Wag the Dog

Update 3/30/08 - Another call From Basil

It must be getting down to the wire since the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has endorsed Mayor Tom Taylor for Franklin Mayor.

I just got another call from Basil Ryan's service reminding me not to listen to the smear concerning his aldermanic recall election and to give him a call or go to his website.

Between his professional brochures showing up every other day and these phone calls. This isn't going to be a cheep run at the Mayor's office for Basil.

I wanted to wait until after the final Candidates Forum that was held at the Franklin Public Library on Monday night March 24th until I gave my opinion as to my voting preferences for the April 1st election, in the City of Franklin. While I do not live in the 3rd and 4th district, I do have an opinion on those races also.

So what is the basis for my voting preferences, 1) I read as much as I can about the candidates 2) I am involved with city as a technology commissioner and make observations. 3) I occasionally go to city council meetings and have stopped by at several of the other commission meetings. 4) I occasionally attend School Board meetings and have two children in the school system. 5) I attended both of the candidates forums. 6) I did not talk to any of the candidates on a one to one basis to allow  for a bias.  7) I do not look at political web pages for presentation but rather content. 8) I have lived in Franklin since 1989 and have followed Franklin politics since I came here to live. 9) I try not to forget what a politician has done because you never know when they will pop back up for an election. 10) I talk to my neighbors for their opinion.

Last but not least GUT FEELING. I find that has been fairly on target in my 52 years on this earth.

Armed with that information, I will let you know who I am going to vote for and who I would vote for if they were in my district.

When the 4 members of the School Board Candidates were asked at the March 19th School Board Forum. Who would they vote for Mayor? All of them felt uncomfortable but answered the question. All four candidates said with out a doubt -  Mayor Tom Taylor.

For varying reasons, one by one stated that Tom Taylor was a know leader and all felt he had done a good job leading the City of Franklin. There was not one mention of Basil Ryan, neither for good or bad reasons.  In that same vein, I too am going to vote for Mayor Tom Taylor. I know the job he has done, I know what kind of Alderman he was, because Tom was my alderman during the time of Basil Ryan's term as alderman.

While I am not crazy about the tax increases we have seen during Tom Taylor's years as Mayor, I can not say Basil Ryan has come up with anything concrete that shows me he will control them any better. Just a promise, which in my book, politicians do all the time and then forget what they promised.  On top of this, during Basil Ryan's time as alderman,  I saw a turbulent period of time on the City Council with allegations of litigation, misuse of aldermanic influence, and general kaos between the council members. We currently do not have those issues now.

Bottom line is, for now, I think Tom Taylor is the safe bet for Franklin.

First off let me say, the four people who are running for the two open positions on the School Board, deserve a whole lot of respect, given the information that has come out on the current Board members. All four, Dennis Butler, Edward Holpfer, Linda Witkowski and David Works are extremely qualified to sit on the School Board. They all are looking for better communication with the electorate, better board teamwork, and better student performance.

 I told them after last Wednesdays Candidate Forum, "I hope those that do not win this time will consider a run to replace the current members next April."

While all the candidates had similar responses to most of the questions, the two that stood out in my mind as to be the best of the four were Ed Holpfer (experienced) and David Works (dedicated).

Some of the statements that led me to believe this were:

When it comes to additional space and a new referendum " We need to separate the needs from the wants for a new referendum"  - David Works

"Let's look at the most cost effective way to achieve the additional space needed" - Ed Holpfer

When discussing a question concerning the Oak-Creek Franklin School district and how they have the 27th Street corridor as a major contributor to their School District.

Holpfer came up with this unique idea: Instead of trying to get Oak Creek - Franklin boundaries changed (a lucrative business ladened area) we could go to the State Legislature to negotiate paying a set amount per child attending the Oak Creek - Franklin School district, and the rest could go back to Franklin. 

"Don't tell me what we can't do. Let's see what we can do to make it work."  is Ed's battle cry and I believe he means it.  Dennis Butler and Linda Witkowski said that there is no way that Oak Creek would let Franklin out of any agreement and it would take much work with the State legislature to work toward that end. I feel that is a defeatist attitude that the current board is known for.

Lastly, Ed Holpfer was the only candidate in Monday's Forum that referred to the Franklin Public Schools Facility Needs Survey Report stating that a new High School was not wanted by the majority of the survey that the School District paid for but ignored by the current board. Both Dennis Butler and Linda Witkowski said that they favored the replacement of the High School. This was a major difference among the three candidates at the March 24th forum and this stuck out in my mind.

If you are looking for change this may be the place to consider. While the two current alderman have done an adequate job as alderman. Neither has stood out as a must stay in office for Franklin to survive. Neither has done much to let you know as their alderman, that you must keep them in office other than a stay the course campaign.

While I have at times, reported on Kristen Wilhelm who is running in District 3 against incumbent Alan Hammelman. I find her to be a breath of fresh air (no pun intended as she is the current Environmental Commission Chair). Her enthusiasm linked to green background may be what the City of Franklin needs for a kick in the pants. In reading her website and brochures, I can agree with many of the issues she wants to change including those concerning safety.

