What Goes Around Comes Around

I find the desire of our leaders and government officials to pattern our government and society after Western European countries amusing.  While we are trying to become like them, they are realizing and recognizing that their systems aren't working and are failing.  The generous vacations and pension programs are bankrupting these European countries.  Chaos is starting to set in, but we still want to be like them!

ENDORSEMENTS

For many years I have felt that our area newspapers, such as The Sheboygan Press, have been failing to provide straight-forward information about topics in our state government. I have criticized our Assemblymen and Senators for not putting the facts into The Sheboygan Press so citizens would get more information, i.e. the good weekly articles Joe Leibham puts in the Delta Publication Tri-County News. When I asked our elected officials about this they told me they had tried but there was no interest on the part of The Sheboygan Press. Finding that hard to believe, I called The Sheboygan Press editor some time ago and he confirmed that they would rather not publish articles from elected officials.

After I decided to run as an Independent Candidate for the 27th Assembly District, I thought that the Sheboygan Press, which serves much of the district area, would be interested in comments. After numerous phone calls and visiting The Sheboygan Press offices, I was told they were not interested. Therefore, I found this last minute, 10/13/10, e-mail both interesting and odd.

The following is their e-mail request:

Dear Jack:

The Sheboygan Press editorial board will make endorsements in state and congressional elections in November. 

Because our board includes citizen members, we only meet once a week, which makes it difficult to personally interview all of the candidates. Therefore, we are asking each of the candidates to answer a few questions and return the answers to us via e-mail. 

We will go over each submission and I will ask any needed follow-up questions by phone or e-mail.
We ask you to be specific in your answers and include any specific measures you would propose to accomplish your goals and objectives.
Please return your answers to my e-mail:

jgulig@sheboyganpress.com<mailto: jgulig@sheboyganpress.com>.  I prefer the answers in a Microsoft Word document format.  If you have any questions, please call me.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Please return your answers by Monday, Oct 18

Joe Gulig 

Editorial page editor

The Sheboygan Press

(920) 453-5191

Questions:

How would you cover the anticipated deficit projected in the next budget and ensure that the state doesn't continue to run a so-called structural deficit?

How do you propose to fund the state's share of public education?

There has been a great deal of talk about job creation.  How can the state help create private sector jobs?

Wisconsin is said to be a high-tax state for businesses.  Do you favor lowering corporate income taxes?  (if yes, how do you make up for the decrease in revenue?)

Do you favor lowering personal income taxes?  (If yes, how do you make up for the decrease in revenue?)

What is your position on state shared revenue with local government?

What is your position on public access to court records of people who have been found not guilty or the charges have been dropped?

What is your position on public funding of Supreme Court races to eliminate the influence of special-interest money?

What is your position on requiring all groups who seek to influence elections follow the same requirement to disclose the names of donors that now applies to candidates and political action committees?

Do you favor a non-partisan commission to redraw congressional district boundaries and boundaries for assembly and state senate districts, or should this be done by the state Legislature as it is now?

Joe Gulig 

Opinion page editor

The Sheboygan Press

632 Center Ave.

Sheboygan, WI  53081

(920) 453-5191

jgulig@sheboyganpress.com

My response via e-mail:

Dear Mr. Gulig,


As you are aware from my previous phone calls, letters and visits to your office, I was very interested, beginning in July, in presenting comments, views and input about issues, subjects and situations which are of great concern to the citizens of the 27th Assembly District, as well as to all of us living in Wisconsin. Up to this time, and until this current request and list of questions suggesting you would evaluate me for endorsement, I was politely told each time by your newspaper that comments, views and input from me, a candidate, were not of interest and would not be accepted.


I made a determination early in my candidacy that I did not want to solicit and seek funding or endorsements. I have tried to be sincere, honest and factual in all of the meetings, debates and contacts I have made. I have stated information about myself and issues on my website and blog.


I thank you for your consideration, request for comment and offer to analyze me for your endorsement, however, I respectfully decline since I am not seeking an endorsement.


Sincerely,
Jack Lechler
INDEPENDENT Candidate for Assembly District 27


P.S.
Please be advised, if you desire to publish this response as a Letter to the Editor (if it is done in its entirety), it is acceptable to me. Do not, however, misquote, paraphrase or take out-of-context any portion of this response.

Why am I running as an Independent?

When I filed my nomination papers at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (WGAB) office, I was surprised to learn that I was only asked to provide my name, address and phone.  I was not asked for proof of who I was nor did I need to show any photo ID.  I didn't need to prove I was a resident of the area that I was intending to represent.  Interesting?

Next, I needed to fill in a blank with my "Party Affiliation".  I wrote in None/Independent.  I was told this was unsatisfactory.  It is not possible to say None - you must have a party affiliation.  I responded that I did not want to be associated with any party and if there is an organized group called Independent, I did not want to be identified with it.

