Before the primary election fades away, a few observations:
Yard signs for Mayor Carlos Mayans were among those posted in violation of the city’s right-of-way rules — meaning city workers were in the position of having to confiscate the mayor’s signs. He and his supporters should know better.
In television ads, mayoral hopeful Darrell Leffew repeated his harsh criticism of the downtown arena. Granted, there is a lot of confusion on this point — some of it willful — but the arena isn’t a project of the city of Wichita. It’s a project of Sedgwick County.
David Grebenik, candidate for Wichita City Council, District 2, demonstrated that a campaign yard sign still has the power to surprise. His drew double takes by seeking votes for the "incredibly handsome David Grebenik." The candidate told The Eagle editorial board he was looking to get his name out; he also thought about doing another sign describing himself as "extremely nice."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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67 Comments
“Yard signs for Mayor Carlos Mayans were among those posted in violation of the city’s right-of-way rules ”
Yea, so were everyone else’s… I actually didn’t see as many Mayans signs violating as many different Council races… I don’t think I saw many Brewer signs violating either.
“but the arena isn’t a project of the city of Wichita. It’s a project of Sedgwick County.”
So? The Wichita Mayor can protest any Wichita involvement and can NOT spend money to improve roads or what ever else… The Mayor can go to the county and ask for it to be repealed. He doesn’t have any “rights” to stop the arena but he can definitely be the voice of opposition and/or reasonability in at least the city government.
If you’re sick of the good ol’ boy network that seems to run this town — and it seems that many of you are — just look at the list of Carl Brewer’s campaign contributors and the attendee list at his election-night party.
Many Wichitans hoped a great leader like the Lone Ranger and his great horse, Silver, or even Little Orphan Annie, wise beyond her years, and her faithful dog companion, Sandy, would somehow be elected Wichita Mayor.
But it didn’t happen so we must choose between Carl Brewer and Carlos Mayans, both friendly fellows with a lot of accumulated knowledge of Wichita.
Now the strategy games begin. Its more, much more than the two candidates. Their friends, supporters, positions on issues, capabilities must be also be considered. What was said in the Godfather movie, “Its nothing personal, just business.”
So, let the selection process begin.
anon – absolutely correct. With mayor it is too late – two good old boys. But, we still have a couple of City Council seats that have GOBN vs outsider.
“But, we still have a couple of City Council seats that have GOBN vs outsider.”
Which ones are you referring to?
… and nobody here mentioned that Cindy Duckett and Karl Peterjohn were running for office?
Damn, we coulda had a BUNCHA fun with that. I guess we still can. I see CKD is an old broad just like me. Anyone guess what HER agenda will be? Connie Morris anyone? hehehehe
And dont forget, she was the number one fan of Bob Corkins. Remember him? hehehehehe The joke of the nation? And CKD would likely hire him back….
And Karl “I hate taxes” Peterjohn? Woof. If he is elected, prepare to fight the whole school funding issue over again.
Come to think of it, both of these candidates seem to be running to avenge some perceived past wrongs.
So… do you all down there want to go back to “the future” with these folks? Or would you like to move forward, put the past bruises behind you, and do what is right for the students of your district?
Anyone wanna bet the little ayatollah is behind CKD’s campaign? It sure will be fun to take a look at her list of contributors.
Peterjohn is just sad. Not hardly worth the trouble to gig him. But look for the Wichita schools to have vouchers and budget problems really quickly if he is elected.
And if he AND CKD are elected? Heheheheh. Vouchers so you can pay for the religious education of THEIR kids, science teachings out the window, and budget problems out the wazoo.
District transfer anyone?
District 2 – Bishop challenging Schlapp.
District 5 – Longwell against Tobia.
It’s too bad Peterjohn didn’t run for City Council instead. Even though the Arena is not technically a city project he could have hammered that. Of course, it didn’t work for Leffew but perhaps the campaign money difference in a Council race might have been less than it was for mayor.
That, Ksfarmgrrl, sounds suspiciously like a paid shill for Winston Brooks and/or the teachers union.
I voted for Peterjohn! Would love vouchers.
Everybody screams about the GOBN. What is wrong with the GOBN? Is it because you’re not in it?
