Kirkwood council's first meeting since shooting turns hostile

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) -- A group of residents in this suburban town is undertaking a petition drive this weekend to delay a mayoral race they say is unfair after a gunman stormed City Hall two weeks ago, killing five people and leaving the current mayor incapacitated.

One of those killed in the rampage was Connie Karr, an alderwoman who was running for mayor. Last week the city had her name removed from the ballot, leaving only alderman Arthur McDonnell in the race.

Dozens attended Thursday's meeting to criticize the move, saying it undercut the voters' right to choose their mayor during April's city election.

Kirkwood resident Karl Unsworth joined dozens of others in passing around the petition sheets to delay the election.

"I feel that with only one candidate, you're not going to have any discussion or debate," Unsworth said. Supporters of the petition drive said they had already collected hundreds of signatures.

The thorny political issue broke into public view Thursday night during the city's first city council meeting since the shootings occurred.

The crowded meeting began with a moment of silence to remember the attack two weeks ago. Police say 52-year-old Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton entered the council chambers with two guns, killing two police officers and three city officials before police shot and killed him. Mayor Mike Swoboda was shot twice in the head and remains hospitalized.

While the tone of the meeting was peaceful at first, it soon devolved into a bitter fight over the mayoral election, with dozens of citizens criticizing officials during the public comment period as boos and heckles arose from the crowd.

The divisive meeting was visibly painful for city officials who had watched their comrades gunned down, and for the residents in the crowd who also were in attendance when the shooting occurred.

This usually peaceful community has struggled to come to grips with the tragedy, turning City Hall into a living memorial of wreaths, flowers and handwritten messages for the dead.

"Every life that was lost bought me another second. And a second was an amazing thing in that room," said Alderman Iggy Yuan, who was seated near Karr when she was shot. Thornton had fought with the city for years over fines it levied on his small business for various code infractions. He was arrested twice at meetings and charged with disorderly conduct.

State Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, took his turn at the microphone during the city council's public comment period to hold a moment of silence after particularly heated comments. Then he led a prayer.

"God, I would ask that the people of Kirkwood learn how to address the struggles and challenges that we face," he said.

City Attorney John Hessel explained repeatedly that Karr's name was removed from the ballot at her husband's request. He said it was impossible under city and state law to delay April's election, which could only happen if a disaster on Election Day prevented voting from happening.

Hessel criticized many of the speakers who questioned his legal rationale and suggested he wasn't honoring Karr's legacy. He survived the shooting attack only after throwing chairs at Thornton to fend him off before police arrived.

"Connie Karr's death is all of our worst nightmare," Hessel said. "It is something that I live over and over."

Karr was killed during Thornton's rampage, along with Kirkwood police officer William Biggs Jr., officer Tom Ballman, Public Works Director Ken Yost and Councilman Michael H.T. Lynch.

At Thursday's meeting, Lynch's position on the council was filled by Paul Ward, a former member of the city's planning and zoning commission. Karr's seat will be filled after a special election.

Ward was appointed by the City Council because Lynch's term was set to expire in less than a year. Karr's was not up until 2010.