Jim Stewart, as you may have read from his own news site the Whitewater Banner, is running for school board. He last sat on that board about ten years ago, and for twenty-odd years before that. More recently, he was a member of Whitewater’s Common Council. His candidacy in 2015 is a puzzle, three times…
Elections
Education, Elections, School District
On School Board Candidate Dan McCrea
by JOHN ADAMS • • 2 Comments
One may say a few things with confidence. First, those who have followed Whitewater’s schools & politics know Dan McCrea. He’s a member of the school board now, and is seeking re-election. Second, I’m not typically predisposed toward incumbents. Third, and this matters to me more than either of the preceding: Dan McCrea’s experience, ability,…
Education, Elections, Politics, School District
On School Board Candidate Kelly Davis
by JOHN ADAMS • • 1 Comment
Whitewater invites people to choose the city, to live here, and to commit to our community’s civic life. We offer our way of life to others, hoping that they will join us in the improvement of our schools, public institutions, and neighborhoods. Into our small city now comes a talented and educated woman who seeks…
Education, Elections, School District
The Whitewater School Board Candidates
by JOHN ADAMS • • 1 Comment
In a community that sees too few contested races, in a time when educational policy is under debate across Wisconsin, the Whitewater Schools have three candidates contesting two open school board seats. I’ve been following this election (as longtime readers would expect), and I’ll post about all three candidates – Kelly Davis, Dan McCrea, and…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Culture, Education, Elections, Law, Local Government, Politics, School District, University, Waste Digesters
Policy Topics for the Spring
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
In October 2014, I wrote about Four Public Topics for the Fall. They seemed to be the city’s prominent public policy questions, looking ahead from 10.20.14. Those topics were (1) the 2015 City of Whitewater budget, (2) Whitewater Schools referendum, (3) UW-Whitewater’s social relations, and the (4) City of Whitewater’s waste digester proposal. Now, as…
City, Elections, Politics, School District
Thoughts on the 11.4.14 Election
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Whitewater will not see an election so big as last night’s for another two years’ time. There’s much to consider about the results. A few remarks appear below, along with a table using preliminary, unofficial data from Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Counties with results for the referendum and gubernatorial questions. COUNTY COMMUNITY REFERENDUM YES REFERENDUM…
City, Elections, Politics, Wisconsin
Signs on Election Night
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
There are both statewide and local signs for how election races are going. Statewide, Jake of Jake’s Economic TA Funhouse (blogs often have inventive names) is right that, short of an improbable collapse for the major-parties’ strongholds, the areas to watch are the counties that have supported both Walker (’10, ’12) and Obama (’08, ’12). …
Elections, School District
Whitewater Educational Referendum Post 2: Local Campaign
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
There are a few aspects of the referendum campaign that stand out. Here are five notable characteristics of the local campaign: 1. No organized opposition. There’s no organized opposition to the budget referendum. None at all. There is a district campaign on the referendum’s behalf and a tandem Whitewater YES effort among some residents, but…
Elections, School District
Whitewater Educational Referendum Post 1: Overall Politics
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
This is the first of three posts on the Whitewater Educational Referendum. In this post, I’ll look at the overall political climate for the referendum, one week out from the election. There are three key considerations for the referendum, but only two of them are commonly discussed. 1. The gubernatorial election looks to be close.…
Elections, Gubernatorial Race 2014, Politics, Poll
The Marquette Poll for 10.1.14
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
The latest Marquette Law School Poll is out today, with just over a month before the gubernatorial election. The last poll was 9.17.14. The 10.1.14 poll has Walker 50, Burke 45 with likely voters, and 46-45 to Walker’s favor among registered voters. The race is now just outside the poll’s statistical margin of error. I’ve…
Elections, Politics
On Vetting Candidates: Be Sure to Check “Social Media.” You Know, on the Inter-Webs
by JOHN ADAMS • • 1 Comment
In Wisconsin’s 44th Assembly contest, nineteen-year-old GOP candidate Jacob Dorsey has withdrawn following discovery of his numerous racist and bigoted posts on social media. The episode is now a national story. (Bashing blacks, gays, even Abraham Lincoln…Dorsey kept busy. One additional, much smaller matter: he even suggested in a tweet that Utah was his favorite…
Elections
August 12 Primary Results
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
A few remarks on last night’s results; those results are, of course, as yet unofficial. 1. Governor’s Race. In the city, Burke received 462, to Walker’s 288. Neither candidate had meaningful opposition (Brett Hulsey was inconsequential, really). Summer, no real opposition, campus mostly empty, but Burke takes over 61% of the top-candidate vote. It’s a…
Elections, Politics
August 12 Primary Questions
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Here are a few results I’ll be looking at tonight, in the August primary: 1. Governor’s Race. How do Walker, Burke (and even Hulsey, Burke’s eccentric challenger) fare in Whitewater? Statewide and locally, how many votes do they get in a summer primary? 2. The 15th Senate District Primary. For the Democrats, will it be…
15th Senate District, Campaign Ads, Elections, Politics
When Even Other Democrats Complain About a Democratic Candidate
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Mike Sheridan’s running in the 15th District Senate primary against two other Democrats, as Sen. Cullen is retiring. It’s not common for others within one’s party to be so critical of a candidate against whom they’re not running, but former colleagues of Mr. Sheridan (when he was in the Assembly) have strong criticisms of his…