Calling All Recalls

Recalls.  A valuable tool that can be used to recall an elected official for gross misconduct.

I haven't seen enough of this anywhere in Wisconsin to warrant them.  My Democratic friends will not like this post.  My Republican friends will probably feel sheepish for being so supportive of Democratic Senator recalls last year.

When there was a failed attempt to recall Senator Lassa, I spoke out about recalls in general.  The big issue with her recall attempt was that she was one of the Senators who left the state to prevent a quorum from being present to conduct a vote on Act 10.  Opponents said this was a dereliction of duty.  They accused her and her peers of running away.  I disagreed.

Did you know Abraham Lincoln did this while in the Illinois Senate?
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/02/abraham_lincoln_jumped_out_of.html

It's not new.  It's politics.  The action, though, is probably so poorly viewed by those who disagreed because it was effective.

Until...the Republicans found another way to get around that stonewall.  Again, it's politics.

Likewise, the recall of Governor Walker is not right.  I've been criticized for being critical of the Governor, but the last I heard, that was still my right as a resident of the State of Wisconsin.  I am also an elected official and some people believe that I must have the same views as them on everything to be qualified to be Mayor.  Fortunately, none of us have the same views on everything.

The bottom line is that recalls should only be used when there is something seriously illegal going on.  In this case, I don't see it.  I may not like it and may vocally oppose it as a citizen; but again, that's my right just as you have the right to agree or disagree.  Some people would think that if I disagree with the Governor on Act 10, I am not qualified to serve as Mayor and conduct meetings of the council in which roads we rebuild, or which sewers should be lined or how we contribute to a new business that we are trying to recruit to Marshfield.

That's why the Mayor is a non-partisan position.  If I used my position as Mayor to preach about politics at the Sate level, then your right, I would definitely be wrong.  But that's not what I do.  If' I am having a beer and discussing politics, I am more then happy to give you my own personal beliefs.  As Mayor, I represent all people and respect that...and you would be hard pressed to find any place where I have ever mentioned anything negative about this or the previous Governor.  I've meet him, and as I said before...he's a nice guy.  I could certainly have a beer with him and talk football or baseball...probably not too much in politics we will agree on though.

The same was true with the last Governor.  Nice guy, but we disagreed on a lot.  We disagreed on using tobacco money to fill budget gaps.  We disagreed on tort reform issues.  We disagreed on school funding formulas.

If you are looking for someone to be a yes man to the Governor or the President, that most certainly isn't me...no matter who is in office.  My number one objective as Mayor is to do what is in the best interests of our Community and work with whoever is Governor to make things happen for Marshfield.

We get to recall our elected officials every time their term is up.  We have term limits already...they are called elections.  So for those of you supporting the recalls, I congratulate you and your willingness to put in so much work, it is commendable, but I disagree...respectfully.  For those of you who feel that, as Mayor, I should blindly support who ever is Governor, then I apologize...because you won't get that from me.  I will support who ever is duly elected and work to build a relationship with them to make things happen in our Community.