When you elect politicans, you’re just going to trade one GOBN for another. There is no such thing as outsider.
Two choices: Vote for Brewer, and get the Bob Knight puppet marching to Knight’s drum. Vote for Mayans, and get more of the same you’ve endured for the last four years. Talk about damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
” Is it because you’re not in it?”
YES! If i were in it, i would be getting the perks of being in it and have the cash lined pockets to look the other way…
Give examples!
Ksfarmgrrl,
Word. I just realized that I’m in USD259-4: the district Cindy Duckett is running for. This is going to be FUN.
rm6046,
Double word. No getting around it. Not a lot of options on that mayoral menu.
anonymous,
And you sound suspiciously like an underpaid shill for the Kansas Taxpayer’s Union and the Flint Hills Center.
Am I getting warm, anonymous?
Joe Williams,
Without being naive, Wichita has the strongest GOBN of anywhere I’ve lived: Seattle, Los Angeles, Memphis. Hegemony isn’t good for civic mobility.
If they awarded me that nice, fat wireless networking system, I wouldn’t complain one bit.
That may be true CF, but it also maybe that we are more open and exposed than those GOBN of the other cities you lived in, believe me, it exist. At least here we know who they are.
But I don’t see anybody racking in millions or setting themselves up to be millionaires from the City or the GOBN. Mayans and Brewer aren’t profiting from anything. Contractors? That’s like it everywhere. They always give to campaigns, but at least it isn’t drugs and prostitutes like it is in the east coast cities.
There might be some old heads still around, like Knight (who by the way is a great guy) and we need fresh blood, but as much as a GOBN is a concern we should have, but it isn’t an exploitative one. Anybody can go up and talk to the city council people and mayor and they will respond back to you.
Anybody can go in front of the city council and project ideas and concerns. Wal-Mart failed on Oliver & Kellogg.
What are the real concerns about the GOBN and what evil exploitative things have they plundered from the city?
I’m not defending them, just want to know everything that is going on. If somebody has information, I would love to know.
Plucky Cindy the scold got
get this…
0 votes!
0!
Sheesh I guess she didn’t or couldn’t even vote for herself!
I got to vote for three people yesterday and none of them got their names on the ballot for the general election. Dennis got close in District 5. I’m most disappointed in the candidates for mayor.
I’m sad that only a small percentage of registered voters bothered, sadder that the number of people who actually register is a small percentage of the adult population.
I know it’s not a new problem. I have always voted and took the responsibility of making my vote as informed as possible. Other than that I’ve paid little attention UNTIL NOW. Maybe it’s because I’m retired and have more time. I don’t even like the attitude of people who run for office. Seems we have too many who want to live off the public teat. Is this also an age old problem I’m just now aware of?
Mayans and Brewer don’t deserve any votes and yet one of them will be elected to a new term as mayor. One of them has already let us down in that job and the other is pretending he can do something different with his ONE vote as mayor than was possible with his ONE vate as a member of the City Council.
Guess if we’re not interested enough to go vote we’ll get exactly what we deserve!
Joe Williams,
Well, the obvious one is the use of the public pursue for large-scale development projects that benefit construction companies and large landholders. When these things go on to lose money, the city is left holding the bag.
You know about these things as well I do, Joe Williams. Probably a lot more, in fact. It’s symptomatic of insular, hegemonic GOBN’s that such things proliferate here so readily.
One could say that the problem of Wichita is that it has only one GOBN when it could really use two or three competing power blocs. And because it doesn’t, there’s no check on the Bob Knight machine, or whatever you want to call it.
I don’t bother to vote in local primaries. WHat’s the use? Kansas and Wichita will never change.
Give me an example of a large scale development project that benefits construction companies and large land owners?
This isn’t like spending $50 million to fix up the Kingdome, only to demolish it and build two new stadiums for which the voters voted down but they built it anyways.
But I’m willing to know details of plundering GOBN.
“Give me an example of a large scale development project that benefits construction companies and large land owners?”
DING DING DING DING! THE joe bell again….
Uh, unless they are doing the work or giving land for free, they ALL benefit from large scale developments.
BDP
I don’t know of a town, city or hole in the wall that doesn’t have a GOBN.
Alliances in and among any group are likely to occur and will be labeled accordingly by the opposition.
It is a fact of life.
hee hee hee anonymous calling ME a shill? hehehehehehehehehehheheheheh
I’m not the one who posts the same cut and paste bullshit every morning. I think you are waaaaaaay more of a shill than anyone here. Except for CKD, Paulie, GS, et al.
Then I ask? What is a city to do? Sure! The city will have projects, they will have to pay construction companies and purchase land.
But is it plunder? Do you see brand new Benz’s in front of city inspectors homes bought by construction companies to pay them to look the other way or to force huge cost overruns like they did in Unionized Big Dig in Boston?
Benefiting in the form of windfall. Where is the Harry Reid land scams around here?
The only three major projects going on at the moment is Kellogg Expansion, Arena, and WaterWalk. But I don’t see anybody windfalling from that. Actually it’s been delayed over and over again on all projects, because people feel they should be paid more than what the government is paying them, so they sue.
GOBN? Where did all that Gander Mountain money go? Eight million dollars for “entice” a thrid rate sporting goods company to come to Wichita?
Do you wanna bet that a few bucks changed hands over that one?
Wichita city government is just as corrupt as any “East Coast” city.
Jeez, I have to have a talk with my keyboard……
Thrid – third.
For – to.
Damn.
Well, the city primary results are what I expected. The interesting thing for me will be whether, in the April 3 general election, Karl Peterjohn receives a higher percentage of the vote for the at large school board position than he did in the primary.
Otherwise, I must admit to boredom about the whole exercise.
The discussion on the GOBN makes me laugh. Don’t you realize what makes a GOBN? Survival. Survival of political change. Doesn’t matter who you elect, those that are involved in the political process will remain so. Just because we elect new council members does that mean the Builder’s Association goes away? WIBA? the Chamber? Jay Albaugh? Our friend Ed?
The fact is that we are all the GOBN. Your friends. Even Ben T. Huie. All those who are actively engaged in shaping community policy. I can name dozens. Are they all jockeying for the same thing? Yes and no.
Not quite Ralph. I do not get lucrative contracts from the City. I get no paycheck there. HAVE donated my time to the City but have cut back on that. I think the GOBN as the term is used constitutes those who get inside track for contracts.
Yeah. Could limit the definition to those that might get contracts with the city, but that is more of a pipe dream than anything. Most public procurement laws limit anyone’s ability to obtain contracts. Also, because of the PM contract for the new airport terminal, the city has started putting specific provisions within the contract documents that expressly prohibits lobbying for contracts.
I prefer my more liberal definition which would include you.
And I would make a separate catagory for those good citizens who donate to the city instead of mercenaries who only sell to it.
But, I do appreciate that you now acknowledge that I HAVE contributed to the City. In fact, many years ago, Bob Knight told my son that Wichita was lucky that I had moved here.
Ben, I don’t believe that I’ve ever said you didn’t contribute to the process. Guess it’s all in how you define “contribute.” ;o)
And, when you fnd me in opposition to a project such as waterwalk or Arena I hope you place that in perspective. I am not a Wichita-hater as has been claimed. Instead, I just believe that these projects are not good for the City. That is very different.
According to Knight I helped open the way for Old Town. And I did that without compensation. Is that a contribution?
Ralph, not so fast.You know as well as I do there IS a GOBN.When you call the City Manager’s office, I have absolutely no doubt you are greeted with a pleasant voice.I am not. You can hear the derision and contempt in her voice every time I call up there, just as soon as I identify myself. Unless I can truthfully state I was directed to call the office by the mayor or a council member, I will get nowhere with my phone call.I’ll bet lunch that has never happened to you.I’m willing to bet you can talk to Gary Rebenstorf any time you want to. I just get to read what he writes about me in memos to the council. He tries to tell them what I am thinking, but since he’s never met me (and has made it clear he never wants to), he’s almost always off in his mind-reading.Oppose a special interest like Mr. My-brother-hand-picked-Michael-Brown-to-be-Director-of-FEMA, and you are not a citizen, you are not a taxpayer, you are a contemptable threat to all that is sacred on the 13th floor.The folks on the 13th floor will almost always side with whoever has the most money, not with what is the greater good.That is why we need change in City Hall…and we can’t wait any longer for Mr. Kolb to “get organized”.Again, I ask: what the hell do we have to do…storm the 13th floor and start throwing people out the window before Brewer, Fearey, Gray and Schlapp get a clue???