In the 4th District incumbent Peter Kosovich is usually the quiet one at the Council meetings that I have attended. He is running against Steve Taylor, a recent Environmental Commission member add. As much younger opponent (age 32), Steve just may have fresh ideas that the council could use along with his youthful enthusiasm. Taylor has been active in local government as an alderman in LaCrosse, WI and a Planning Commissioner in MN. I think his enthusiasm is something the citizens in the 4th district may be looking for. Steve Taylor also has a great sense of humor chiding, Tom Taylor that next time their is a Mayoral  election, there still may be a Taylor running for office.

To my surprise, what I found was a whole page on Mayor Taylor’s website full of Basil Ryan’s historical lawsuits, his recall election, a denunciation of Mr. Ryan’s claim to reduction of tax rates while an alderman along with the posting of Council Meeting minutes that showed Mr. Ryan was not in attendance for approval of the City’s 2004 Budget in November of 2003 and lastly a paragraph in which the Mayor categorically is denying  Mr. Ryan’s statement that Taylor lobbied for improper pension buybacks.

J Here is Mayor Taylor's Web Page on Basil Ryan his Opponent

I might be a little late on this one but, during my Sabatical in the month of January I missed this little tidbit in the news. 

Could our local FranklinNOW food critic be luring Cameron's Steakhouse to Franklin some time in the future? Has he been having private conversations with Cameron Mitchell too? After all Cameron Mitchell operates Mitchell’s Fish Market at Brookfield Square Mall.

Or given all the hype of "upscale dining" at the affluent Bayshore Town Center, would the push for "upscale dining" here in Franklin tank also?

I believe that the real litmus test will be how the candidates perform at the Candidate Forum sponsored by the Franklin Area Junior Women's club and the South Suburban Chamber on Monday at 6:30 pm, March 24th at the Franklin Public Library.  I am sure that Franklin voters will be asking difficult questions of both the candidates, their background and their future plans for Franklin.

For now the Websites are just a preaty facade:

•  Tom Tayor for Mayor Website
• Basil Ryan for Mayor Website

One of our FranklinNOW bloggers has pointed out what he feels to be smear tactics by incumbent Mayoral candidate Tom Taylor. The blog never states what those smears are but just points to where you may find them.

While perusing Kristen Wilhelm's 3rd District aldermanic candidate website (one of the Election links featured on his blogsite) , a couple of phrases came across that could be misconstrued as smears to Kristen's opponent Al Hammelman....

One was " Special interest goals have become entrenched within the Council and it is time for a change! " on Kristen's I will be a stronger voice for the taxpaying citizens page. I would say Kristen could be implying her opponent Al Hammelman, is a pawn of of special interests as he is a current council member.

The other  is "The 3rd District is being ignored and the citizens need a stronger voice. For our Council, it has been all about opportunistic development, while the safety issues for the 3rd District increase with each passing day." on Kristen's Why is Kristen the 3rd District's better choice? page. Looks like Kristen is saying Al Hammelman finds it more important to go after "Opportunistic Development" rather than safety issues in the 3rd District and that he ignores his constituents.

Kristen also states "Over the past eight years of my volunteer work in the City, I have not been intimidated by the Council or the special interest groups that bring their business before the City."  One only needs to read Janet Evans WHY THE EC BUGS ME to understand what Kristen means.

So is Kristen Wilhelm smearing her opponent on her election blog by tying Al Hammelman to Special interests and opportunistic developers?

I don't really think so.

No more than, Tom Taylor is tying past law suits to his opponent Basil Ryan as a picture of his future performance, if he was elected Mayor.

In case it has escaped you, a new retail expansion development due to open this spring has been going up on the south side of the Lowes Home Center. This development has a town center flavor and has a southern exposure to Rawson Avenue. Unlike most of the retail developments that we have seen on 27^th street, you notice that there is four sided architecture with multi-architectural elements not seen on most so called strip malls.  The available square footage of the Lowes Development is approximately 11 to 14 thousand square feet of retail space.

Northwestern Mutual has been named "America's Most Admired" life/health insurance company in Fortune magazine's annual survey for an unprecedented 25^th time in 25 years.

Kevin Fischer brought up the first rumblings for the Franklin Mayoral Elections back on January 10th with his FIRST SHOT FIRED IN FRANKLIN MAYORAL RACE and then again in a BASIL RYAN'S ATTORNEY RESPONDS  where former Waukesha county DA, Paul Bucher, now Basil Ryan's private attorney, sends a "veiled threat" to Kevin Fischer about his postings on FranklinNOW. The comment section included responses by Basil Ryan Sr. and from Orville Seymer who is a Franklin activist, said to be partially responsible for getting Basil Ryan replaced on the City Council by current Alderman Pete Kosovitch. Making this more interesting is that Kosovitch's council seat is up for re-election in April also, and he is opposed by Steven Taylor for the 4th district Aldermanic position.

A few days later Ryan issued this press release with the campaign slogan "protecting the taxpayers".

Both candidates questioned the others signatures required to submit candidate papers. Both had more than enough to run.

Since then, not much has been heard.  

But now, it is one month away until Franklin residents will be voting for Mayoral candidates (Tom Taylor (inc) vs Basil Ryan),3rd District Aldermanic candidates (Allan Hammelman (inc) vs Kristen Wilhem) , 4th Adermanic District candidates (Pete Kosovich (inc) vs Steve Taylor) and 6th District Aldermanic incumbent Ken Skowronski who is running unopposed.

At least in the Mayoral election, I expect rumbling to begin soon. Expect this one to get nasty!

Could it be any other way, given the mud slinging that started back in January?

Or am I just Wagging the Dog?