Updated: Sunday afternoon, 12.20.20. Over these dozen years, many dozens of officials – in city government, in the school district, and at the university – have come and gone from Whitewater. Some who saw themselves, and declared themselves, irreplaceable have long since been replaced. The city has changed much since the Great Recession, and is sure to keep changing in politics and culture.
Whitewater’s city manager, Cameron Clapper, recently entered into a months’ long search process for work elsewhere (in next door Fort Atkinson); after a day of interviews, he has abandoned that effort. He now insists that he is happy in Whitewater, and acknowledges that there is work to be done in our city.
If, having lived in Whitewater for many years, an official has not found for himself a happiness compelling against departure, then it seems improbable that he should at last discover a sufficient affection after a single day in a nearby town.
Nor is it commendable that, upon the official’s professed recommitment, he acknowledges the work yet to be done that he was, only a day earlier, willing to leave undone at his departure.
Fort Atkinson and Whitewater are cities of similar size, only several miles apart, with many residents living in one and working in the other. Remarks in a public meeting in Fort Atkinson were sure to become known in Whitewater. There is now a published account of some of the Whitewater city manager’s remarks:
While Whitewater City Manager Cameron Clapper described Whitewater as his home, he said he was a frequent visiter to Fort Atkinson and often thought he would like to live and work in the city. While Whitewater and Fort Atkinson are of similar sizes, Clapper noted that about half of Whitewater’s population is comprised of students who stay in the city between Monday and Thursday, and are gone for three months out of the year. He saw Fort Atkinson as more of a “full-time community,” he said.
Accompanying a photo of the event, one finds more on the context of his remarks:
Former [Fort Atkinson] city councilman Davin Lescohier said he was intrigued by Clapper’s interest in a lateral move. Clapper responded, saying he was attracted to Fort Atkinson by its family-oriented environment. He described Whitewater as populated by half with college students and “very political.”
Fort Atkinson is a fine city; one wishes its residents well. For it all, never once have I often thought of living or working there.
One cannot be more certain: Whitewater is a good city for families, offers a family-environment, has the benefit of a vibrant college community, and free and open political discussion. These qualities are among Whitewater’s advantages.
One can easily be happy in Whitewater, a small & beautiful (but struggling) college town. There is much work to be done, and the best of that work will come from those who respect the city as a lifetime calling.
There’s been chatter in town about the trainwreck over the weekend. First heard about it yesterday. Guess going to the next city over and dissing Whitewater was a bad move. If someone wnats to leave, fine. This wasn’t the way to do it.
Sounds like telling your audience what you think they want to hear. It’s terrible. We have spent so much time making UWW a nice place all year round. It’s much, much more than Mon-Thu and off for the summer. These are difficult times for students and faculty. Whitewater depends on UWW. Going around telling people you want a family place tells people you don’t think Whitewater *is* a family place. No wonder he pulled out. No one was going to respect that kind of viewpoint.