On Friday 8/6/21 Kevin Makalous, candidate for Ward 4 of the
Shawnee City Council and I engaged in some back and forth dialogue via
email. This was prompted by my inquiring
as to his stance on critical race theory and the 1619 project being taught in
schools. This is a little on the long
side but you might find it interesting if you read all the emails. Decide what you think for yourself. My additional commentary is at the end.
Here we go with the emails:
My initial email
On Aug 6, 2021, at 8:19 AM, Ray Erlichman
wrote:
Good morning,
As a candidate for the Shawnee City council, Ward 4, it is felt that the
following questions need to be answered.
Do you approve of the teaching of critical race theory and the 1619 project
in schools?
Now before you say that city councils have no control over what is taught
in the schools allow me to interject. First, you are a former member of
the USD 232 School Board and I believe that your spouse is a current sitting
member of that board. Second, elected officials at all levels usually
have influence on other elected bodies. As such it is felt that you need
to be completely forthcoming on the above issues.
It is also noted that your campaign treasurer,
Lindsey Constance, the current Ward 4 council member, is a teacher in the
SMSD. It should be noted that she wimped out on answering the same
questions. See the posts at http://www.shawneeray.blogspot.com
Additionally, you seem to be very enamored of her as evidenced by comments in
an article in the Shawnee Mission Post:
Makalous, who works as a financial
adviser for Edward Jones, said he’s glad to have Constance’s support.
“She has been a strong public
servant and will continue to make a lasting impact through her work across the
region,” Makalous said.
In case you forgot what you said, you can read it
here https://shawneemissionpost.com/2021/06/02/lindsey-constance-shawnee-council-123584/
That now begs another question: What is
your opinion of her failure to respond to those same questions?
Looking forward to your response
His reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2021 8:39 AM
Ray I
appreciate you reaching out.
I respectfully decline to address these issues in an email but would welcome a chance to meet with you over coffee to discuss.
Can I gently suggest your email has a sort of "gotcha" tone to it and something you'll learn about me is I'm passionate about de-escalating the intensity and emotion in our politics. Face to face dialogue is always better, in my humble opinion, than email or blogs or social media. It's amazing what we'll say on a computer screen that we'd never say in person (I have been guilty of this many times too but I'm trying to be better).
Would you like to meet up for coffee and conversation? When would be a good time and where is convenient? McCain's? I'm buying!
Kindest and warmest regards,
Kevin Makalous
My
response
On Aug 6, 2021, at 2:08 PM, Ray Erlichman
wrote:
Kevin,
Hmmm, ya think my email has a “gotcha” tone to it. Rest assured that when a political candidate declines to state their position in writing I detect a Tijuana Two Step, and an attempt to avoid a direct answer to a specific question.
Ya wanna meet face to face? OK………..Sunday 8/8/21 9:00AM at Dunkin’ Donuts on Shawnee Mission Parkway across from 10 Quivira.
As
for you buying……..noper……..doesn’t work. Neither one should pay for the
other. We cover our own.
Next, since I already detect a Tijuana Two Step and do not wish to be put in a he said, he said, situation that aspect will be covered by the fact that I will have a third party with me and the conversation will be recorded.
See ya Sunday.
Ray
His reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06,
2021 2:21 PM
Ray,
I genuinely want to visit. I think you're level of intensity says you're not going in with an open mind and a truly honest desire to be in conversation and dialogue on issues but rather a sense of fear and worry about what might be said and how it would be conveyed.
Again I truly want to open a line of communication. I don't know you. I've never met you. I'd love to visit but, Sunday mornings are never an option. Stephanie and I are the leaders of our local worshipping community so Sunday mornings I'm focused on that. Perhaps Monday morning? Starbucks or McClain's? I prefer sitting on outdoor patios for the time being and I don't think Dunkin has an outdoor patio (am I mistaken?). And please, if you can't come with an open mind and an open heart to having honest conversations about tough issues then let's not waste each other's time. Yours is valuable as is mine. I'm approaching this with a wide open desire to meet you and visit about your passions and concerns and I would ask you give me the same benefit of the doubt. Is that doable?
K
My reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 2:47 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
Kevin,
Weekdays are not good for me.
Sundays are my best options as for the next couple of Saturdays I will be doing volunteer work for some public service events that are ham radio related.
My
mind is open. You apparently want to beat around the bush.
So,
let’s forget the idea of meeting face to face.
You can choose to either reply to the very direct questions with very direct answers or you can choose not to. That is up to you. If anyone has a sense of fear and worry it would be you for refusing to answer these questions directly.
Basically
what you are telling me is that you don’t want to commit yourself to letting
folks know where you stand. Beating around the bush with flowery phrases
of open hearts and passions etc. doesn’t cut it with me. Direct answers
is what does.
You want to have “discussions”. I want answers.
This is going nowhere.
Ray
His
reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06,
2021 3:07 PM
I’m sorry weekday's don’t work.
I could do a Sunday afternoon?
Ham radio? I didn’t know that was something you were interested in… I was a ham radio operator back in 3rd grade as part of 4H! Love it!
As for direct answers… here’s the thing. I think each side of the political spectrum has decided it has buzz words or phrases that they’re going to use to divide us as a society. My heart breaks for our community seeing so much division and fear and hate ON BOTH SIDES. Neither side is angelic in its approach here. When I see questions about Critical Race Theory, and 1619 Project, I immediately wonder if this isn’t just a moment for us to divide each other more on divisive issues?
Honestly, in my entire time on the school board, and in my 46 years on the planet, I’d never heard of either of these two items until the last year in the political universe where somehow they’ve become front and center.
