probably get one. Forget any Big Box Retailer.
Bel Aire has been going to great development too and expanding commerical base and a new Industrial Park with a big box retailer. Park City? Has nothing!
Go a half a mile off the Interstate and you see nothing but abandon buildings and no development. It’s all tagged along the Interstate.
Why is it that most businesses that are locating there, like Hays Co., Don Hattan, and etc. give WICHITA addresses and not Park City? Most businesses would tell you they rather have Park City annexed to Wichita and be done with it.
The home of Dennis Raider and Park City has always had the reputation of being the trashiest burb in our area. Good Luck.
Maybe you need to stay off the Asian sex tours you been doing.
Ben! I bet you $10 that the Downtown Arena will hold more attendance in a year than the Kansas Speedway.