Comments on: Doc Wheeler’s Can of Whoopass

By: Thomas D.

Thomas D. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:29:48 +0000

Very insightful.

By: four wheeler magazine

four wheeler magazine — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:56:11 +0000

four wheeler magazine…

Hi. Thanks for the good read….

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 03:56:45 +0000

After reading all the blogs I so agree with Senator Wheeler’s ability to help Jackson County and frankly speaking we should be thanking him for not retiring taking his knowledge with him. As a native Kansas Citian I’ve watched many politicians come and go but never have I seen a public servant who won’t “throw in” with special interests and continually thinks outside the box like Doctor Wheeler does. The opening paragraph sums it all perfectly….”a rare breed of public servant”. Senator Wheeler is progressive and his leadership in stem cell research issues shows he is a “forward thinking” individual. We should have such talent at the state or national level as this. With the passing of Dana Reeves yesterday it is only appropriate that stem cell research be brought to the forefront. Both Christopher and Dana Reeves campaigned vigorously for this cause. Congratulations to Doctor Wheeler for his efforts in this endeavor. I was fortunate enough to attend an address followed by a Q&A session with Senator Wheeler speaking to a gathering of about 300 guests and had the privledge of listening to him field a variety of questions from the public ranging from taxes,stadiums,rolling roofs, crack houses next door to stem cell research. His knowledge and diplomacy amazed me. He fielded questions with the ease that Tiger Woods displays on the first tee. When someone raised a religious question about Stem cell research he quoted St. Thomas Aquinas chapter and verse. Please understand that his role as Jackson County Executive doesn’t include stem cell research but would we really want a man whose passion or hobby was limited to golf or fishing or hunting? This speaks to how well read and intelligent Senator Wheeler is and his compassion for his constituents is obvious. Let’s face it if Doctor Wheeler shot his hunting buddy he has the skill and knowledge to patch him up on the spot! Senator Wheeler is our native son and this is “payback time” … this is our opportunity to reward a lifetime of public service with one simple “thank you” vote! I’m actually very disappointed that Mike Sanders would run against this great man. His day will come but he apparently doesn’t believe in “paying his dues”. The job of jackson County Prosecutor is the first taste of power that Mike Sanders has enjoyed. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Any man can withstand adversity but a man’s true character is demonstrated when you give him POWER”. Wheeler has had power, twice elected as Mayor of kansas City and now a state Senator. Senator Wheeler has stood the test of time…Sanders gets one spoonful of power and wants to shoot to the top without paying his dues! Hey, Mikey..cool your jets as your day will come after you compile a resume with something on it other than “Prosecutor, one term half served”.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 22:36:17 +0000

It simply amazes me that Mike Sanders, who after all is a prosecutor and has only been in that role for two short years feels qualified to to be the Jackson County Executive. This is incongruent. There is not a natural flow to this. If he was seeking a District Judge position at least that would make sense. It is simply common sense that a man who has twice been the mayor and has major accomplishments on his watch like KCI Airport, Kemper Arena, acquistion of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Truman Sports Complex would be a more qualified individual to handle the needs of the county during this time of expansion with the incoming Sprint Arena and hopefully the renovation of our stadiums.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 20:24:28 +0000

In response to Daniel’s message let me point out that it isn’t that I am so much “againt” Mike Sanders as I am “pro” the most quailfied person for the County Executive position. Senator Charles Wheeler is the most qualified candidate. I agree that large corporations like Walmart probably do use and abuse their employees and unions can be a good thing but that issue is not part of the agenda of the Jackson County Executive. As mentioned on the television show Ruckus Mike Sanders is affiliated with the labor unions. No one on the distinguished panele disputed that fact. In exchange for union votes Sanders approves union contracts, once elected. How in the world is he going to challenge the figures that come across his desk regarding dollar amounts for the stadium renovations and other projects if he “owes” the unions? You gotta dance with the one that brung you! That is Politics 101! What is unusual about Senator Wheeler is he stands as his “own man” within the Democratic Party and is beholding to no one as it is his popularity with the voters themselves not special interests that has sustained him throughout the years. The difference in the two men is Wheeler isn’t beholding to the unions. His achievements as two term mayor and state Senator speak for themselves. There will be in excess of 6oo million dollars of the taxpayers money that the County Executive will be handling on the stadium issue alone and we’re not talking Monoply money. As for the candidate with honesty and integrity you just don’t last for forty years in Jackson County politics without a “stellar” job performance and above all honesty and integrity. Senator Wheeler has never quit a position half way through his term for the purpose of self promotion. Mike Sanders hasn’t even fulfilled his duty to the people that elected him to his first elected position and he is already on a “self promotion” campaign. Two years into his term Sanders begins planning a run for the most powerful position in the county! Geez! Where’s the integrity there? Charles Wheeler is a proven leader who is “sharp as a tack” and this will be demonstrated in the debates”.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 08:44:29 +0000

All of you that are against Sanders most of you have cited that his affiliation with unions is a bad thing. Please explain. Would you rather him be tied to Wal-Mart the biggest company in the world and one of the richest, yet most of the employees do not receive health care or how about any number of other individual “companies”. Tell me what the difference is. Please catch up on unions and their workings they are not the same unions from 40 years ago that fought so you could have a decent paying job. Have you noticed while the power of the unions have fallen the health care, middle class, and wages have also fallen? Are unions without faults, no they are not, but they at-least fight for the good of everyone, not just their own members. Companies fight for a buck!

Dr. Wheeler would be fine, but simply put who thinks Dr. Wheeler can work at the pace needed and play the political game well enough to get things done? Jackson County needs cleaned up and we all know it. I don’t believe Dr. Wheeler is the person to do that job.

It is time to get some honesty and integrity back in the city. Mike Sanders is the right choice.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 17:24:35 +0000

The entry of Dr. Charles Wheeler is a needed action. We were faced with the incompetent Katheryn Shields and a lack luster Mike Sanders. The thought of Robert Stringfield is interesting, but not amusing. Dr. Wheeler raises the dialog to a satisfying level. Pre-Wheeler it was all personalities, now we can get into the meat of Jackson County government. I do not think Dr. Wheeler is the right person to be County Exec. but God bless him for making this a real issues based race and opening up the possibilities of a decent person actually leading our floundering county. I still support Sanders and hope he becomes the leader that is within his reach. The problem with Jackson County Courthouse politics is that nobody really cares until it is splashed across the media under a negative glare. It is lower than the KC school board in coveted seats.

By: K.C. Susan

K.C. Susan — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:56:05 +0000

Let’s get to the point here-what makes Mike Sanders think he is even close to having the credentials to be the CEO of all of Jackson County? It is a known fact that Sanders is tied to Union money. Now wouldn’t that be interesting as he is handling county business with all of “our” money. As for Wheeler’s age that is irrelevant. Having been the Mayor twice elected I think he knows how to appropriate funds. He did wonderful things for our city and is a progressive thinker. He is not in the debt of special interest groups.If we were speaking about a foot race age might be an issue but we need a keen mind with experience and a CEO that has our interests at heart,not the interest of Labor. Sanders needs to focus on putting criminals away and I hate to think of what kind of job performance we’ll see out of him when he starts campaigning. He had better focus on bringing home those missing children that are on the news daily and leave major projects to major minds. Comparing Mike Sanders to Senator Charles Wheeler is like comparing a local high school football team to the 1969 Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs! I come from Chicago and trust me Mike Sanders wouldn’t even be an assistant prosecutor in that city and the thought of him being the County CEO is absurd! If Kansas City wants to ever be “big time” they had better run their best candidates and thus far Wheeler wins.

By: Jackson County George

Jackson County George — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 15:59:13 +0000

KC Ken,

Actually what is most important is that we elect the correct person for County Executive regardless of whether they are of the new generation or not. What we need now is experience, credibility, and integrity. Senator Wheeler has the experience having been twice elected Mayor of Kansas City along with numerous other elected offices. The County Executive is CEO of the county and we should elect someone who has extensive knowledge of the issues our county faces.

When it is time for the new generation to emerge, then they will. State Reps Cathy Jolly and Beth Low come to mind as rising stars. On the other hand, Mike Sanders is overwhelmed in his job as Prosecutor and saw this as politically advantageous to run for County Exec. at this time, but he never saw the more qualified Senator Wheeler coming. Sanders is also running for economic reasons as the County Executive job pays more than prosecutor and has no term limits. I have a real problem with any office holder jumping ship two years into a four year term. The voters elected him to serve a four year term so, Mike, stay there, tough it out, and don’t cut and run when it gets too hard or a better job becomes available. Sanders should honor his committment, not abandon his 5 point plan while being overly ambitious, and help solve our huge murder rate problem which is near 130.

By: KC Ken

KC Ken — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 15:16:36 +0000

There’s little doubt about Sen. Wheeler’s integrity and his commitment to Kansas City. In addition, his age is irrelevant. What’s more important to consider is whether Kansas City is generating the new generation of public officials and policy officials it needs to truly grow and prosper. It’s too easy to keep returning names like Wheeler and Cleaver to office when they’re on ballots.