Mr. C. I’d like you to start calling out names as to who you think is the GOBN here in Wichita so I can compare your list to mine. Would be kind of fun I think to expose them. Gotta ask, Ben’s definition of GOBN or mine?
For the record, I’m not wealthy nor do I personally benefit from city contracts. That said, no I don’t get turned away so I can’t take your bet or I’d lose lunch.
Hey RJ – betcha didn’t know this out-of-towner was a GOBN! I wonder, how many years does it take to become an ‘old boy’?
Anyway, going back to the Rhonda’s original points, I didn’t see many campaign signs that were illegal. Signage is very effective in building name recognition.
I saw the usual – lots of signs in public right-of-ways between sidewalk and street. Thing is – everyone does it. When I ran for office long ago I drove around Tuesday night pulling up my signs. I wish they all would.
Obviously, Rebenstorf and Holderman are the biggest names. They’re the ones who have almost single handedly shut off city government to anyone that isn’t a special interest group.If Carl Brewer wants my vote (which is still possible), he needs to deliver a date certain by which neither of these two will be on the city payroll.
Ok. You’re thinking GOBN on the inside and I’m thinking GOBN on the outside.
Inside: Definitely Rebenstorf and Holdeman. Add also Carpenter and some other lesser known names such as Allen Bell, Brian McCloud, Joe Lang, John Philbrick. Those guys will all stall you if you’re on their S list.
Outside: Andeel, Dugan, Wells Brothers.
I would add Cornejo, SullivanHigdonSink, probably some others. Burk, Vliet.
Not so much Cornejo, but definitely Burk. SHS hasn’t really benefitted as much as Greteman.
Often (e.g. Dugan, Cornejo) it includes family ties. That makes it difficult for an outsider to break into the inner circle. This sort of thing is endemic in smaller towns where an out-of-towner is naturally a bit suspect.
Kelly Carpenter and I have always gotten along. She strikes me as being a hell of a lot more honest than the others you named.Bell has changed his tone of voice to me in recent years, so at this point, I don’t really have any complaints about him, either.Joe Lang has always talked to me. Until I saw the city’s latest cable franchise agreement, I thought he was a pretty stand-up guy. I have to admit, he’s one hell of a negotiator.McCloud and Philbrick I’ve never had any dealings with.I’d also add Pajor to our list, but not in a positive manor.Never met Andeel.Not sure which Dugan you’re talking about, but if it’s the former Lt. Governor, he’s an old friend of over 30 years, dating back to before I came here. Never thought of him as a power broker.Wells brothers, no clue.I get along well with George Fahnestock. I’ve always found him to be a standup guy.A lot of people like to blast me on this blog for being “anti-business”, but they forget…I’m a businessman myself. The only business I’m “anti” is Cox Communications, because they’re arbitrarily and capriciously preventing the creation of nearly 600 jobs in this city…and for no good business reason.
Flooding in West Wichita is largely due to the City allowing filling in the floodplain without provision of sufficient detention/retention capacity. Chris Carrier recently acknowledged that mush of what is called flood control is totally ineffectual due to lack of freeboard. This happens because the developers are not properly regulated. So, a 50-year rain (Haloween) becomes a 500-year flood.
City officials were warned, for example, that the assisted living facility near Central and Maize was flood-prone. They scoffed. When the residents were evacuated by boat I think they stopped scoffing when I laughed at them.
This is a symptom. The developers get what they want; it doesn’t matter the consequences. This professional was frequently told “it will only add an inch”. Well, add “onlyan inch” a few dozen times and what happens? Halloween.
Andeel is Lindy Andeel. He’s has close ties with John Philbrick the property manager. Dugan is John Dugan, Paul’s brother. John has had a number of real estate dealings with the city. John and his family contributed $6000 to the Mayans campaign. Allen plays favorites and only does something if the council member tells him to; hence, you have to be connected to get his attention. Wells brothers are the Dave and Ken as in Key Construction. McCloud works on a lot of business related contracts. I thought about Pajor, but he’s just a lackey. Used to be for Steve Lackey, but I’m not sure whose butt he’s kissing these days. Never considered George to be in the GOBN. Connected and active in the community, but never really saw that he had direct benefit from city work.
