Today is Wisconsin’s Spring Non-Partisan Election

State Supreme Court Justice

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Local selections might be City Council, Mayoral, County board, School board

Polls opened at 7:00am to 8:00pm. 

Anyone in line at 8:00pm must be allowed to vote.

Before I get into each race, I would like to give some thoughts.

School Superintendents, School Board Directors (Members), and Judicial posts (Supreme Court and Circuit Court Judges) are all to be Non-partisan.

So what does Non-partisan mean? 

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

The role of any non-partisan position should be non-partisan!  The key problem of all of this is you cannot exclude your ideology from the decisions you make everyday in life.  It is the core of your beliefs; the basis of your conscience.  It is what helps give us our morals and boundaries.  It tells us when something is black and white and shapes our gray areas.

Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about Democrat Vs. Republican here.  Again, it is ideology at question.  You can be a Democrat but not a Liberal!  Any decision I make has a fiscal conservative angle to it and I never hide it.

Liberals say they dislike labels yet they hide behind them and try to confuse people when they are the same thing “liberal” or “progressive.”

Side Note – A little misnomer on big business CEOs.  Most of the big bad CEOs for big businesses are liberal democrats.  That many times is forgotten when liberals attack CEOs and capitalism! 

Basically, the rule of thumb for a Conservative is whatever the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) and the Unions back and endorse we choose the opposite.  Why you might ask because isn’t that voting against someone instead of for?

Well if MJS was not slanted liberal and just reported news as it should and allow the reporters opinions be known as opinions with the Newspaper staying out of it (since when the paper endorses a candidate it does it for all that work at the paper).  Just like the Union telling people who they will vote for!  That is not democracy!

Cudahy Recommendations

Referendum – School District of Cudahy

Recommendation - NO

Referendum reads as follows:

Shall the following Initial Resolution be approved?

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of the School District of Cudahy, Milwaukee

County, Wisconsin that there shall be issued, pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds and/or Qualified Zone Academy Bonds ("QZABs") in an amount not to exceed $3,775,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of (i) remodeling, renovating and improving school facility and grounds and (ii) acquiring equipment, furnishings and fixtures.

For more on why NO on the Referendum click on the my previous story here: $4.4 Million Cudahy Referendum

Recommendation - NO

School District

School Board Director

Recommendation - Bob Grams (Please see separate post just on him)

Bob Grams for Cudahy School Board

Recommendation – Any of the others would do just fine.

South Milwaukee Recommendations (reminder, I do not live in South Milwaukee)

School District

School Board Director

Recommendation - David Maass

Recommendation - Nick Szablewski

While reading what the candidates had to offer in the Q&A’s I really liked what David Maass had to say and he has the proven track record to back them up!

I have gotten to know Nick Szablewski from talking to him for hours on the phone and conversing with him in email.  I think he can bring a fresh set of eyes to the school board with a good sense of fiscal conservatism and responsibility.  I do not get the feeling it is all talk just for the election.  I feel it is legitimate and sincere. 

I think Kathee Molus would do very well, but I don’t have any first hand knowledge and some people that live in South Milwaukee feel she might have too much on her plate already.

As far as Zachary Wisniewski.  My parents raised me that if you don’t have anything good to say about a person, don’t say anything.  So I won’t!

The small exception to the rule my parents said is, if it affects you directly, say it!

Please Vote April 7th.

Before I get into each race, I would like to give some thoughts.

School Superintendents, School Board Directors (Members), and Judicial posts (Supreme Court and Circuit Court Judges) are all to be Non-partisan.

So what does Non-partisan mean? 

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

Well we know that just is not the case.  Part of the problem is when people apply a liberal interpretation to something.  I will explain.

Judges “Legislating from the Bench”!  Creating laws in the Judicial Branch.  Judges who like to make laws instead of interpret and enforce laws.

Separation of powers under the United States Constitution created three separate branches the Legislative Branch and power, Executive Branch and power and the Judicial Branch and power.

Legislative Branch and power creates laws

Executive Branch and power caries out the laws

Judicial Branch and power checks the laws and challenges them if need be

Each one has a specific role to play and together they work as a check and balance.

The role of any non-partisan position should be non-partisan!  The key problem of all of this is you cannot exclude your ideology from the decisions you make everyday in life.  It is the core of your beliefs; the basis of your conscience.  It is what helps give us our morals and boundaries.  It tells us when something is black and white and shapes our gray areas.

Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about Democrat Vs. Republican here.  Again, it is ideology at question.  You can be a Democrat but not a Liberal!  Any decision I make has a fiscal conservative angle to it and I never hide it.

Liberals say they dislike labels yet they hide behind them and try to confuse people when they are the same thing “liberal” or “progressive.”

Side Note – A little misnomer on big business CEOs.  Most of the big bad CEOs for big businesses are liberal democrats.  That many times is forgotten when liberals attack CEOs and capitalism! 

Basically, the rule of thumb for a Conservative is whatever the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) and the Unions back and endorse we choose the opposite.  Why you might ask because isn’t that voting against someone instead of for?

Well if MJS was not slanted liberal and just reported news as it should and allow the reporters opinions be known as opinions with the Newspaper staying out of it (since when the paper endorses a candidate it does it for all that work at the paper).  Just like the Union telling people who they will vote for!  That is not democracy!

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently endorsed Tony Evers for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Shirley Abrahamson for Wisconsin Supreme Court.

State and County races now.

The State Superintendent of Department of Public Instruction (DPI) candidates

Rose Fernandez   www.ChangeDPI.com

Tony Evers          www.tonyevers09@yahoo.com

State Superintendent of (DPI) Recommendation - Rose Fernandez

I am not basing this decision on the email scandal and ethics violation of Tony Evers.  Rose Fernandez does not support raising the sales tax to cover the shortfall of funds.  She supports breaking up the failing MPS in smaller more manageable units and hold administrators accountable.  She is not a ‘Good Old Boy’ and brings real change and not status quo!  She supports the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer) a mechanism to keeping taxes lower.  Please read more about it here.  Be informed is all I ask!  Have the real information because info is power, just as misinformation is!

The Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidates

Randy Koschnik              www.koschnikforjustice.com

Shirley A. Abrahamson    www.abrahamson2009.com

Justice of the Supreme Court Recommendation - Randy Koschnick

Abrahamson legislates from the bench.  There is much false stink placed on Randy Koschnick because he was the public defender and defended Ted Oswald, the vicious cop killer.  Well as a public defender, he had no choice as you get the cases as they come and even guilty criminals deserve a fair trial.  There is a vast difference between a public defender and a hired criminal defense attorney.  And please don’t give me that line that Oswald himself gave an endorsement since those of you on the left didn’t like it when people on the right talked about Al-Qaeda Terrorist Group endorsed Obama!  If you had any brains don’t you think Oswald did it to hurt Randy Koschnick’s chances since he didn’t get him off!

This might clear up things for some – Click Here

Judicial – Circuit Court Judge

Circuit Court Judge Branch 6

Recommendation - Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr.

Since both Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr. and Ellen Brostrom are both liberals, I would rather see Christopher R. Lipscomb Sr. who has 17 years of experience and is already a judge than someone with a few months as a prosecutor under her belt.

Circuit Court Judge Branch 15

Recommendation - Daniel J. Gabler 

Daniel J. Gabler brings up a very good point that many of the judges don’t want to work even though the case logs are piling up and backing up.  Reminds me of someone else, but I can’t quite put a swipe card on him!

Please Vote April 7th.

School Board Members are a very important part of any city that many people don’t know much about.

I had someone in the comments section of another blog post bring up the fact that most people would not know who their School Board Directors are; a very true and valid point.

We spend much of our daily lives busy with our own things to attend a meeting or to listen to the issues.  That is why selecting the right candidate to do the job is most important.  Remember, character is doing the right thing when nobody is watching.

The School Board and its members are to be Non-partisan

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

What strikes me the most is looking at the “free from bias” part or “influenced by”.

You would want someone that is a strong leader, yet can maintain cohesion as a group.

You would want someone that is fiscal conservative and responsible with your tax dollars.  Someone who would spend the money as if it was theirs.  You would want someone that would not be penny wise and a dollar foolish! Someone who can look at the big picture while keeping Cudahy residents' school property taxes down.

You would want someone that is trustworthy and respectful.

You would want someone that is smart working.  Someone to know when to work hard and not hardly working.  In school, they teach you that the lines are your friends, but you need to know why they become your enemy.  Someone who would be able to show a true work ethic to look for solutions outside the box.

You would want someone advocating for the educational needs of ALL our children and to do what is right, not what is easy.

Someone who can make a real difference.  Someone who can grasp the magnitude and scope of the problems and find the right solutions to them.

While I think all of the candidates for Cudahy School Board are qualified, only one has ALL of these qualities.  Bob Grams

I support Bob Grams for School Board.  He would do a great job.  The betterment of the city was always a priority when he was Alderman and I am confident the same will hold true as a member of the School Board.

I am happy to spend money on things that are needed.  I am a big supporter of looking for state and federal grants.  Yes, I do understand that there is a fine line between grants and earmarks.

Now a major portion of the Cudahy referendum is for new roofs at Gen. Mitchell and J.E. Jones elementary schools.

I was talking to someone in city government who told me that someone should have looked into state and federal grants to place solar power panels on the roof.  To get the solar power panels up, they would have to replace the roof.

Not only could the school save on electric costs, but also the roofs would have been replaced.

I have included pictures of James Fennimore Cooper Elementary School on the south side of Milwaukee that does have solar power panels.  (click on picture for larger view)

On a similar thought, you can replace the boilers with Geothermal.  The return on investment (ROI) and savings are very quick.

I do think the referendum will pass and I don’t want to hear from people complain about Cudahy’s taxes!

http://www.cudahynow.com/news/cninews/39026137.html

Roof work tops Cudahy referendum spending list

School officials will ask voters for $4.4 million

“The roofs are really driving this,” said Jim Papala, director of financial services. “There’s a potential for increasing the damage to the buildings if we don’t take care of the roofs real soon.”

Papala said state-imposed revenue limits prevent the district from doing big projects such as roof replacements.  If the referendum meets voter approval, the roofs will be repaired this summer.

Other projects include window, lighting and floor repairs and renovations at Cudahy High School, according to a list from the district.

Nothing ‘extravagant’

Superintendent Jim Heiden said nothing on the list is “extravagant or over-the-top.”

“These are all things that need to be taken care of,” he said.

Kutka disputes ‘needs’

Only board member Linda Kutka voted against going to referendum at a meeting earlier this month.

Kutka said not everything on the list is needed, especially at Cudahy High School. She disputed the inclusion of $625,000 for office renovations, $281,000 to construct a circular drive in the school’s parking lot and $35,000 for an electronic welcome sign outside the school.

A parking lot also would be constructed in front of Kosciuszko Elementary School for about $112,000, she said.

“Those projects, I believe, are not needed,” she said.  “We are in difficult times, and we need to ask citizens for exactly what we need.”

She said the unnecessary projects will not boost students’ test scores or allow the district to hire more staff.

30 state school districts seek more taxpayer funds

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sunday Mar. 29, 2009

Amid one of the worst economic periods the country has seen in years, 30 Wisconsin school districts are poised to ask taxpayers to open their wallets wider.

The majority of the 43 referendum proposals on April 7 local ballots seek to allow the districts to exceed state-imposed revenue limits to finance current programs.  Others, such as the $68.85 million building program proposed for the West Bend School District, request the ability to issue debt to pay for maintenance or new facilities.

But with the state of the economy, and the failures of all nine school referendum proposals on the Feb. 17 ballot, districts likely face a hard sell this year, observers say.

"They do need more revenue, and they're going to the taxpayers to ask for it, but this is also the wrong time to do that," said Michael Birkley, legislative director for Wisconsin Property Taxpayers.  "With people being laid off all over the place, now is not the time to ask and to invest more in education."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/42107312.html

Cudahy was not mentioned in the article!

Just like playing “Where’s Waldo” can you find Mayor McCue in the sea of people at Obama’s Inauguration?

Help in the adventure of “Where are people.” Chief Roberts, Michelle Obama, President Bush.

U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan is just to Obama’s left with a Green Bay Packer hat near the rail

If you find McCue, post it up where he is.  McCue is telling people he just 100 feet from Obama. 

Click Here To Look

You might have to try going to the site at a different time, as the server does get busy from all the people looking.

You will remember I did a post on “The People Know Better” and “Elected Or Appointed” which talked about Cudahy’s lust to have certain local government positions that are currently elected by you, “THE PEOPLE”, taken away under the cloud of “This will be better for the city”

“This will be better for the city” Translation - This is a power grab and I want to install my “YES” people in the positions.  I will keep up the claim that those that run might not be qualified and so I will stick out that the requirements of the positions could be filled by someone for the treasurer of a city for example being 18 years old, registered to vote, and can't balance their own checkbook.

Let me make this a little more clearer to the people who will be reading this, exactly what the change would mean to them.

Taking the power and voice away from the people is very bad no matter what the intentions are!  The right to vote and the power of the vote is the single most democratic thing you can do.  Having people appointed is hearken back to the days of Kings and Queens where those in power are able to setup and stack the deck to keeping power by placing people who have their backs in power.

In the end, “WE” "THE PEOPLE" lose our ability to self govern because we are now relying a few powerful people to hand pick others who may have only the person that put them in power’s interest and not the people’s interest!

We have to be smart enough not to fall for the smoke and mirrors and all the rhetoric of the worst-case scenarios.  Don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes.  Wakeup and smell the coffee and all of those used up clichés.  Informed people make the best decisions, not the people in power!

The most and fairest way to all the people is to have “THE PEOPLE” elect who they think should and will work the best.

This elected versus appointed will not just go away unless you tell Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue and your alderperson to allow the process as it is now to work.  It has not failed us and it is democracy at its finest.

I do not, as you should not, want to see a movement afoot to change the clerk / treasurer and comptroller’s position from elected to appointed.  This doesn’t serve the best interest of the city.  Democracy does!  Voting does!  The people’s voice DOES!

If the Mayor wants to change it, it must be done through a change to the charter ordinance.

Just because a Mayor doesn’t like the person currently occupying the elected position for personal reasons we cannot allow an end around of the process called democracy.

One tactic that may be employed as an end around is too just simply plan on gutting the position of clerk/ treasurer by cutting the salary drastically.  If the salary is too low people will not run which would give a reason to install the appointed need or if they affectedly have no say thus no power than it is just a title with no job.

Don’t forget “THE PEOPLE” in Cudahy recently voted to split up clerk / treasurer and comptroller’s positions.  We want more transparency and responsibility instilled in our local government not less!

Now just because of a disliking is not a reason to have “THE PEOPLE” give up the right to elect.  If the Mayor feels this strong, then allow the people to vote on making it appointed and not elected.  He will not do this just like he would not put Wal-Mart on the ballot because the final outcome would not be to his liking.  Ironic that the outcome would not be to his liking for the reason to place it as a referendum item is a dislike of the person.

Yes, everyone must work together as a give and take, put not as a puppet system with someone pulling strings.  Being a “YES” man doesn’t help the city, but constructive criticisms does!  Many different choreographed voices that see the world and the city through different prism glasses does! 

I truly believe that gutting the salary because you don't like the current person in office is WRONG!  By gutting, the position by salary or authority is a means to that is just a way to get rid of someone you don't like is very undemocratic and irresponsible.

Do not allow the arrogance of others to tell “us” “WE the people” that they know better.  That is elitist talking.  We know better.

President Obama: "The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable and the way to make government accountable is to make it transparent.  I will also hold myself to a new standard of openness."

I don’t want to hear the cry that the President of The United States (POTUS) gets to appoint his cabinet members and that is just like all the rest of local positions in government.  It is not! 

The issue of gutting the salary, if that is to be done, should be at or after the next election.  The clerk/tres. ran for the office based upon the salary that was published at the time, to gut it half way through the term is flat out wrong. 

I strongly disagree with lowering the pay at all, because it weakens the talent pool and just opens the door for mischief as a means in the end to justify making the positions appointed because good candidates will not run for low wages. 

We are governed by a "Republic" not a true democracy and voting is the only democratic thing that we do.

The choice is and should be ours not the Mayor’s or not even the Common Council’s, but ours with the right to vote.  If after a referendum vote that “THE PEOPLE” want to voluntarily, give up the right to vote in clerk / treasurer and comptroller elections then by all means the city must appoint.

Until that referendum vote happens, the city and the elected officials need to back away from this and leave it in the hands of the people.

Here is where we must exercise an abundance of caution.  Heed my warning Common Council members, “You Reap What You Sew” and next the cry will be that it would be best suited to not elect Common Council members, but have the Mayor take applications and select them.  After all, do we really want non-elitists or the top of the top as the Mayor would see them?  What fairness would the Common Person have?

Maybe the Mayor and our friend that emailed me that wonderful email (Today’s Humor) truly don’t care about the Common Person.  Would any of the current Common Council members have the proper pedigree to still be in office serving “THE PEOPLE”?

Believe all that you will, but the best interest is still in the hands of the people not in a Mayor who might not put the best interest of the city in front of personal interest or personal distain.  One doesn’t need to look that far and see that Wal-Mart was not given a chance because of a personal dislike. 

The Mayor is NOT the CEO of the City, unless you recognize that the citizens, "THE PEOPLE", are the owners.

Remember words are only 7% of communication.

Please contact the Mayor and your district Alderperson and tell them leave their hands off the election process that “WE” “THE PEOPLE” know better!

