By: Alex bell
In ‘C’mon Funk Move Your Ass: How a Demure Little Wife Made Her Husband a Big City Mayor,’ Gloria Squitiro’s compelling narrative has captivated readers, propelling it to the bestseller list. The book offers an intimate account of how Gloria’s grit, intellect, can-do attitude, and humor helped her husband, Funk—an unassuming city auditor in Kansas City—achieve mayoral victory. This deep and humorous exploration of grassroots politics has resonated with readers, potentially inspiring them to pursue their own aspirations and turn them into reality. Recently, Gloria sat down with us to discuss everything from political triumphs to what lies ahead for this talented writer.
As an Italian-American New Yorker, you describe yourself as a misfit in Kansas City. How did your cultural background influence your approach to the campaign and your interactions within the local political landscape?
I behave the same way in any environment I find myself in, as I am unable to not be myself. That said, with my husband having been in government his entire life, I know how to put myself in “diplomate mode.”
Since I am a second generation Italian New Yorker, I am inherently intuitive. I know when I can be myself, and when I need to assume the role of a leader.
When I’m a leader, I do more listening, less talking, and I refrain from cursing. This worked well for the campaign, as it was pretty intimidating for new volunteers to step into what seems like an already established group.
In ‘C’mon Funk Move Your Ass: How a Demure Little Wife Made Her Husband a Big City Mayor’ you mention that the campaign wasn’t much different from what you were already used to, citing the politics of giving birth, being a woman, and living within a family. Can you elaborate on how these experiences prepared you for the political arena?
As a doula, I had to dumb myself down whenever a doctor came onto the scene. They believed they knew more about that particular labor, even though they arrived 15 minutes before the baby was born.
Being a woman in our country takes “street smarts.” The quickest way to get what I want is to pretend I’m helpless, which I refuse to do now that I’m 65. Given that, I’ve had to learn how not to be conflict adverse, and to be okay with not being liked by everyone.
Growing up in a male-centric Italian New York family has given me the tools I need to thrive in a world where women are still an oppressed class.
Your interactions with the media during Funk’s mayoral term garnered significant attention, both positive and negative. How did the media’s portrayal impact you, and what lessons did you learn from navigating the spotlight?
The media attention during the campaign was positive. Reporters were impressed that I had no experience running a campaign, and yet I helped my husband beat 11 other candidates to win the title of mayor.
The attention went from positive to negative the instant Funk won because the “establishment” are the ones who are really in charge in Kansas City—the mayor and council are merely puppets.
My husband has never gone along to get along.
That worked well when he was the city auditor, but not as mayor. However, since the media had praised his work for the previous 18 years, they couldn’t go after him, so they came after me.
According to one journalist, the media had 500 “hit” pieces about me during my husband’s administration.
The impact was significant. I had to stop reading the newspaper, lest I stay curled in a fetal position on the floor.
The lessons I learned are many.
- The media will make up scandals where none exist
- No matter how nice a particular reporter is, they are not your friend
- The media will go to any lengths to make you crumple. For instance, on my 50th birthday—which was hard enough given the number seemed large at the time—there were three hit pieces about me on the editorial page: a nasty cartoon, a horrific letter to the editor, and a negative opinion piece.
Winning the campaign was a significant achievement. Can you share a moment from the victory that remains etched in your memory and symbolizes the culmination of your efforts?
The day after my husband won, reporters from across America called Funk to ask him how it felt to be a non-politician and win a mayoral race.
They also asked to speak with me because they’d never heard of a person with no political experience whatsoever become a campaign manager and go on to win the race.
The book hints at a trilogy, with potential legal troubles for you in City Hall. Can you provide a teaser about what readers can expect in future chapters, and how does this next phase of the story contribute to the overall narrative?
The 3rd title in the C’mon Funk Series, Hiding Behind Nice: They Can Throw Her Out, But They Can’t Shut Her Up, tells the story of how you can make elusive dreams come true.
More than anything, I hope the book will show by example how people from the lower 99% can win re-election. The “how” comes by way of learning from our mistakes. This is important because change occurs in the second term.
‘C’mon Funk Move Your Ass: How a Demure Little Wife Made Her Husband a Big City Mayor’ is available on Amazon.
Published by: Martin De Juan