Ben, I think it has been more of an example of piece meal approaches as opposed to long range, 100,000 foot planning. With the new county wide flood-plain task force, I’m hopeful that we’ll start looking at basin wide issues instead of a piecemeal approach.
Ralph – this professional has been pushing them to do that since long before haloween. To no avail I might add.
They don’t even finish picking up the signs from the last election before potential candidates start stabbing away at each other for the next one! That’s the one advantage of a dictatorship.
Well, it’s happening. There are some pushing for a county wide stormwater or drainage district or utility. Problem is funding and, as always, control.
Ralph – there have been some of us doing that for over a decade. We’ll see. I’m not holding my breath.
A number of developers have pretty much said “over my dead body”
Well, you’d better get yourself updated to see what’s going on.
Ralph – I try to keep up with what is made public. Last thing I saw was their effort to change the FEMA maps while still doing nothing about the underlying problem.
http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/28BAFC6F-DDAD-4A79-9068-40D54F2A88B5/0/FloodPlainManagementTaskForceFinalReport.pdf
Talk to Carrier about it.
Old news Ralph – long since seen it. And I have spoken to Chris Carrier – innumerable times over the year. He is the man who said I was crazy when I warned that the assisted living facility nean Central/Maize would be flood-prone (and it did flood, requiring evacuation by boat). He has sunsequently acknowledged that many of the “flood control” structures on the plat maps are useless.
The problem is that they still insist in following a channelizing/engineering approach rather than turning to geomorphology. The group is far too dominated by engineers and developers with only one geologist.
Didn’t the city reject their recommendation and decided to get a second opinion?
The point I was trying to make is that they are looking at the bigger picture about flood plain management on a basin approach as opposed to the individual development incremental approach.
I’m not sure that I buy into the geomorphology approach as you note for a variety of reasons one of which is defining what is the “flood-plain.” As you know, it can almost be defined as just about anything given a pre-determined storm event.
How much of flooding problems are caused by low grade plane or inadequate storm drain systems?
By ‘low grade plane’ I assume you mean the fact that we are very flat. Yes, that is an issue. Inadequate storm drains really had little to do with Haloween or other flood events. They will cause localized problems with simple street flooding etc.
Ralph – the whole idea of a geomorphological approach is to look at it basin-wide. For example, right now KDOT is pushing a highway project in Goddard that will increase runoff in the upper Dry Creek basin. This finds its way into west Wichita and can overcross into N Fork Calfskin. There is an alternative proposal that would actually decrease Dry Creek pressure by diverting that flow into the S Fork Calfskin. Since that area is not yet fully developed detention/retention can be provided south of Kellogg. That alternate proposal is NOT being considered by KDOT.
“As you know, it can almost be defined as just about anything given a pre-determined storm event.” Actually Ralph, we have pretty specific criteria for that.
One big reason I advocate an integrated holistic approach is that it gives us more opportunities to recharge our aquifers all over the region. Once I shoo the water away by channelizing it it is wasted, gone. Detain and recharge gives me aquifer storage. Have to be careful in some areas with high groundwater levels (basement flooding) but with a god geologist involved that can be dealy with.
Yes Joe, the developers rejected the recommendations. Just like they did when a professional warned about the flood-prone areas prior ro Haloween.
Actually Ben, that is incorrect. Neither the city or the “developers” have rejected the “findings” of the Floodplain Management Task Force. Quite the opposite. Both parties were party to the Task Force and remain engaged. The Task Force is still active.
Bump for Joe and Ben
Ralph – I have been following the flooding issue for a couple of decades now. I have seen zero progress. Lots of talk, no action.
I would have thought that they would have been sufficiently embarassed after the Haloween floods to do something but apparently it is still business as usual.
Funny you talk about the illegally posted signs. Paul Tobia’s were of those confiscated as well! If you can’t follow these simple rules, you can’t lead a city to prosperity!