Contact:

Mayor Ryan McCue

Phone Number: (W) 769-2222

Address: 3927 E Plankinton Ave

mccuer@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson First District Joseph Mikolajczak

Phone Number: (H) 483-1255

Address: 3754 E. Plankinton Avenue

mikolajczakj@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Second District Mary Schissel

Phone Number: (H) 744-0420

Address: 3836 E Munkwitz Ave

schisselm@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Third District Mark Otto

Phone Number: (H) 769-6626

Address: 3324 E Mallory Ave

ottom@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Fifth District Name Thomas Pavlic

Phone Number: (H) 483-7116

Address: 6015 Summer Winds Ct

pavlict@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Heroin overdoses, rash of garage burglaries, woman suspects she was drugged at bar, Plankinton Inn robbed at gunpoint, Citgo clerk victim of armed robbery, Woman wakes up as burglar leaves her home

Those are some of the headlines facing Cudahy.  True headlines!  Do you think Cudahy has a crime problem!  The answer is YES, unless you put your head in the sand!

Here is what some recently suggested to me:

“Randy,

I don't like the city shown in a negative light in the newspaper, radio and the Internet.  If it was going to change the outcome, I would feel different.  Since it's the holiday season, I would like to see something more positive on the CudahyNOW website.  Just a suggestion.”

And I understand where that person was going from!  Honestly I do.  It is just too bad the criminals and some city officials don’t.

Here is what someone else said to me:

“Randy,

It appears that the drug problem is running wild here in town, and bringing an officer back from HIDTA to Cudahy, and adding another officer, has not been the save all, as it was promised. 

Talking to a couple of young people here in town over the last week, they are equating Cudahy to a Ghetto.  That is really sad, but unfortunately, as they said, the drugs are free and flowing.”

What is HIDTA you might have asked yourself - The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.  The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/HIDTA/

Now I have said this before, the police cannot do this alone!  They need our help!  Are they perfect, NO, but they are doing what they can!  That is why we need to help out when we see something and call the police and we must give them the tools they need.

Again, we must support our police department and have faith in that part of the city.  Just look at what was just recently done.

The Cudahy Police Department Tactical Unit served two successful drug search warrants recently, resulting in multiple arrests.

As these investigations are ongoing, no additional information could be released.  I was told that they characterized these incidents as significant.

I was recently asked if the gang ordinance in Cudahy had been used and it has.  Could and should it be used more often?  I would say, YES if it was up to me.  But that would truly be up to the Cudahy Police to decide.  I am glad it is on the books incase it is needed.  Give the police as much tools as you can to make the city and us safe.

Maybe if the media keeps knocking Cudahy around, we will see change.  The fight of crime should be an excellent motivator for whoever runs for Cudahy Mayor in 2010. 

Much of the bad Wal-Mart headlines Cudahy brought on to itself.  It was common sense and the right thing to do and pass it, but low and behold, we would not want to do the right thing and common sense thing.  NOT in Cudahy!

Again, it might be a wake up call that Wagner, Sykes, Weber, and even Belling, are blasting McCue and Cudahy.  Unfortunately, from people I run into, Cudahy, once again is a laughing stock.  Add in that Cudahy is getting to look like a ghetto and we do have a problem.

Corrective action needs to be done, NOW!

We need to move away from the city leaders who do noting besides pad their resumes.

People from the outside looking in see that Cudahy is not moving in the positive right direction and now it is time for those looking in and out to move us in that way.  The right way!

Why cannot Cudahy have headlines like this?

Mequon makes money, Oak Creek booming, census study says

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/36210204.html

Jay Weber

Oak Creek is booming, Cudahy is NOT.

PodCast Click Here

Cudahy is in a battle and we need a strong Mayor, I am just not seeing that from Mayor McCue.  Do you?  Really, ask yourself what has he done that was a positive thing?

What we do see from Mayor McCue is silence.  Lots of silence that we can take to the bank.

Cudahy needs a Mayor who is seen and heard.  Right now, we don’t have that!

Where is the news conferences that we are going to take back the city from this crime wave?  What are the corrective actions being taken?

Where was the Mayor condoning the behavior of people vandalizing the people involved in a possible recall of him?  I pleaded for him to come out and denounce those actions, but he was silent.

Where is the Mayor’s meet the Mayor meetings to inform the public what is going on in the city?  Since I just mentioned it, wait it will happen shortly now!

While the recall may have fizzled, mostly because the people who would like to become Mayor next didn’t come forward.  Because what good does a recall do if the people are too afraid to run?

I just wish headlines would not be stories about illegal drugs in Cudahy and that at least four confirmed fatal drug overdoses in Cudahy, but those are the facts! 

Wait, looks like you can add to that - Another heroin overdose death suspected here

We have to stop wishing things would get better and actually do something about it!

It would be nice to live in a city that you feel safe in, is growing and moving in the right direction.  That just isn’t happening in Cudahy with Mayor McCue.  2009 is upon us and let us hope that those that would like to run for Cudahy’s Mayor are formulating ideas and strategies for running in 2010.  We cannot afford another McCue term.

It is not just “I” that thinks Mayor McCue is not doing enough for the city take a look at the public forum below and do a search on Mayor.  Very interesting comments.

What should be done with The Thirsty Moose tavern?

http://www.cudahynow.com/global_includes/forums/forum_cu_moose_tavern.asp

So what does the next Cudahy Mayor have to bring to the table?

Must be concerned about the crime in Cudahy and actually do something about it!  Talk is cheap, but actions speak volumes.

Must be really Pro-Business!  Not the talk, but the walk.  They need to actually show that Cudahy IS business friendly, not just campaign on it, but follow through! 

Condos are not everything (Condo sales at a trickle due to stagnant market)

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=638608

They need to be more open to the press with transparency as the real outcome not just talk about I will have an open door policy and lines of communications will be open.  They must keep the lines of communication to the public open.  John Q. Public always needs to know!  The need to spend every penny in a budget, some even capriciously, so that an equal or greater amount will be allocated next year has to stop! 

