Steak and Shake (and tax breaks)

You're never anonymous in Kansas City. Especially when you're running for office. A couple of weeks ago, Nicole and I went for a rare indulgence at Steak & Shake way out on Shawnee Mission Parkway. We usually eat very healthy but we were celebrating a good performance at a candidate forum that morning and some cheese fries seemed in order. We sat going through her notes, recapping every one of my answers, as well as my opponents'. Every comment made, every reaction. Every single thing I did or said was critiqued. We spoke openly and freely as married couples will. We talked about my opponents' strengths and weaknesses. We laughed, we joked. We figured who would know us all the way out there? As my luck would have it, the couple at the very next table did. He happened to be a TIF Commissioner. Of course! Why not? Fortunately I hadn't talked too much about TIF. Much to the chagrin of our dining companions, he and I launched into a discussion about tax incentives. My experience. His experience. Our food grew cold as we covered a lot of ground. I quizzed him on the Holiday Inn at the Plaza TIF which had just been approved. He quizzed me back. We agreed to disagree. One thing I took away from that chance meeting was that he seemed like a nice guy. Genuinely interested in doing some good for Kansas City. Maybe it was serendipitous, our little encounter. I still don't think TIF is being used correctly. But at least I have met one of the players. On a Saturday afternoon. Over a burger. Both enduring the eye rolling of our wives over what huge geeks we are when it comes to our love of Kansas City. Maybe there's hope after all.