The two have held campaign fundraisers for each other, and Banwart placed $13,400 worth of advertising with Adams' company, Four-States Advertising, during her 2014 election campaign.
Banwart thought nothing of dropping her support for Marsi Archer when the other three members of the board, Jeff Koch, Debbie Fort, and Jennifer Martucci submitted Archer's name, instead of their preferred candidate, Jim Kimbrough, during a special meeting May 29. She let it be known she wanted the vote taken away from the board and placed in the hands of the Jasper County Commission. Considering that Mike Landis has made it clear that he resigned so the Commission would get the vote and both Landis and Steele used language in interviews with the Joplin Globe that the board was interfering with their "right to resign," it has become abundantly clear that Banwart, Steele, Landis, and Joplin Progress Committee members have worked out a plan to defy the will of the voters and continue the type of leadership that made the C. J. Huff disaster possible.
With all of that in play, you would think the Jasper County Commission would be doing its level best to make sure that the process is completely aboveboard and free of even the appearance of impropriety.
Not so.
Presiding Commissioner John Bartosh told KOAM this morning that the idea that Darieus Adams has a conflict of interest is ridiculous:
Asked if commissioner Darieus Adams should recuse himself because he received contributions from a current school board member and whether that's a conflict of interest, Bartosh responded, “I think people are grabbing for straws here. That's just ridiculous. I'll visit with him about that but I think that's ridiculous."
Bartosh made it clear during an earlier interview that there would be no taking applications for the position, the Commission would just appoint the three members. Judging from what he told the media this morning, even the thought process the commissioners use to reach their decision may be hidden from the public.
He said the Commission would likely just announce who had been selected during its regularly scheduled meeting either next Tuesday or the following Tuesday, which would indicate that commissioners would likely talk about prospective candidates when they are at the courthouse other times of the week, but which would not be posted on any agenda, lessening the chances that the public or the media will be happen to be there. It is a practice that has been criticized in the past and called a violation of the Sunshine Law by the Joplin Globe.
13 comments:
Was Bartosh drunk when he said this? I expect that crew does a lot of "imbibing" together. Darieus and Bartosh are both big social drinkers. And private. Drinking is a competitive sport for some of these folks. For him to not see that doing business and having an intimate friendship with a board member is a conflict of interest says plenty about the good ol' boy club in Jasper County.
If a politician said it, it must be true.
Do not be surprised if Anson is appointed to school board
"grabbing at straws" ??? $13,400.00 plus campaign donations & fundraisers (between Banwart & Adams) are NOT straws in my opinion. Shirley Hull (so Anson will not think this is an anonymous poster!)
@5:44pm You must feel like a real man, anonymously accusing someone of being an alcoholic.
What's ridiculous is what Bartosh said and the commissioners appointing whoever for the school board. There is most definitely a conflict of interest here. They should at least appoint from the ones the school board narrowed it down to. It's hard to trust any decision they make now otherwise. What a sham this all is. But hey I am just a poor taxpayer. Anyone now in office gets my no vote. At least Koch tried...
You know nothing Jon Snow.
Living together after the tornado and vacationing together indicates a closeness that isn't grasping at straws. The school lawyer certainly thought it was a conflict of interest. But good old John, I'm sure if he believes he knows better than anyone else, at least in his little world. This indicates they've already made up their minds, and I would guess were part of the scheme all along. I wonder what they got out of their part in this debacle? Everyone has his hands in the pie.
This is the same John Bartosh that isnt excited about giving county employees raises but raised salaries for his own office almost 30% from $203,000 in 2014 to $257,000 in 2015.
The same John Bartosh that auditers said had Significant deficiencies in control over financial reporting on past audits?
The same John Bartosh that audits found no accounting manual exists?
The same John Bartosh that said we will appoint who ever we want to for the R8 board?
They can't meet and make decisions without posting it! And, if they don't take applications how will they know that the three people they choose are willing to serve? This entire thing smells fishy! These selfish, greedy adults need to step back and see the damage they are doing! So glad that I don't live in Jasper County or have family that works at or attend Joplin Schools!
These people all need driven out office. All of them. Banwart out of the Board, Adams, Bartosh, and Honey out of the commissioners office, and Dankelson out of the courtroom. Not a one of them should be representing this county, as they certainly aren't representing the people, just private interests.
The commissioners knew who they would appoint over a week ago.
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