Accountability of the time and coming and goings - I was told that Mayor Hohenfeldt would send memos to everyone at City Hall that he would not be in the office.

So what whispers of names are blowing in the wind that might be considering a run for Cudahy Mayor you might be asking!

Here are a few rumors or wild speculation on my part of names surfacing that I have heard about.

Whose names are people talking about for a run at Mayor in 2010?

Jack Vaccaro, Robert Goss, Sara Eberhardy, Lee Barczak (now that he lives in Cudahy), some would like Joe Henika or Alderman Joe Mikolajczak from district one and maybe ex Mayor John Hohenfeldt.

One rumor being tossed my way was that McCue would not run in 2010, but put his support behind Lee Barczak in hopes if Mr. Barczak won he could in turn make McCue the City Administrator.

Maybe Cudahy could be this lucky - Almost half of council may seek mayor's post

Do we have a crime problem in Cudahy?  You would have to be a fool not to think so!

Just look at the report of activities investigated by CPD Officers this past week:

This data is provided by the Cudahy Blockwatch Activity Weekly Report

1 – Death Investigation

7 – Burglary

2 – Damage to Property

3 – Entry into Locked Vehicle

3 – Arrest Warrant (DOC, SMPD, MCSO)

3 – Domestic Violence (cleared)

1 – Arson

1 – Violation of Domestic Abuse Injunction (cleared)

3 – Theft (one case cleared)

1 – Operate Auto w/o Owners Consent

2 – Attempted Burglary

1 – Licensed Premise Open after Hours (cleared)

1 – CCW (cleared)

1 – Underage Consumption (cleared)

1 – Battery

1 – Sexual Assault 4th Degree (cleared)

2 – Armed Robbery (investigations pending)

1 – Sexual Assault of a Child (investigation pending)

1 – Missing Juvenile (located)

1 – Death Investigation – Drug Overdose

1 – Search Warrant – 3600 block of E. Squire Ave

1 – Possession with intent to deliver – Heroin (cleared)

Just as every city does, but we only truly care what our city does.  Let us work together and lower the crime!  Let us get pride in Cudahy and take back the streets!  If we have city people who don’t see the light, make them or replace them.

Incumbent David Maass will face Kathee Molus, Nick Szablewski and Zachary Wisniewski for one of two School Board seats that are up for election April 7th.

Incumbent Kay Lussier is not seeking re-election which has left open one new seat.

South Milwaukee School Board members have three-year terms and are paid $3,000 annually. 

Some places have much lower pay like Nicolet School Board members receive $1,000 annually and serve three-year terms or Glendale-River Hills board members serve three-year terms and receive $540 annually.

Not all cities/villages have paid school board members.  In Fox Point-Bayside School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Folks around the NOW blogging network may already know Zachary Wisniewski as he goes by the handle/name of Mrzippy13.  You may also see Zach around other Metro Milwaukee blogs as he goes by Zachary W. or Zach W.

This will be a very interesting contest and I WILL be watching and covering this one very closely.  I truly hope they have debates, as I cannot wait to see what positions/stances the individuals will take.

I will make sure to be in person for the debates and hope to hear from the candidates.

My name Tina Dondajeski and I am running for Cudahy 4th District Alderperson as a "Write-In" candidate.

I've attached my information flyer for you to review and share.  I will also be hosting a Candidate "Meet & Greet" on Saturday, January 10th at the Cudahy Family Library from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm so I can share my information and meet the residents face-to-face.

Please share this information with your family and friends in District 4.  You may also pass along my contact information if someone you know would like to reach me.  I can be contacted via email at tina4alderperson@sbcglobal.net or telephone at (414) 881-8494.

Thank you for your support.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Tina Dondajeski

Click Here for larger Image

Tina Dondajeski of the Patrick Cudahy Park Friends group has decided to run for the Fourth District Alderperson seat in the Jan. 20 special election as a “Write-In” candidate to fill a vacancy on the Cudahy Common Council from when Sean Smith resigned.

Eighth District County Supervisor Pat Jursik suggested she run for the spot when Mr. Smith first resigned, but home improvements diverted her attention from the race. 

After recently reading there would be only one candidate running for the position, she contacted City Hall to see if she could still be considered to being placed on the ballot. 

She was told that she could run as a "write-in" candidate and just needed to complete some paperwork at City Hall. 

She has filled out the proper paper work and would like to get the word out.  I consider her a friend and think she has a lot to offer.

She would like to have a debate with Jason Litkowiec who is on the ballot seeking the fourth district alderperson seat as well.  The topics Tina would like to see are all on the City of Cudahy such as, "Why do you want to be alderperson,” “What problems do you see facing the City of Cudahy” and “What is your the vision of how to fix them?”.

Tina feels she would like to give something back to the community and would like to have a voice in the issues facing Cudahy.

You might see Tina at Cudahy Park as I have many times this past summer, I would call it her second home.  Her name also might sound familiar to you as she was chosen one of the three people in Cudahy that made a difference in 2007.  I have re-listed the article at the bottom of the post.

Some At-A-Glance information on Tina Dondajeski. 

Background - Resident of Cudahy for 12 years, married with two children in the Cudahy School District.

Occupation - Human Resource/Compliance Assistant for Symbiont in West Allis

Education - Bachelors Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix

Affiliations - Founder/President of the Patrick Cudahy Park Friends, School District of Cudahy Building Usage Committee member, Cudahy High School Parent Advisory Committee member, General Mitchell PTO member.

She would like to see Cudahy become the "City of Choice" when people are looking for a place to live or bring a business.  “Communities to the north and south of Cudahy are booming, but we seem to be stuck in a rut,” Tina told me.

Dondajeski, Hollenbeck, McCue made a difference in 2007

By Chantel Balzell

Staff Writer

Posted: Jan. 1, 2008

South Shore NOW staff selected three residents, from among many, who made a difference in Cudahy in 2007.  Those people are Tina Dondajeski, Randy Hollenbeck and Mayor Ryan McCue.

Tina Dondajeski - Improving community parks and revitalizing interest in park activities is Tina Dondajeski's bread and butter.

Since founding the Patrick Cudahy Park Friends group in January 2007, Dondajeski has organized an Easter egg hunt and fall festival at the park.

She hopes to hold more activities at the park in 2008, including a spring event in April, a wine-tasting event in June and another fall festival in October.  She is working with the Milwaukee County Parks Department to arrange movie showings in the park, too.

For winter, she is trying to get snow piles at the park on which kids can play.

"I have lots of plans," she said.  "It's just a matter of finding money and members."

The 41-year-old and mother of two said she would eventually like to see the Cudahy Park Friends, the Pulaski Park Friends and the Sheridan Park Friends groups merge into a Cudahy community park group and plan events that would alternate among the three locations.

Dondajeski said it is important to contribute to the friends groups because the county's budget is making cuts to park funding and no longer has the manpower to host activities that were once popular years ago.

"When I was a kid, Cudahy Park had an ice skating rink and toboggan sledding," she said.  "Now, everything's gone."

Already, Dondajeski has received positive feedback from residents after organizing the Easter egg hunt and fall festival.

"I'm looking forward to 2008," she said.  "It's been a learning experience, but also a lot of fun."

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=702815

Tina Dondajeski can be contacted at tina4alderperson@sbcglobal.net she would be happy to hear from you!

Elections FAQ 11

What procedures, if any, must write-in candidates follow?  There are virtually no procedures or rules which specifically relate to write-in candidates for local office.  Although the lack of specific procedures and requirements relating to write-in candidates may seem puzzling at first glance, it makes sense when you consider that write-in candidates are considered candidates under state law and thus are subject to whatever requirements pertain to candidates in general.

Section 11.01(1) of the Wisconsin statutes defines “candidate” to mean “every person for whom it is contemplated or desired that votes be cast at any election held within this state whether or not the person is elected or nominated, and who either tacitly or expressly consents to be so considered.”  Thus, write-in candidates, like other candidates, are required to comply with sections 11.05(2g) and (12) of the Wisconsin statutes which require that every candidate file a campaign registration statement (Form EB-1) no later than the time that he or she becomes a candidate as defined in sec. 11.01(2) of the Wisconsin statutes.

The only statutes which specifically relate to write-ins pertain not to write-in candidates, but rather to the form of the ballot and to determining elector intent.  Spring primary ballots must allow room for write-in candidates.  Wis. Stat. sec. 5.58.  Curiously enough, the law specifically requires that villages leave sufficient space for write-in candidates under each office on spring election ballots, but does not contain a similar requirement for cities.  See sec. 5.60(5) and (3).  If the ballot card used by a municipality does not provide a space for write-in votes, the municipality is required to provide a separate write-in ballot, which may be in the form of a paper ballot, to permit electors to write in the names of persons whose names are not on the ballot whenever write-in votes are authorized.  Sec. 5.82.  The statute relating to determining elector intent with regard to write-ins is sec. 7.50(2)(d)(e) and (hm).

Source Here

Cudahy, as in the past, is much divided.  Just take a drive through it and you will notice that on the West side many more McCain signs than Obama.  While on the East side more Obama than McCain.

I will not give you reasons not to vote for Obama.  If you want those, and there are many, please stop by the other blog on The Right View Wisconsin http://www.rightviewwi.com/

Instead, I will talk up John McCain with the truth.

I love America and all it stands for.  Even in tough times, as we are currently in, I cannot think of a better place to be!  I love capitalism, freedom of choice, my rights respected and that America is the best place in the world!  I am not ashamed to say that, nor do I think America needs to learn a lesson of fairness from other nations who do not place our interests first.

McCain is not the perfect Conservative Republican.  Heck he is not a Conservative, but a moderate!  That is where Sarah Palin balances the ticket.  I want someone that has my best interest at heart.  Someone who will fight for me.  Not someone who I feel has their own personal agenda before America’s.

In tough times, we don’t need big government to save us.  Big government is what makes the problems in the first place.  Truly only those in government want more and bigger government.  Government needs to stop spending so much on all projects.  Our problems must be solved by its people not the big government.

Some bemoan the Iraq war, but it is needed to keep the war on terror from spilling American civilian blood on American soil.  We needed to bring the battle to them not to us.  People do not forget 9/11 because those same groups of people still want to ruin our way of lives.  They want to bring down the capitalist pigs.  Notice that isn’t socials pigs, but capitalist pigs.  They want nothing more then to make us a third world nation. 

Did we make mistakes in the Iraq war?  Yes!

Did we spend millions of our dollars unnecessarily?  Yes, I have talked how we needed a Marshal Plan.

Did we need to do it?  Yes!

Was John McCain not the first one to say we need a surge?  Yes, he was for the surge before everyone else was for it.

I understand that history will be made even with John McCain.  The first female Vice President, a giant leap for equality of the sexes. 

John McCain knows how to reach across the aisle and say, “Yes we can do this together”.

John McCain wants to put a freeze on all projects and that scares the big government people that rely on the government getting bigger for job security.  Why should they not have to worry about their jobs like the rest of us do?

John McCain has promised to appoint judges who will interpret the law, not make it.  Again, that scares some, as they don’t see a difference from legislating from the bench and the legislative branch.

John McCain has promised to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. That is a real tax cut.  Our taxes are already not fair since it is a progressive tax?  Yes, even the rich should get tax cuts.  Without the rich, who will own the companies that employ people?  See if you want big government, the government will supply the jobs in an ever-increasing venous vicious circle.

John McCain has the experience and the toughness to lead the way and I don’t fall for the scare tactic that Palin is just one heartbeat away crap.  What if a meteor might crash into the Earth?  Should I start to worry about that?

