Winners and losers from the release of the complete Loraine Report

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.