Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson deviated from an upbeat newsletter message to constituents to deliver a scathing rebuke to opponents of his administration, leaving PV taxpayer Eric Valaika “disappointed” and “ashamed”, and prompting him to address an “An Open Letter to the Mayor”
Writing in The Prairie Village Voice, Mikkelson began by praising the city’s amenities, increasing home values, and contributions from PV’s volunteer corps. But, he paused midway to take to task those he saw as responsible for what he referred to as “destructive behavior”:
“So I have to admit, it bewilders and saddens me that a vocal few, while living in the same city, choose instead to spend their time, talent and money chronically complaining, suing, lying, disparaging, obstructing, riling and abusing the neighbors, volunteers, officials and staff who provide our exceptional quality of civic life. A vote to completely abandon our time-tested form and process of local government would be reckless and divisive. Such scorched-earth, destructive behavior in response to good-faith policy decisions by democratically-elected, non-partisan, public servants is damaging and costly. We are far from perfect, but there are far more perfect ways to express differences of opinion.”
Tensions have run high in recent council meetings in the Johnson County city over issues such as the proposed municipal complex, city payroll, residential rezoning, council vacancy appointments, and providing drones to Ukrainians.
But Valaika, who identifies himself as a voter but otherwise uninvolved in city government and non-partisan in its politics, contends in his letter that Mikkelson overstepped his bounds in his response to opponents:
I am more than disappointed in and ashamed on behalf of my fellow residents by your remarks. Why?
- Your very public remarks ridicule and mock those who disagree with your and other City Council members’ positions and agenda. The role of our elected representatives is to thoroughly listen to a significant number of our residents, and to thoughtfully and fully consider their legitimate questions and concerns. Your role is absolutely not to resort to name calling, nor to resort to imaginings which may border on libel. Even if you believe policy decisions are made in “good faith” your words give the impression you believe City Council has the last word. It definitely does not – voters have the final word.
- You do not explain why, “A vote to completely abandon our time-tested form and process of local government would be reckless and divisive.” Many developed Kansas cities operate openly and effectively with a weak-mayor form of government, where city council holds legislative and executive power and the mayor has a more limited or ceremonial role, serving as chairperson of the council rather than as chief executive. For example, Olathe, a historically well-run city, has a Mayor-Council-Manager form of government, wherein the council appoints the city manager who tends to day-to-day affairs. You should fully explain why such an evolution of Prairie Village government would be “reckless and divisive.” I suggest it would prove a benefit to openness.
- By writing in The Prairie Village Voice, you used city services and taxpayer dollars to effectively campaign against those with whom you disagree. This is wholly inappropriate. A taxpayer funded newsletter must be non-partisan and definitely not used to push an agenda or belittle fellow citizens. As you wrote, “… there are far more perfect ways to express differences of opinion” and that surely applies to your written remarks. I respectfully suggest you owe the citizens of Prairie Village an explanation, or perhaps an apology, for penning such inflammatory statements two months before an important election.
We reached out to Prairie Village City Council Member Lori Sharp, a frequent opponent of the Mikkelson initiatives, for her take on the exchange of messages:
“On issues ranging from drastic residential rezoning changes to the push for $50 million city government buildings, the mayor’s unpopular positions have led to a vibrant debate in our community.
“I’m inspired by this high level of citizen engagement, the vast majority of which has been thoughtful and civil. Our leaders should listen to the people rather than insult them, and we should welcome citizens’ voices at the ballot box as we make decisions that will shape the future of our community for decades to come.”