John McCain has the courage, strength, dedication, fortitude and convection to move this country forward without damaging the guiding principles that our forefathers laid out in our pursuit to the American dream.  We left behind the monarchies, dictatorships, and government run systems for a self-government that is fair as long as those individuals bring their own determinations and effort.  We have rejected Communism and Socialism when it could have been the hip thing to do!  The easy path! 

There is no short cut to the American Dream.  It takes hard work, blood, sweet, tears and individual responsibilities not a government handout or program to propel the people and the nation forward to reach the American Dream.  We should not be envious of those that have or wish to punish them either.

John McCain is Pro-Life because he knows the value of life and that life begins at conception.

John McCain has met problems and adversity face on in the past.  He has stared possible death and uncertainty in the eyes during the darkest of times and persevered.

John McCain commands and demands respect.  He doesn’t show or ooze fear and weakness.

John McCain may not look the part of a Hollywood movie actor playing president.  But this is not Hollywood, this is for real, this is America in the here and now.  We cannot tape or script the actions of those wanting to do harm to us, so our responses cannot be taped or scripted either.

John McCain has promised to fight government spending, to veto any bill with earmarks, and to roll back entitlement programs.  Sarah Palin feels that same way.  Doesn’t that sound like Conservative positions that are used to describe a “Republican?”

John McCain has the guts and the cuts that are necessary to bring about a balanced budget and force congress to make that a permanent requirement.

I don’t think we need to change just for change.  That is crazy talk.  Let all the married people just get divorces just to get divorces for change.  Screw working things out and toughing through them.  Just throw in the towel for the heck of it!  If that was the answer don’t you think MPS and many other failing things would just given up and change for change sake.

If you would hire someone solely based on looks or how well they speak from a cue card or teleprompter instead of real qualifications and past experience, unless you are hiring a news anchor or actor, you would be in trouble with the law as that mounts to biased discrimination and not a very good business decision.  So why would you elect a president for those reasons?

John McCain has served and honored his country and during that time brings much to the table as a president should.

I love this country and John McCain puts country first.  I want this country will all of its flaws and imperfections to continue a capitalism path because socialism is change and it scares me.  If it doesn’t scare you, you must be in government. 

Remember when you are in government you work for the people not the other way around.  If you forgot, America is a democratic republic.  You need to read the Federalist Papers and think about “What is the key function of the federal government?” 

I hope you can remember that the key function(s) of government according to our "Founding Fathers" were two-fold.
 
1. Protect your private property
2. Secure your individual liberties
 
I would recommend reading an old, out dated Federal document papers, better known as the Constitution, specifically Article 1 Section 8.  It lays out in detail the powers and duties of the Federal Government.

Please vote for John McCain as between the two choices, John McCain respects the Constitution much more than the other one.  John McCain is the right choice for the right reasons! 

Please checkout the Right View Wisconsin http://www.rightviewwi.com/ for election and political blogs from many authors including Jay Weber of WISN Radio and myself.

I would like to give credit when credit is due.  Our local blogger Steve T. (emailed me of the idea) and WISN Mark Belling, also gave me the idea.

We need to start making more noise on ACORN and I think we need to email the local MSM (Main Stream Media) to try to get them to cover the problems that the MSM currently are ignoring.  Picketing Doyle’s office and the MSM to get them to stop ignoring the problems may be needed.

Issue to email this week: ACORN

“Why are you not covering the ACORN problems in the nation and the problems in Milwaukee with ACORN?  Over half of the records checked in Lake County, Indiana from ACORN are fraudulent and that office running the Indiana voter registration is located in Milwaukee.  Why is not a reporter asking to independently looking into this in Milwaukee?  ”

Please email them and ask them why and get your friends and family to do the same.

NBC - Channel 4
tmj4feedback@todaystmj4.com

CBS – Channel 58
feedback@cbs58.com

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
mkaiser@journalsentinel.com

jsmetro@journalsentinel.com

FOX and ABC don’t list email address, but require you to fill out a form.

Red and Blue that is!

***Color Changes***

When looking at these older maps don’t forget that the colors changed recently.

Blue was the color of Republicans, which once stood for old money, blue bloods

Red was the color of Democrats, which once stood for revolution.

Why did the color change?  No one knows exactly, but Wikipedia states, “Blue was often used for Republicans, and Red was the often used for Democrats until either the 1992 or 1996 election.  Democrats did not like the association with the color red (i.e., the color of communism) and no doubt the use of Blue for Republicans had similar connotations around wealth or royalty (i.e., "blue bloods").”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Style_for_U.S._presidential_election,_yyyy

When looking at the county color maps, you will see that many of the blue counties are near water of some sort.  The shipping industry is still heavily labor union and that may have an influence on them as the Union has supported the Democratic Party, except in 1980 some major unions endorsed Ronald Reagan.

We are a center right country and many people, including the media, would like to paint the picture that the country is blue or purple and leans left.  But it is not!  How many areas would be red if the blue side was not stealing the election with voter fraud for many years?

Click on pictures to enlarge

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

There is talk floating around that the City of Cudahy might want to change the Cudahy Clerk and Treasurer from being an elected position to an appointed one.  I think that would be a major step back.  We would be taking the people out of control and placing that control to either a Mayor or Council to appoint the positions.

While some say that if you appoint those positions, you can make sure the person has the right skill sets.  I am also told many other cities appoint them.  Okay, but now you can setup a position where the people in power place the person in those slots.  Now the person is no longer answerable to the people.  Having the positions stay as elected positions, cuts down on politics playing into the positions.  Quandary to having an election which is political verses someone playing politics and place who they want in, politics plays more in the appointment.  There is no guarantee that the person with the best skill set is picked while being appointed any ways.    

How do we make sure currently that the Alderpersons or Mayor have the right skill set?  By votes!!!!!!!!!

If the people feel, they didn’t have the right skill set they will not get the votes for a reelection.

Now with Alderman Sean Smith’s open position, we have the opportunity to start and stagger the Alderperson districts.  For our five districts, we need to have the stagger because they could all leave and no senior staffed person is left on the council to have no guidance.