When you read or see the news, each representative is typically identified along with his party.  All you hear from the Democrats and the Republicans candidates in an election or during the vote on a new bill, is the need to be bi-partisan and their ability to reach across the aisle. Quite often, the reaching across the aisle requires some "incentive" from the other party to consider the bill.  This is EXACTLY why I don't want to be associated with any organized party.

Nothing frustrates me more than when I hear a vote is to be taken in the Assembly or Senate but the vote is being postponed until they can check on how everyone will vote.  What a bunch of baloney sausage.  Why do you need to twist someone's arm or promise them pork if they vote the way  the Party wants them to vote?  That sounds like intimidation or bribery to me.  Therefore, my party affiliation is "None" but I am listed as an Independent.  Most importantly, I do not want to be beholden to any party and am proud to be independent without any of the restrictions imposed by the party officials.

Improved Transportation?

Why isn’t the high-speed rail – high speed?  Why is this topic being criticized by clear-thinking people?  Why is something that is supposed to be fast, convenient and "transportation-for-the-future" being dubbed as “half-fast”?

This $800 million-plus dollar expenditure is a topic throughout the state.  It is another example of how tax dollars are being squandered.  It is not just the amount of money being spent on the project, it is also about the waste and haste in how it is being spent.  What is the hurry?

Could improved rail service be beneficial?  Could our transportation in Wisconsin and the United States be improved by a great rail system?  I think we all could agree yes to these questions, but again, this Milwaukee to Madison train effort is just a “knee jerk” pendulum swing activity.

I can well recall just a mere 60 years ago going to the Kiel train depot at

7:30 a.m., boarding the train (the Milwaukee Road) with my mother and going to Milwaukee to enjoy a day of shopping.  After five or six hours in the big city, eating at the Kresge’s lunch counter, shopping at Gimbles and Shusters, we would get back on the train at 3:30 p.m. and be back in Kiel for supper.

I can recall as a 12-year-old having my father drive me and our 75-year-old neighbor, Mr. Shubert, to Sheboygan where we would get on the Northwestern train and head to Milwaukee to attend a Milwaukee Braves baseball game.  What a great experience.

I can remember in the early 1960s, there were still some passenger trains running.  In fact, several local band directors attended the Midwest Music

Directors Convention and did use the train but it certainly wasn't convenient as the Kiel depot no longer existed. They were however, still able to board the train in Kiel.  Finally, and unfortunately for those railroad passengers, roads continued to improve and railroad service ceased entirely for passengers. 

What has happened over the last 40 years has been a result of the pendulum swing removing train service.  Railroad beds have been removed or replaced by bicycle trails.  Now that was a real step forward in improving and speeding up transportation and encouraging people to travel via train.  So, the pendulum is starting to swing the other direction, but they want to push it much faster than a reasonable swing.

Which brings us back to the Milwaukee to Madison train.  We again seem to be dealing with a lack of common sense and the purely political desire to spend money quickly and stupidly just to make a political statement.  Why are we in such a rush?  Why can’t we take our time and build a truly modern and futuristic rail system?  Why can’t the train be electric?  The monorail at Disney World was set up in 1971.  It was futuristic then.  That was forty years ago!

I believe we all recognize we are in a changing world with elevated population, fast-life styles and hectic schedules.  I believe most people recognize the need for new, improved transportation systems.  However, what most of the clear-thinking, common sense citizens of Wisconsin don’t want is a government spending $800 million-plus dollars on a project that is not innovative, is “half-fast”, will not be profitable, will cost US more money each year in taxes if the system needs subsidies, etc., etc.

WE THE PEOPLE need to call Madison daily, write letters and let our voices be heard.  TELL THEM what you think!  Don’t spend money foolishly, be prudent, be fiscally responsible, don’t spend what you don’t have, walk before you run, plan your work and work your plan, and live within your means.  Only you can make a difference.  VOICE YOUR OPINION!

Tri-County News Page 3 was Interesting

If you read or did not read Page 3 in the October 7^th issue of the Tri-County News, I would encourage you to go back and look at it.  On this page you were able to see two interesting scenarios.

OBSERVATION 1 - Involvement at the Local Government Level

There was an article written about the county meeting and the discussions regarding the construction of a county building in a fiscally responsible manner and the public sentiment about it.  Also, wages for employees and pay increases in a depressed economy were discussed.  It is obvious that emotions, common sense, compassion, appreciation for service, economics, budgeting, business climate, etc. all needed consideration.  A government of the people, by the people and for the people was clearly working.

