A few thoughts about who came out as winners and losers with the release Friday of the complete ethics investigation, along with interview transcripts and exhibits, by Osage Beach lawyer Tom Loraine.
Let me know what you think.
WINNERS
Tom Loraine- The attempts by Mark Rohr and David Wallace of Wallace-Bajjali, as well as the legions of Rohr supporters to debunk this report were always ludicrous, but after reading through nearly all of the interviews it becomes clear this guy, who had years of experience doing this, not only did a thorough job, but was able to do so in spite of the refusal of key witnesses like Wallace, Joplin Globe Editor Carol Stark, and businessman Charlie Kuehns to cooperate. This report will save the city of Joplin far more than the extra money that was approved for it.
Joplin Globe- The Globe's courtroom victory in obtaining the release of the Loraine Report was a major victory.
Melodee Colbert-Kean- The mayor's decision to change her vote in August and keep Mark Rohr employed led to this investigation, which has exposed a rather seamy side of Joplin politics.
Bill Scearce- Not only did Scearce come out of the investigation with a clean bill of health, but it was obvious after reading it that the Joplin Globe was manipulating the public's opinion of Scearce with a selective grouping of facts provided by one key source.
Chris Cotten- The city's parks director, on his own initiative, brought minor league baseball to Joplin and saved the city $25 million that it would have cost if the deal had gone through Wallace-Bajjali and included a new sports complex.
Those Who Voted to Fire Mark Rohr- Read the reports and read what the Joplin Globe wrote about Rohr in 2004, back when the newspaper had a spine.
Mark Rohr- He landed a better-paying job before all of this information was revealed.
LOSERS
Mike Woolston- After reading through the interviews, I am surprised Tom Loraine did not make a stronger recommendation for Woolston to resign. One interview talked about how Charlie Kuehns joined with Woolston because Woolston had lost out on real estate opportunities right after the tornado because he was heavily involved with his duties as mayor.It would have been a conflict of interest then and it is a conflict of interest now for Woolston to be so heavily involved with real estate transactions, especially when you consider, as it was noted in the report that it was largely on Woolston's recommendation that the city hired Wallace-Bajjali as its master developer. Witnesses talked of being pressured to sell by Woolston. And now he has received $5,000 from the Joplin Progress Committee, which also has close ties with Wallace-Bajjali and $10,000 from the Missouri Realtors Association for his re-election. He has almost completely destroyed the good will he earned for his work after the tornado.
Carol Stark- In her nearly seven years at the helm of the Globe, she has turned the newspaper from a public watchdog into a newsletter for Joplin's special interests. Instead of covering the news, she became a player in it and still may end up playing a key role in the outcome of Tuesday's election.
Joplin Progress Committee- For all of the noble sentiments that were espoused by this group when its existence was first revealed, it is becoming obvious that the people who started it are deeply connected with the Wallace-Bajjali developments and there appears to be a profit incentive. This seems to be a case of the moneyed special interests looking to keep the profit spigot flowing.
Joplin Globe- It was considered for a Pulitzer Prize two years ago for its coverage of the Joplin Tornado. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
The Four Who Voted For Rohr- Did they even read the report? The Globe and Rohr supporters are trying to make it look like everyone who said something negative about Rohr was a former employee or a disgruntled employee who did not agree with something Rohr had done. Read the reports. Many of these people did not volunteer to talk to Tom Loraine; they had to because they were city employees. These are hard working people who have had to deal with a mercurial, occasionally vengeful boss for years.
Lane Roberts- Everyone spoke of the Joplin Police Chief in a positive manner, but his handling of the 911 call to Mark Rohr's house on December 29, 2012, was misguided. He should have called in an outside investigator. Mark Rohr was his boss; common sense dictated that Roberts either call the Jasper County Sheriff's Department or the Missouri Highway Patrol for appearance's sake, if nothing else.
6 comments:
Except for Woolston, who's probable corruption has been exposed in this report and the testimony (which I'm still plowing through), I'm not sure as of today, as opposed to after the next election or two, that I'd categorize any of the Losers as actually losing:
As you note about Carol Stark, she "still may end up playing a key role in the outcome of Tuesday's election. The further exposure of the Globe as "a newsletter for Joplin's special interests" is just that, it's not news after the Speck debacle, which only ended when he went a step too far for the board.
Joplin Progress Committee: can't figure out what their angle is, since in even the medium term their agenda is "bad for business", but there are plenty of short sighted people out there, and, again, if their candidates win in the elections, they too will have won.
Joplin Globe: Again, if they successfully play kingmaker, how can you say they've lost, at least by their own priorities, which of course don't include being a real newspaper. They could go out of business because what's the point in paying good money to read a local version of Pravda.
The Four Who Voted For Rohr: again, they lose only if they lose in elections.
Lane Roberts: OK, he's suffering a reputational loss, but he got out before he could be fired, and is no doubt enjoying his pension.
Lane Roberts was criminal complicit in Rohrs attack on his wife. It is not his choice to decide to arrest or not arrest. By law Rohr should have be arrested and file the report and let the county prosecutor to decide to file charges or not.
How many time have victims called in a assault and then recanted when someone might go to jail.
If Mr. Roberts was right he could have proven it. Instead he does what any criminal does, HE RAN.
I hope when this happens again, and it will, League City Police will follow the law and throw him in jail for the sake of the victims.
I know the new Joplin Chief and I am sure this will not happen on his watch.
The JPC agenda is this:
We want people in positions of power who are in our pocket and won't rock the boat we've built and won't interfere if we decide to buy a bigger boat along the way, one on which we're always captain.
The last thing the JPC wants is a hands-off approach to administration of the city and schools. They want to give that appearance by installing people who will know what to do and how to vote--the strings will already have been pulled. All so those in the JPC and the businesses whose bidding they do can ensure that what is done is what's best for them. If that happens to coincide with the interest of you unwashed masses, lucky for you. If not, too bad. Get back in line peasants, and know your place.
The JPC must have taken a page from county commissioners play book. They will help people who run for county office get elected, if they will run their office the way they want.
Less we forget all nine members of the council voted for the investigation, with four hoping to discredit Mr. Scearce when it was completed. Now with it's release and findings we have four not so keen on the findings. As for cost it probably would have stayed at the original cost if not for Mark Rohr with the help of Carol Stark implicating themselves in the proven fabricated story about Mr. Scearce. Oh yes and let us not forget the famous sticky note probably dropped in a hallway by the accuser himself. If you run down to Carol Stark at the Globe and implicate one of your bosses in a story proven not true doesn't it make sense you are probably going to lose your job.
Chris Cotten is out of town, was told he was interviewing some place last week. With Rohr gone, does this mean all his boys go with him?
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