Mark Funkhouser

Mark Funkhouser (born October 4, 1949) is an American academic, author, and former politician who served as the 53rd mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007, until May 2, 2011. Previously, he was Kansas City's city auditor. He was the publisher of Governing magazine. He is the author of the blog Bring on the Funk and the book Honest, Competent Government: The Promise of Performance Auditing. In 2016, he was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Early life and education Funkhouser was born and raised in Paden City, West Virginia, and he graduated from Paden City High School. He earned his B.A. in political science from Thiel College, his M.A. in business administration from Tennessee State University, M.A. in social work from West Virginia University and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Early career Funkhouser was the founding editor of the Local Government Auditing Quarterly for ten years. He has taught at Salem College, Salem, West Virginia, Park University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas, and Tulane University. He won the mayoral election on March 27, 2007.

Funkhouser's campaign motto was "A city that works for regular folks." He had campaigned on a promise to pay more attention to neighborhoods and to end corrupt TIF deals with special-interest developers. During his mayoral campaign in 2007, he became known by Kansas Citians by his nickname, "The Funk".

His wife, Gloria Squitiro, ran his campaign. He wore an orange tie in reference to the Ukrainian Orange Revolution and as a symbol of his desire for change. From his campaign website: "I've chosen orange as my official campaign color because it is fast becoming a symbol for change in politics – a shift away from back-room deal making and toward an open style of governance that respects and listens to citizens." Funkhouser was also critical of project spending during the Kay Barnes administration. In a KCTV interview he said, "We've been buying stuff. What we don't know is whether what we bought is what is worth what we paid for it."

Controversies Free automobile Implementation of Funkhouser's campaign pledges of fiscal conservatism while cleaning up local government received national headlines early in his administration when Funkhouser announced his intention to reject the costly city-provided Lincoln Continental, with two attending security drivers, and accept a new leased Honda Civic Hybrid from a Northland auto dealer. The city's law department approved the offer, which would have been reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Funkhouser never took possession of the car, choosing instead to drive his own.

Minutemen controversy It was discovered his appointed co-commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Board Frances Semler was a member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Gloria Squitiro An ongoing controversy during Funkhouser's term as mayor involved his wife's carrying out the normal duties of First Lady, a strictly volunteer position. The City Council passed an ordinance (the only nay vote being Funkhouser's) on the pretense of banning certain types of volunteers from serving at City Hall, but the only one it effectively barred was Squitiro from the premises. In response, Funkhouser began holding meetings in which she was needed in public libraries. Funkhouser filed suit against the city, claiming the "volunteer ordinance" unconstitutional. The court ruled in Funkhouser's favor and the ordinance was repealed.

Personal life Funkhouser is an avid chess player, and celebrated his election night party at the Westport Flea Market, a neighborhood tavern where he regularly played with the Westport Chess Club. He is a professional speaker and consultant, as well as the founder of the International Center for Performance Auditing. He stands at tall.