We need more citizens attending meetings of school boards, town boards, city and county government.   We need more citizens calling and advising their government representatives of their needs, wants and feelings.  I had the opportunity to attend several township meetings recently.  These can truly be the root and heart of returning to strong local government.  I have been very impressed by the common sense approaches, concern for the people and dedication shown by town officials.  The local government officials need to make certain they continue to represent the people.  My observation is that as we step-up to the next higher level of government, the representatives seem to develop a greater disconnect with “the people”.  Our public officials need to LISTEN to and act on behalf of the people they represent.

OBSERVATION 2 - Fox Valley Sign

Now for the other part of Page 3.  Directly below the county story you will see a picture of a Fox Valley sign being erected.  On the day this sign was being installed, I was driving into Chilton.  I looked at the activity and said to myself, “Wow – look at the truck, the big sign and the workers – this must be expensive – I wonder why it is being put up and what it costs?”

About an hour later, I decided to call the Fox Valley Technical College, Chilton Center, and ask about the sign.  I spoke with a lady who advised me that she was not familiar with the details.  However, she suggested I call 920-735-4819 and speak with Jan Oakey in Appleton.  I then called Jan and asked two questions.  Why did we need a new sign and how much did it cost?  Jan agreed to research it and call me back.  Here is the information she gave me.

We needed a new sign because the other sign was older and needed replacing.  The new sign would be used for information and advertising.  The cost of this new sign shown on Page 3 of the newspaper is $45,000.

I don’t know about you, but I think $45,000 is a heck of a lot of money.  The caption under the picture indicates the sign will clearly identify the school to passersby.  I would like to point out that the name of the school is quite clearly identified ON the building and that anyone trying to find the school should be able to look up the address and find it.  Quite frankly, we should not need to advertise to “passersby”. 

Having had my interest peaked, I asked Jan who administers the signage and sign replacement.  She advised that Fox Valley has set up a Signage Committee to perform this task.  She said that they have a 5–year plan.  I asked her what the “Signage Budget” is and she told me it is only $190,000 per year.  Let’s see, $190,000 times five years – golly gee, that’s $950,000 (almost a million) just for signs for passersby.

Now, just to link topics 1 and 2 found on page 3.  We may not agree with our town, city, and county boards, but we can call our officials, vote for them, run in opposition to them, or vote on referendums for projects and buildings.

Now, look at your tax bills.  You have a line item for Tech Schools and you can do NONE of the foregoing options relative to those costs or the associates functions, operations or expenditures.  The Tech Schools are vital.   I support their purpose and role but their budgets and salaries are not subject to scrutiny by the people.

I hope you enjoy the sign – you paid for it!

I would encourage you to listen to the Jerry Schneider Radio Show for the next three weeks.  That’s WMBE in Chilton, 1530-AM on the dial, Saturday mornings 7:00 to 10:00.

Let’s keep our elected officials working and listening to the people.

The Importance Of and Appreciation For Your Local Government

I am finding out that running for office is a good educational experience.  I am gaining a renewed and enhanced appreciation for how many dedicated citizens there are who serve in the role of school, town, city and county official.

The issue that really concerns me is that many of these officials are frustrated and are weary of all of the regulations and mandates thrust upon them by the higher levels of government.  Most local government officials could and would run their town and city governments more efficiently, more economically and with more common sense if they would not need to deal with or comply with things like prevailing wage and mandated arbitration processes.

We need to get the yoke of higher government off of the backs of local government.

Wisconsin - Love It But Forced to Leave It

As my campaign moves forward, I've been receiving feedback from some former Wisconsin residents via e-mail or phone calls.  As I spoke with people I've met during the campaign, I've frequently encountered individuals who have changed (or are planning on changing) their residency from Wisconsin to another state.

These people enjoy Wisconsin, they love Wisconsin, but they feel compelled to become residents of another state.  Why?  Certainly in some cases because they want to escape winter and spend time in a warmer climate.  However, with additional dialog, it becomes evident that they have recognized the Wisconsin taxes are out of control in comparison to the states they have moved to.  Some have actually quantified the savings in the range of 5 to 10 thousand dollars per year.  They have incorporated ALL of the imposed state taxes and fees in these calculations (real estate, sales tax, income tax, etc.)

As we continue to lose residents to Arizona, Florida, Texas, and other states, remember the rest of us will carry the burden.  Additionally, recent information has shown that our best and brightest Wisconsin students look for careers outside of Wisconsin because they have more opportunity in other states.  That means we are losing new workers as well.  And of course, we've seen the impact of the corporate taxation enacted by Governor Doyle on businesses taking their business to other locations.  It's a vicious circle and you and I will continue to pickup up an even larger burden of Wisconsin's deficit spending and out of control budget ( including a train that won't have anybody left to ride it!). As this continues, the hurt gets deeper as we not only loose businesses and jobs but also many of our financially stable citizens.

It's time to send people to Madison who are willing to tackle this issue and call their opponents out on unreasonable spending and taxes.