There isn't much action in Leawood City Council politics these days.
There is an election on April 6 and only one of four seats up for re-election is contested. Greg Peppes in Ward 1 is being challenged by newcomer Andrew Osman.
As testament to the general tranquility among the citizens of Leawood these days is that most seats aren't challenged. While the economy is tough Leawood's conservative fiscal nature from its leaders has served it extremely well. The city is fiscally solid and well run.
It is tough to run against it. I can't really see any missteps from the leadership. Especially from the very solid Dr. Greg Peppes. I've spoken with him a few times and he seems not only nice but very genuine, accessible, helpful, very informed and common sense on the issues.
I checked out Mr. Osman's website. I'll break this whole thing down for you as quickly as I can. It is honorable that Mr. Osman wants to serve. I appreciate that. What makes him more compelling than Dr. Peppes? What does he want to do differently than the guy who has the job now? Really. Not much. He says he wants to bring "common sense solutions and fiscal responsibility back to Leawood". I'd say it is amazingly full of common sense now and any city in the Metro would trade places with our financial situation and credit rating in a second. So, in my mind he is saying............more of the same good, well run city. So it really is just I want the job the other guy has........
But I guess his website creates a few questions in my mind and few nuances I want to explore....
1. On his front page under bullet point 2 he talks about his commitment to ensuring we have great schools and a "better education policy". Does he understand the Leawood City Council doesn't have anything to do with our schools and education policy? He might want to consider a run for school board if that is mission. It makes me wonder if he really understands the role of the City Council. It is curbs and streets brother....not schools.
2. Mr. Osman owns a commercial real estate firm. I'm not a huge fan of developers and friends of developers running the city's business. I've seen the deals get shady too many times. I lived in a city once where officials spent most of their time recusing themselves because they were doing business with the city they help run. It just isn't necessary when we have other great people to represent us. I'm not saying he is a crook. I don't know the man. It just makes me very nervous based on history. I'll just say this.....do you think it would help or hurt Mr. Osman's business if he were on City Council? Frankly, with all things being equal, I'd not have a person with potential conflicts of interest on City Council. By contrast Dr. Peppes is a dentist. Not much conflict there.
3. He calls the area he lives in "Old Leawood". I'm not gonna lie. That bugs the hell out of me when people up there do that. It annoys me. I guess they know that. Dr. Peppes says he lives in "North Leawood". Certainly, calling it "old Leawood" might play well with the snobby old gray hairs up there but if it says anything about his "us versus them" attitude then people from Wards 3 and 4 should be sending Dr. Peppes a campaign contribution ASAP. That is just what we don't need on City Council.
None of this means Andrew Osman is a bad guy. He is probably a great guy. He has every right to run and to want the job. A google search didn't yield any kiddy porn convictions or anything like that. It looks like he has a nice family. Dr. Peppes on the other hand has a smoking hot daughter.....sorry...just saying. I just can't see supporting Osman for City Council when you've got Peppes. It is too easy to stay with the guy who has proven to be a good leader, who knows the role of the city council, who doesn't have potential conflicts with the city and who supports the notion of one Leawood.....not "Old Leawood" and the rest of you.
I'll leave a little room to change my mind but I highly doubt I'll be convinced.
The winner and it better not be close...........Dr. Greg Peppes.
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8 comments:
After looking at his Osman's website, it's pretty obvious he doesn't understand the duties of serving on the city council! I think he is confused between running for city council and running for state senate. Anyone with the city's best interest in mind would know the council doesn't have a say in the schools funding!
nice post. thanks.
Peppes is awesome. Thanks for writing to support him.
I just call'em like I see them. You clearly know him. I hope I'm right about him.
I went to KU with the Peppes'(is that grammatically correct? whatev)
My college BF was in the same fraternity as Matt and Steve.
I'm a supporter.
Count me as a Peppes fan too! Wish I was in his Ward to vote for him.
I am Leawood resident and have noticed the overwhelming number of Osman signs in yards. I hope that fact does not persuade voters. While I hesitate to say anything negative about Mr. Osman, last fall I attended several meetings of a group of which he was also a member, and was annoyed by Mr. Osman's tendency to ask numerous questions with the apparent motive of calling attention to himself and promoting his business. I felt that was not appropriate. I am not especially poltically active, but my research seems to indicate Greg Peppes is doing a fine job and Mr. Osman would not be a good replacement.
It looks like Osman won
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