I grew up as a product of the Shawnee Mission public schools. Mill Creek Elementary, Trailridge Middle, and SMNW (class of 1994). The education I was presented, in my humble opinion, was great. I’ve been blessed to lead a highly successful life in my personal endeavors and my professional pursuits and so much of that I credit back to my public education K-12 and some unbelievable teachers that poured into me along that journey. I’m deeply passionate about public education. I think it’s the bedrock of our society. I support a family’s right to send their student to any private school they would want to, but you’ll never find me less than totally supportive of our public school system first and foremost. It’s the great equalizer (as imperfect as the system is) in my opinion.
If you genuinely want to talk about CRT and 1619, the problem is, I don’t know much about either topic, so it’s hard for me to give direct answers. I’m not trying to avoid anything, I truly and genuinely don’t know much about either (I’m an attorney no less, and I don’t remember ever hearing the term CRT in law school and supposedly it’s a term largely used in legal settings???). So, when someone asks me where do I stand on these issues, I truly seek to understand what their understanding is of all of this, as perhaps there are things I need to learn and become aware of as a hopeful elected leader in our community. Does that make sense? It’s hard for me to answer a question on a topic I don’t know much about and you clearly seem to know enough to have formed a solid opinion. I really want to sit down and learn from you what it is you know of both topics and what is worrying you so much that you’re asking me for “direct answers” about each topic.
So again, my offer stands, and I’m happy to meet on a Sunday, it just can’t be before noon.
I hope this is helpful? Feel free to call me anytime too 913-609-5129 is my cell phone.
Can we grab coffee Sunday at 1pm?
My Best -
Kevin Makalous
My reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 3:29 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
With
everything that has been in the news about CRT and the 1619 project I find it
hard to believe that you truly do not know what they are.
Study up about them, do your research, then answer the questions.
Until then, no sense in meeting.
Off the topic: I am a member of JoCo ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) JoCo ECS (Emergency Communications Service….the only amateur group that is actually government supervised – County Emergency Management for weather spotting) and SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) and am part of the EComm Team for Shawnee CST (CERT) Public service events are usually bike rides, runs etc, mostly for charity and ham radio operators are used to provide communications support in case there are any problems on the rides, runs etc to include equipment and/or medical.
His reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06,
2021 3:43 PM
Love how much you are investing in helping our community with communication resources. This is GREAT! I know Ham radio has always been a bedrock communication system for disaster preparedness!
I’ll do my best to keep learning about CRT and 1619. I do read A LOT and have learned much from the following on these topics: David Brooks, Peggy Noonan, David French, and Jonah Goldberg. But again, none of them seem to agree exactly what CRT is and what the 1619 project is under one concrete definition. It’s more amorphous, describing various ways to look at and address racial reconciliation/social justice movements and ideas. So, again, I would like to hear how you perceive each topic and then I’ll share with you my views on race relations broadly, but again, prefer to do that in an open dialogue cuz topics like that can go off the rails when it’s e-mail, text, social media, or blogs, so quickly.
I would welcome the chance to meet up anytime.
My Best -
Kevin Makalous
My Reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 3:51 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
After
you learn exactly what they are. Not as amorphous as you may think.
His Reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06,
2021 4:18 PM
Let's meet up to discuss. Again I have views on racial reconciliation and the such. But would like to learn your perspective. I suspect there's more we agree on than we don't. Let's meet up. Just tell me when is convenient. September works well too.
My best-
K
My Reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 4:35 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
My perspective does not matter. Yours does. You are the one running for office. Not looking to see where we agree or disagree. Just want to know where you stand on specific issues.
If you don’t know what these issues really are then learn and then answer the questions. Nuff said.
His
Reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06,
2021 4:44 PM
I would say my views align very
closely with David French’s views on these issues.
Hopefully that is helpful.
Again, let’s meet! You carry tremendous influence in Shawnee. Widely followed. You’re a leader. So yes, your voice matters greatly. Perhaps more than an elected leaders?
My Best -
Kevin Makalous
My reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 4:57 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
Your attempts at stroking my ego are falling on deaf ears.
His reply
From: Kevin Makalous
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2021
5:11 PM
Ray, How do I say this any more
clearly! I won’t write down my views, cuz it would take 5 pages. I
will not provide a sound bite quote on a topic as sensitive as racial
reconciliation in the United States. THAT IS A BIG TOPIC - and politics
and social media are killing us with Twitter answers and FB posts and blogs
that have no context. Hence the reason we need to be in dialogue with one
another. I don’t know what more I can say about this. I greatly appreciate
you reaching out. I want to visit. I will not be backed into a
corner on a topic as big and broad as this.
My Best -
Kevin Makalous
PS: Let me know when you have
changed your mind and would like to sit down and meet face to face?
My final reply
On
Aug 6, 2021, at 6:15 PM, Ray Erlichman wrote:
Actually your comment that your views align closely with David French are sufficient.
Thank you
My additional commentary on this:
So he aligns with David French. Hmmmm, interesting. Wanna learn a little about David French? Try this https://nypost.com/2021/07/09/disingenuous-defenses-of-critical-race-theory/
Makalous’attempts at trying to stroke my ego are typical
liberal democrat claptrap. Like he
really cares what my perspectives are!
On the contrary, he wants to be able to, IMHO, create an answer that he
thinks would appease me, as opposed to stating his actual position. Why did he appear to not like the idea of a third party and/or a recording present at any discussion? Maybe he doesn't want the possibility of bovine scatological statements going on the record? His kumbayah approach doesn’t cut it with me. Electing him to represent Ward 4 on the
Shawnee City Council, would, IMHO be a mistake.
