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I am not sure who’s Director of Plants and Animals, or Flora and Fauna, or whatever, here in Whitewater.

I hope, though, the high official in that position reads Wired, because in that fine publication one finds a possible solution to all our energy worries:

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/doubleduckweed.html

Note to Chief Coan – By high official I mean a bureaucrat near the top of Whitewater’s municipal government, rather than a public servant under the grip of Reefer Madness.

The WUSD this morning chose Dr. Suzanne Zentner as its new district administrator, succeeding Dr. Leslie Steinhaus.

Much will be made of Dr. Zentner’s local ties – but in the end, it’s moving away from many local practices that will make all the difference for us.

Every initial announcement is a happy one; success comes slowly, and calls for patience.

Best wishes, and welcome to Whitewater.

Just a few comments about races that were, generally, unsuprising.  

First, it takes few votes to find one’s way to Common Council.  Between about 100 and 200 votes received would have assured a place on Council from Districts 1, 3, and 5.  In a low turnout race, without high-profile state or local contests, one can get a platform in Whitewater with that level of support.  Legitimate and lawful, but hardly a mandate. 

If Wisconsin held these races at the same time as fall general election contests (as other states do), one wonders what the Council would look like.  

The registered write-in candidate in District 3 received more votes than the winner in District 1.  

Second, the Nosek-Kienbaum race surprises me, very much.  I would have expected Kienbaum to do far better than about 55% of the vote.  She was the incumbent, presents a grandmotherly image to the public, had campaign signs and newsaper ads, and ran against an opponent who was, well, direct in his delivery in a way that caused consternation among more than one person.  

There’s no plausible way to claim, as she did in campaign ads, that she’s the “People’s Voice.”  I’d guess, though, that she’ll see none of that, believe she has a mandate, and go on about as she has.  

Who voted for Nosek?  Lots of people, I wouldn’t wonder, who shared his views.  I opposed his positions, as readers know, but there’s no way to ignore that he must have received those votes in support of his stated positions. 

What happens to these voters now?  I think they’ll wait and see what the city does on the ‘housing issue,’ and if they’re dissatisfied, they’ll be even more of them to turn out for other races.  

That it’s reached this point, says so much about how the City of Whitewater has mismanaged this issue.  I favor far less government (but I’m convinced that Kienbaum’s an ineffectual, muddled advocate of anything like a market position).  After two years of talking on this issue, Nosek’s succeeded in cajoling the city into speaking about how important these matters are. 

It’s a recipe for municipal failure, as there’s little chance that the city knows how to address this issue to the satisfaction of aggrieved residents. Unable to solve the problem through its own means tactically, Whitewater now faces a strategic campaign from residents to change policy about what should, and how severely, be regulated.  That’s quite a mess, actually.

Finally, statewide, Justice Abrahamson won her re-election race, much to Wisconsin’s benefit.  Jefferson County, though, will have to soldier on with Judge Koschnick.      

Over in the Town of Linn, someone is trying to make sure Chief Winsiewski and his officers understand that sale of evidence connected with an investigation is wrong. Someone might try to make sure Elkhorn understands how sales like this taint law enforcement and the administration of justice.

The problem in all this – ordinary working people are unfairly caught up in the problems of a few leaders.

I have no familiarity with this force, and I have no reason to doubt that there is true remorse involved.

It’s hard, though, not to see how surprising this seems from the outside, to common people in their own work.

That perception deserves consideration, too.

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/apr/07/sale-
evidence-prompts-review-police-policies/

As one finds in so many towns, the greatest problem is hiding away or rationalizing misconduct. Not the crime, if any, but the cover up…

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/446055

It’s election day in our small town, and here are a few remarks on local races.  

District 3. Jim Winship’s running as a registered write-in candidate.  He’ll win the seat, and thereafter have to decide how much, and how intensely, to pursue Dr. Nosek’s agenda.  Those interested in a less restrictive, market-oriented approach should have found a candidate for this seat.  Whitewater will find out how much it matters.       

District 1. David Stone against Jim Olsen. One would predict Olsen, but in the end, I’m not sure how different one will be from the other.  I wouldn’t expect serious, independent thinking from either — quite the opposite, actually.    

District 5. Gregory Torres against incumbent Patrick Singer. Funny, this is the race that should have made a difference to those who wanted a less restrictive, less government-guided approach to city life.  The race never caught on, though, because Whitewater’s not ideological that way.  The town creed’s not left or right.  Our politics is just a mishmash of competing, insiders’ preferences.  Opportunistic campaigning and presentation matter far more than principled ideology.  

