There’s a line coined from viral Ball State University sportscaster Brian Collins that says “boom goes the dynamite.”

That’s exactly what happened last week when former Missouri Secretary of State and Democrat operative Jason Kander entered the city’s Mayor’s race. The only bigger explosion was the demolition of the old Park Place Hotel coming down near Front Street and Interstate 435 on the morning of Sunday, June 24. Kander caused much more scurrying around by the Democrat political world in Kansas City, however. Almost immediately, the campaign of 4th District Councilwoman Jolie Justus announced the cancellation of an upcoming fundraiser. On Monday morning, Justus officially left the Mayor’s race. The Dog predicts the Justus drop won’t be the last, given that all of the Democratic candidates in the Mayoral field share the same donor and support lists.

We predict 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed will be the next current Councilman to exit the campaign. With little support from outside the 18th & Vine district, Reed doesn’t have the money or the political will to mount a strong campaign against the likes of Kander and his national list of supporters, contacts and cash donors. Additionally, this Dog doesn’t think there’s a lot of depth or detail to Reed’s “plans” to save the city’s crumbling East side.

Other candidates, like Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner, stated to our intrepid Managing Editor Paul Thompson that he’s in it to win it. Good news to this Dog’s ears. Even more interesting is the announcement by Quinton Lucas to enter the race even after the Kander bombshell announcement. No word from the Scott Taylor camp, either, but this strategic-thinking pooch thinks given the Taylor war chest, he’ll stay in the race.

On the upside, a crowded field may make things easier for everyone that’s vying for the same pool of support. It will take fewer votes and theoretically less money to advance to the general after the initial run-off.

We recall a Mayoral race a few years back when a forum was held at Melrose Methodist Church. The resulting picture of all the candidates seated at the dais resembled very closely Da Vinci’s masterpiece painting of The Last Supper. The way things are shaping up, that picture could very well repeat itself. We’ll be watching closely to see what happens.