Council approves Bates settlement offer

[Updated] The Kansas City, Missouri, council today agreed upon a $550,000 offer to Ruth Bates, a former aide to Mayor Mark Funkhouser. The measure passed 7-3, with Funkhouser abstaining.

Bates filed an employment-discrimination in 2008. Her suit alleged racial discrimination and accused Funkhouser’s wife and de facto chief of staff, Gloria Squitiro, of making a constant stream of crude sexual remarks.

Funkhouser said all along that he would have been vindicated if the case had gone to trial. He said Bates turned on him and Squitiro after they refused her request for a loan of $5,000.