‘Discouraging and frustrating:’ One meeting in, JoCo city council already gridlocked
It only took a few moments after new members were sworn in for the Shawnee City Council to reach an impasse.
It’s a sign, some say, that the city’s governing body has become increasingly politically partisan — though it is officially nonpartisan.
After three new members were sworn in Monday night, the City Council went on to the next routine step of appointing a council president and vice chair. Chosen by the City Council, the president, who is appointed each year, becomes acting mayor in case of the mayor’s absence or removal from office.
First, Councilwoman Lisa Larson-Bunnell, who won reelection in November, was nominated president. But with a 4-4 tie, that motion failed. Then, Councilman Eric Jenkins, who was elected to a second term in November, was nominated. Again, the motion failed with the same 4-4 division. The meeting carried on this way.
All of the motions to fill the positions failed, until Mayor Michelle Distler decided to table the votes for a later meeting.
“It’s kind of discouraging and frustrating,” Distler, who also won reelection last fall, told The Star on Tuesday. “I’m hopeful we’re going to be able to get past all of this and work together. I’ve been up all night and working all day to come up with next steps — to come up with a solution to allow this Council to be successful and make a decision on their own.”
Some have criticized Distler for not stepping in to break the tie votes and appoint a Council president. But she argued, “if I were to insert myself in the vote, I fear it would make the Council appear even more divisive.”
Officials interviewed all signaled a need to change the process for electing a president. In some other cities, the mayor appoints a president, who is then approved by the full council.
But policy change aside, some Shawnee City Council members said the gridlock shows a move toward partisan separation on the nonpartisan board — something brought up by concerned voters across Johnson County during the November election.
“The people of Shawnee elected two additional conservatives to the Council. For years now, it’s been a pretty progressive or left-leaning Council, with a lot of votes being 6-2,” said Jenkins, a Republican who previously ran for a Kansas statehouse seat. “So now, it’s 4-4. I do think it says something.”
Jenkins was one of two council members this past summer to vote against the city passing a nondiscrimination ordinance, aimed at protecting the LGBT community from being denied employment, services or housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And he feels the Council is becoming increasingly split on social issues.
“Dealing with issues like buying a new fire truck is easier for us to reach a consensus,” he said. “But whether we should go with the tobacco 21 law, a nondiscrimination ordinance or looking at sustainable communities for climate change, those are more along a partisan sense.”
Most officials interviewed said the Council’s division is deeper than political affiliation of philosophical differences.
Jenkins is also critical about the city’s use of tax incentives for private development. Many officials interviewed said differing views on tax subsidies played a role in the City Council’s deadlock Monday night.
The use of incentives has become a major talking point across Johnson County and the Kansas City metro. And the issue has been prevalent in Shawnee this past year as the city works to revitalize its downtown, attract private development and expand its tax base.
“I think we are moving in a great direction in Shawnee. I’m optimistic we can continue that. And I would like to see us continue our economic development incentives so we can keep that tax base broad and continue with our city services without passing too much on to our homeowners,” said Jill Chalfie, who won election last fall.
Jenkins, on the other hand, argued Shawnee has been “rubber-stamping” incentive deals too often, for projects that do not warrant them.
Larson-Bunnell offered a more moderate approach, but said incentive-fueled projects that bring new money to the city are generally a “responsible use of tax dollars.”
All of the elected officials interviewed said they are optimistic the Shawnee City Council will move past this standstill and collaborate in the future. The rest of Monday’s agenda was voted on without issue, they said. The council will next meet Jan. 27.
“We were all sworn in to work together as a group. And I think the Council needs to be able to come together to make this decision — as our first step to be able to work together,” Distler told Council members Monday.
But the early squabble has confirmed some voters’ suspicions that nonpartisan positions across Johnson County are becoming increasingly influenced by political affiliation.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
