Mark Funkhouser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Funkhouser
53rd Mayor of Kansas City
In office May 1, 2007 – May 2, 2011
Preceded by	Kay Barnes
Succeeded by	Sly James
Personal details
Born	Mark Funkhouser (1949-10-04) October 4, 1949 (age 75) Paden City, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Gloria Squitiro
Children	2
Alma mater	Thiel College (BA) Tennessee State University (MA) West Virginia University (MA) University of Missouri–Kansas City (PhD)

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. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor. Currently, he serves as the publisher of Governing magazine. He is also the author of the blog "Bring on the Funk," and the book Honest, Competent Government: The Promise of Performance Auditing. In 2016, Funkhouser was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Paden City, West Virginia, Funkhouser 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 and served in that capacity for ten years. He has taught at Salem College, Salem, West Virginia, Park University, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Kansas. He was the Director of State Audit in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1978 to 1988, leaving that post to become the Kansas City Auditor in 1988, and relinquishing that post in 2006 to run for mayor.

2007 mayoral race

Mayor Funkhouser speaking at the Memorial Dedication ceremony October 2, 2010

Announcing his candidacy for mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in late 2006, Funkhouser was endorsed early by the Kansas City Star and emerged as one of two candidates following the February mayoral primary fielding 13 candidates. Funkhouser 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 the citizens of Kansas City by his nickname, "The Funk".

Funkhouser's wife, Gloria Squitiro, ran his campaign. Funkhouser 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," he said. "What we don't know is whether what we bought is what is worth what we paid for it."

Personal life

An avid chess player, Funkhouser celebrated his election night party at the Westport Flea Market, a neighborhood tavern where he regularly met with the Westport Chess Club to play. He is also a professional speaker. He stands at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) tall.