I also hope we also don’t create a city administrator position because that is what we have a Mayor for.  That position too would be an appointed position and that is not in the city and its citizen’s best interest.  That would give way too much power to someone that doesn’t answer to the people.

While I may have been duped when a Cudahy police officer emailed me a fake email chain hoax that snopes.com did show was false.  I posted info on the blog stating it was a fake.  It is just too bad CNN doesn’t know about snopes.com or many other checkers.

From news busters

“CNN Duped by Sarah Palin Bikini Photoshops”

CNN got duped! The supposed photo of Sarah Palin in an American flag bikini holding a rifle is a proven photoshop.

Oh well, CNN isn’t known for doing any actual fact-checking.  They leave that to us bloggers.  But, they could at least keep updated on the stuff we debunk.”

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/john-stephenson/2008/09/09/cnn-duped-sarah-palin-bikini-photoshops

McCain's Speech Higher in TV Ratings Than Obama's

Republican presidential candidate John McCain drew more than 38.9 million TV viewers to his acceptance speech.  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's drew 38.3 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.

McCain's acceptance speech was carried on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Univision, Telemundo, Fox News and PBS.

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid={D62F07AB-9B2D-4FB8-83DA-3462129C85C5}&siteid=mktw#comments

You might not want to read too much into it since the numbers might end up being adjusted either way.  I would have to say it looks like America wants to know what McCain has to say.  GOP may just be energized and peaking at just the right time.

Now contrast that with Obama’s who had it shown on more channels.  Add in Palin’s vs Biden and you can start to see how tight this is.  Tight race favors McCain/Palin.

Last week, Nielsen said 38.4 million people watched Obama speak at a Denver stadium on the six commercial networks, along with BET, TV One, Univision and Telemundo — four networks that didn’t cover Palin’s speech.  PBS added an estimated 4 million to that total.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26548482/

Here is an email I received

“Randy, I'm a Democrat and I support Obama.  However, one bill he's purposing to sign if he gets elected might change my vote.  My mother’s place of work had a meeting about it.

This could change the whole workforce everywhere if Obama is elected.

Source and full article Here”

Indeed, Big Labor is launching its largest political campaign in its history, and this year, more than ever, Big Labor means Big Money.  The two largest union coalitions — the AFL-CIO and the "Change to Win" Federation, a coalition of labor unions formed in 2005 as an alternative to the AFL-CIO — admit that they will spend at least $300 million on federal elections alone.  When combined with political action committees, local unions and other union funders, at least $1 billion of pro-union money is being dumped into electioneering.  You can bet the union bosses expect a lot of "change" from Obama next year on labor law.  An Obama administration — possibly coupled with a filibuster-proof Senate — will feel a real sense of obligation to repay Big Labor that supported them.

Top on the Big Labor agenda is the "Employee Free Choice Act" (EFCA), which is better described as the Employee 'No Free Choice' Act.  If it passes, employees would be subjected to a "card check" system, which effectively requires them to declare publicly their support or opposition to unionizing their shop.  Without the protection of the secret ballot, workers would be subject to coercion and deceptive practices by pro-union forces.  Mandatory card check union drives will mean that millions more American workers will be forced to join unions and facing the "choice" between paying union dues or being fired.  Both President Bush and John McCain have said they would veto this union power grab, while Obama is a co-sponsor and leading advocate.

Another pro-union bill on the fast track is the misnamed "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act.”  If it becomes law, the bill would force state and local governments to collectively bargain with union officials over all contracts involving police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.  This would be required even in "Right to Work" states that currently guarantee workers the right to choose whether or not to join a union.  Public safety employees would no longer be permitted to bargain individually and could be forced to accept the union's "representation" — like it or not.  The bill would also facilitate union efforts to stamp out the proud tradition of volunteer firefighting.  It would create massive unfunded mandates by imposing significant additional costs on state and local governments which are not reimbursed by the federal government.

Like the other bills, the police and firefighter unionization bill has so far been blocked — barely — in the Senate, backstopped by a Bush veto threat.  But it would likely be unstoppable under an Obama presidency.  One of Obama's pet projects is the Patriot Employers Act, which he introduced last August.  The bill offers incentives — in the form of tax breaks — to employers that comply with a litany of Big Labor demands.  To get these tax breaks, companies need to agree to eliminate secret ballot elections for unionizing in their shop and to enforce a gag rule on truthful speech about the downsides of unionization.

An Obama White House will also seek law changes that prohibit permanent replacement of striking workers.  Under current law, an employer has the right to continue operating during a strike by hiring replacement workers.  In advocating a ban on striker replacements, Obama's message is clear — union-ordered strikes would be automatic winners, and American workplaces would come to a screeching halt in the face of extortionate union demands.

Obama would also invariably promote the ultimate, though rarely spoken, goal of Big Labor: ending the rights of "Right to Work" states to preserve the rights of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union.  All Right to Work protections would be eliminated by repealing Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act.  Without this provision, forced unionism would prevail in all states, and states could not protect private sector workers from union demands to pay dues to them as a condition of employment.  This would be a huge win for unions and pro-union candidates — literally billions of additional dollars in new coerced dues would flow into Big Labor's coffers which could be used to support pro-union candidates.  So the union bosses have found their man.  With their billion-dollar bet on Barack Obama, they know that the payoff of new union coercive powers will be worth the trouble.

McCain campaign charges Obama playing race card

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

If Obama wins in November, Jim Doyle wants to be the Ambassador to Ireland.

City of Milwaukee’s Mayor Tom Barrett wants to be Wisconsin’s Governor, but first Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton would get the remainder of Doyle’s time as Governor (2010). 

That will obviously set off a chain of events such as Barbara Lawton becoming the Governor and what if the first thing she does is fire Wisconsin DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi?

Who would fill that position, the Lieutenant Governor’s and the city of Milwaukee’s Mayor spot (in 2010)?

This is all “What If’s” just something to ponder.