At-Large Seat. Dr. Roy Nosek vs. incumbent Marilyn Kienbaum.  Here’s a choice between two candidates so renowned in the city.  Everyone knows of these two, probably more than anyone else in town.   

Kienbaum’s candidacy is easy to consider — she should not have run for re-election. She contributes little of value to the position; a vote on her behalf just wastes the seat.  She touts her role as the ‘People’s Voice,’ but nothing is more laughable, and sad, too. 

She’s the Mother Superior of Unique Whitewater, where she knows — really knows — what’s best for everyone.  I have met many serious, intelligent, knowledgeable people who see the limitations in Kienbaum’s views, but say nothing, because no one is meant – even in a principled way — to question this community treasure. 

She’s one of a couple in office who are meant to be off-limits to criticism.  There are only two politicians public servants like this, and Kienbaum is one of them. 

The desire to fit into a small social circle is so intense here, to be a connected insider in this small town so important, that principle’s the first thing overboard.  We have Kienbaum because no one’s willing to bell the cat.  

I’m curious to see if, of the generation of women immediately younger than Marilyn Kienbaum’s generation, we’ll see the same influence of this smug, unthinking entitlement.  There are quite a few women in Whitewater, now in their fifties, who would love to be candidates for this role.  It carries a lot of power — doing what one wants, insisting only on one’s way, expecting and watching others defer, &c.   

Of Nosek, I have said as much as anyone in town, satirical, critical, &c.  If one has visited here even sporadically, then one has read as much.  I expect that Kienbaum will win re-election, however little she deserves the seat, and Dr. Nosek will be out of office.  Quite a few will be pleased with that result. 

I’m opposed to Nosek’s views on regulation as much as anyone in town, but I cannot avoid feeling that Nosek will be missed in Whitewater politics, should he lose.   

Missed, not as a foil, but as someone who — however much I disagree with him — was willing to stand up for something.  I am sure he’s made more than a few city officials cringe, but it says as much about them as about Nosek.  All those titles, all that self-promotion, those offices and enumerated responsibilities, and so few officials are able to stand up to Dr. Nosek. 

Ironically, Nosek has lately latched to the notion that City Manager Brunner sees his, Nosek’s, causes as the most important in the city.  It’s ironic because through Nosek’s assertiveness, and otherwise through the passage of time, fewer than ever have reason to believe in decisive leadership from our city manager.  

Still, I am quite sure that, one way or another, Dr. Nosek will yet make his voice heard. 

A fitting publication for election day —

The April 2009 Newsletter has a schedule of upcoming LWV events. A copy of the newsletter is available as a pdf link in this post, and as a link on my blogroll (on the left column of this website).

Here is a partial listing of events, with more information and events inside the newsletter.

Date: April 7, 2009 (Tuesday)
Event: Election Day

Date: April 17, 2009 (Friday)
Event: “State Budget Listening Session”
Location: 1-3 PM, Municipal Center Community Room

Date: April 23, 2009 (Thursday)
Event: Paula Mohan speaking on “Energy Policy in the Obama Administration.”
Location: 7 PM, City Hall Council Chambers

About the League —

The League of Women voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We take action on public policy positions established through member study and agreement. We are political, but we do not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

I received the following press release that I am happy to post — 

Who:  Lakeview Elementary students and staff and local child survivors of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and their families (Families and staff available for media interviews)

What:  For the past eight years, hundreds of students at Lakeview Elementary have been participating in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart program in support of five local children affected by Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a fatal heart defect if not treated properly.

Where: Lakeview Elementary Gymnasium, W8363 R and W Townline Road, Whitewater, WI 53190

When:   April 6 – April 9, 2009 Various times for media opportunities daily

Why: In hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart — including the aorta, aortic valve, left ventricle and mitral valve — is underdeveloped. The baby often seems normal at birth, but will come to medical attention within a few days of birth as the ductus closes. This heart defect is usually fatal within the first days or months or life unless it’s treated. Children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome require lifelong follow-up by a cardiologist for repeated checks of how their heart is working. Virtually all the children will require heart medicines.

Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart is a national educational fund-raising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Since 1978, the program has raised over $703 million for the fight against heart disease, the number one birth defect and number one killer of Americans. The efforts also support the fight against stroke, the number three killer of Americans. Millions of students have jumped rope, shot hoops and learned about community service, heart health and how nutrition and physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke.