In a city where some have had an unfortunate tendency to favor marketing over actual accomplishments, and where ‘Whitewater Advocacy’ often amounts to the laughable exaggerations of a few insiders, loss of funding poses a double risk. First, communities across the state have to make do with less, and Whitewater (with a public campus) will…
School District
City, Elections, Local Government, School District
The April 7th Election Results
by JOHN ADAMS •
A quick summary of results across the state and near Whitewater suggests that while voters may be concerned, or even worried, they’re not angry. If voters were angry, more incumbents would have been defeated. That didn’t happen. The same state that re-elected Gov. Walker last year re-elected Justice Bradley last night. Those two have little…
Elections, Local Government, School District
Tomorrow’s Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
In the city and the state, there are important races on the ballot tomorrow. These are challenging times for Wisconsin and for Whitewater, and the choices we make will influence how smooth or difficult is the work ahead. For our school board, particularly, we’ll need a combination of energy, diligence, thoughtful analysis, contemporary-thinking, and a…
Education, Elections, School District
On School Board Candidate Jim Stewart
by JOHN ADAMS •
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…
Education, Elections, School District
On School Board Candidate Dan McCrea
by JOHN ADAMS •
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 •
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, Government Spending, Libertarians, Liberty, Public Relations, School District
On the Whitewater Schools
by JOHN ADAMS •
Today is the first of a series of posts about the upcoming, contested WUSD board elections. Three candidates are running for two seats: Kelly Davis, Dan McCrea, and Jim Stewart. In today’s post, I’ll summarize some of my own views. (I’ve been direct these last several years; it makes sense to state one’s convictions plainly,…
Education, Elections, School District
The Whitewater School Board Candidates
by JOHN ADAMS •
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 •
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, Local Government, School District, University
The Power of Evaluating Simply
by JOHN ADAMS •
A woman walks into a retailer, to buy a new computer. She’s an architect, and her needs are like any capable member of that uncommon profession. Her computer should be able to manage large files and demanding software, with a few accessories she already has in mind. Those needs are specific to an architect’s work,…
Corporate Welfare, Education, Gov. Walker, Government Spending, Innovation Center/Tech Park, Labor, Liberty, Local Government, School District, University, WEDC, Wisconsin
Education: Substance & Spending
by JOHN ADAMS •
Following comments to yesterday’s post on proposed cuts to the UW System schools (Caution arrives late, doesn’t recognize its surroundings), here are nine quick comments about education. 1. Act 10 as a budgetary tool. This centrally-planned idea didn’t work. Reductions in public-union bargaining powers in exchange for the ‘tools’ to balance school and other public…
City, Culture, Local Government, New Whitewater, Politics, School District, University
Whitewater’s Near Future Depends on What Year It Is Now
by JOHN ADAMS •
Local Government, School District
Mediocrity’s Overweening Sense of Entitlement
by JOHN ADAMS •
Officials, candidates, and political parties are – and should be – free to choose and act accordingly. What they shouldn’t be – and in Whitewater will not be – is free to act merely on their own terms, without question or comment. Want to run for office? Good luck. Want to hold office? Best wishes.…
City, Elections, Politics, School District
Thoughts on the 11.4.14 Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
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…