The First Spouse Club

By C.J. JANOVY

Now comes this e-mail sent to City Hall earlier this week.

In the note, Philip Cardarella, spouse of former Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields, speaks up on behalf of Gloria Squitiro, wife of embattled Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Yesterday, Funkhouser vetoed the council’s ordinance meant to prevent Squitiro from volunteering in his office.

We e-mailed Cardarella 24 hours ago to ask what inspired his message to city council members, but he hasn’t replied.

As you probably know, I am sadly disappointed at the Council’s very poor decision to interfere with the operations of the Mayor’s office. I cannot but feel that many of you were manipulated by The Star and others into a snit that has had some very negative impact on the City and it’s government.

I did not suggest electing Mark — Yael did. His buyer’s remorse has colored The Star’s coverage. It — and I suspect some clever manipulation — has stampeded the Council into giving a long-term contract to a Manager most of you wanted to dump. Now, I fear that this soap opera has doomed light rail.

Gloria is politically-incorrect. Duh! Like no one met her BEFORE the election? But he WAS elected, and it is inappropriate for the Council to arrogate to itself to determine who the Mayor shall have aid him in his office — any more than you should be able to dictate what color ties he

wears.

Frankly, we expected Mark to be Amatuer Hour, but we did not expect those we elected to the Council to react like a bunch of fourth-graders in a playground fight. Trust me, that is how a very large segment of the public views this, no matter what the other kids on the playground may be saying to egg on the fight — because it is really fun to watch.

I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just think it is bad government to diminish the Mayor’s Charter authority because this particular Mayor and wife are a bit odd, or even a pain in the butt. And I think it is bad politics to turn this couple into the Duke & Dutchess of Windsor — martyrs

to marital love — and cast yourselves in the role of the persecutors.

Phil