The other day, Franklin blogger Kevin Fischer put up a blog post discussing why he is supporting Pete Kosovich and "the opponent" of Kristen Wilhelm on April 5th. Kevin is a 3rd District voter, so his household can certainly put their words into action at the polls that day with Wilhelm's re-election bid. What's so frustrating about the post is how it simply focuses on one issue.
Granted, Fischer openly admits he's a "one issue" voter, but it seems a bit naive to cast your vote simply based on taxes and nothing else in one's community. Furthermore, when Fischer brings up his chiding of the two incumbents, he calls out his alderperson, Kristen Wilhelm, as apparently breaking a promise. You see, when a candidate has a conversation with someone at a fundraiser, that somehow equals to making promises and pledges...but I digress. Fischer writes:
Wilhelm told me she had heard from many concerned property taxpayers that property taxes were too high and that she would vote accordingly. I asked her several times if she meant it because I wouldn’t forget. Wilhelm assured me she would do everything she could to control taxing and spending.
After that paragraph, he continues on with remarks on how she apparently didn't do this. He ends up essentially labeling this inaction as an "insult" to him. To add some confusion to the logic, Wilhelm seconding motions to support Alderman Steve Olson on budget reducing measures isn't enough, either. Forget the whole point that if Alderman Olson didn't have a second on his motions, they would have died and never been brought to vote, let alone discussion. Therefore, the second to the motion is just as important as the maker of the motion. It takes two to tango on proposals, which Wilhelm did several times on Olson's proposals. Lastly on this particular matter, if Wilhelm would have made the motions, Olson probably would have been a bit peeved since they were his ideas and suggestions. It's called common courtesy and respect.
Looking at the budgets and reviewing Fischer's recollection of his conversation with Wilhelm at a fundraiser, I'd say Wilhelm (and Alderman Steve Taylor) did their parts to control spending. Some bloggers seem to forget that prior to 2008, their readers were paying city taxes with yearly levy increases of over 5%. At times, it was flirting with 6%. After the 2008 elections, the levy increases were almost cut in half, from 5-6% to 2.5-3%. In my book, that's called the start of controlling spending in the community.
To bring tax levies down to 0% in one swoop from the 2008 budget to the 2009 budget, there would have been significant cuts to services that residents depend on and enjoy. The fact that the budget's levy increases have been cut in half while maintaining (even adding) excellent services and that "quality of life" factor in the community is great news for taxpayers. With additional revenue coming from the business park and the city's recent agreement with Waste Management, expect those levy increases to perhaps drop even further.
What frustrates me are when remarks like Fischer's are made without any regard as to where tax dollars are going or what they are supporting. If Fischer or other bloggers don't want quality police, fire or paramedic services, that's fine. If they don't want any parks or community amenities, that's fine. If they don't want to see our community remaining competitive with our neighboring suburbs in terms of quality services and features, that's fine too. If they and those who share those views want that to occur, then feel free to witness our fine community lose whatever clout it has today as a high quality, top-of-the-notch suburb in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area.
To me, to my family, that would be a much bigger insult; to go one step forward from 2008-2011, and then take two steps back. Due to that, I encourage this to my readers:
To continue Putting Franklin First and moving our community in a positive direction, promoting both the need for community "quality of life" amenities & features while cutting wasteful spending, VOTE April 5th for KRISTEN WILHELM in the 3rd District and STEVE TAYLOR in the 4th District.
Expect individual endorsement pieces on both Wilhelm and Taylor's bids as April 5th closes in.
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