Verona Democrat’s pace tops field of six candidates
Joe Wineke presents a campaign bringing a small-town, let's-have-beer-in-rural-Dane County sensibility combined with an unvarnished progressive record as state senator.
I met Wineke in 1989 when he was working over-time preventing the Enron Company's natural gas division from shoving a large natural gas pipe line through the private land of Dane and Green county farmers and landowners.
A large political coalition led by Mike Bauer and Ed Garvey joined forces.
Wineke shined and made a lot of friends in Dane County by telling Enron what to do with their pipeline, ultimately moved to a more sensible route. Ask around Paoli and Fitchburg and people still remember the fight.
Two weeks out from the primary for Dane County Executive, anything can happen in a race with a strong field of candidates.
Wineke's leave-my-land-alone attitude plays well in rural Dane County, and he can hold his own in the Isthmus.
From the Wineke campaign:
VERONA – Joe Wineke (D-Verona), candidate for Dane County Executive, outpaced his opponents’ 2010 fundraising efforts, according to finance reports filed with the County Clerk’s office today. The former State Senator and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman brought in more money per day than each of his five opponents – Zach Brandon, Eileen Bruskewitz, Scott McDonell, Joe Parisi, and Spencer Zimmerman.
The “January Continuing” report, due today, covered all funds raised between each candidate’s announcement and the December 31, 2010 finance deadline. The reports show:
Zach Brandon raised $2,560.00, beginning December 8 – or $111.30 per day
Scot McDonell raised $32,725.72, beginning November 24 – or $884.48 per day
(McDonell’s total includes a $19,494.39 transfer from his county board account)
Joe Parisi raised $21,957.05, beginning November 23 – or $577.82 per day
(Parisi’s total includes a $5,000.00 personal loan and $4,678.15 transferred from his legislative account)
Joe Wineke raised $14,360.40, beginning December 15 – or $897.53 per day.
“Despite the late start, our campaign set an aggressive fundraising pace through the end of 2010,” said Wineke. “With the help of friends, family, and working families across Dane County, we’ve built a strong coalition in the lead-up to the Primary, and we haven’t slowed down since. I’m grateful for their continued support in the fight for Dane County’s future.”
Showing posts with label Dane County Executive race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dane County Executive race. Show all posts
Jan 31, 2011
Jan 29, 2009
Falk Is Hostile to Privacy and Liberty
In 1989-90, I covered an area controversy for the Capital Times about a bunch of farmers and landowners in Dane and Green counties who took exception to the plans of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Houston-based Enron Corporation [now infamous for its iconic lies and fraud].
Enron’s Northern Natural Gas Co. wanted to build a natural gas pipeline through peoples’ private properties but didn’t bother to consult with the people.
The landowners’ reaction was swift and furious.
Enlisting politicians of all stripes from Denise Solie and the late Lyman F. Anderson, to Chuck Chvala, Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, the landowners successfully waged a fight to change the route of the pipeline with the legal assistance of attorneys Mike Bauer and Ed Garvey.
The message was clear: Don’t tread on us and get your hands off of our private property. In person, some of the angry landowners were more colorful in their suggestions of where Enron’s pipeline could be sited.
In Dane County, there is an innate sentiment that neither government, nor large corporations nor anyone else should take a heavy hand in intruding on citizens’ privacy; not in their homes and not in their persons.
Such classical liberal sentiments animated the Bill of Rights at this country’s founding.
Twenty years ago, area politicians of all persuasions, at all levels of government were there to back up their fellow citizens should a Northern Natural Gas Co. intrude with a heavy hand
Not so anymore.
Today’s we have Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk telling her fellow citizens that if they wish to drive their cars, they are required to submit to police searches and roadblocks which Falk euphemistically calls “sobriety checkpoints,” not because of anything law-abiding citizens have done but because others have destructive driving records.
And Falk’s heavy hand is backed up by the State Journal and many other politicians and media.
For Falk it’s not enough now that we live a surveillance society seemingly with cameras at every stoplight.
Nope roadblocks are needed now. You say you’re a law-abiding driver, well then you have to prove it at a roadblock, says Kathleen Falk.
At yesterday’s debate, when the topic of Falk’s over-the-top, draconian, roadblocks proposed alcohol abuse initiative came up, Mistele responded with a considered response that personal responsibility and private action were critical.
“The effects of alcohol are a very serious problem, but I also think it's a problem that is a personal responsibility issue," said Mistele who volunteered that her grandfather was a founding member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Wisconsin.
Good for Mistele.
But from the reaction of the pro-Falk crowd you would have thought that Mistele was proposing giving 14-year-olds free bottles of booze and extolling the virtues of Hunter S. Thompson’s driving on the highway.
Falk’s foray into the more-police, more-criminalization, less-liberty and less-privacy politics is good news for the burgeoning substance abuse industry and the authoritarians who self select to work as cops. And it sure as hell makes me think twice about Falk's land use policies.
It’s bad news for those who feel our privacy and liberty are values to be cherished and need not be given up for the offences and sins of others.
- via mal contends
Enron’s Northern Natural Gas Co. wanted to build a natural gas pipeline through peoples’ private properties but didn’t bother to consult with the people.
The landowners’ reaction was swift and furious.
Enlisting politicians of all stripes from Denise Solie and the late Lyman F. Anderson, to Chuck Chvala, Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, the landowners successfully waged a fight to change the route of the pipeline with the legal assistance of attorneys Mike Bauer and Ed Garvey.
The message was clear: Don’t tread on us and get your hands off of our private property. In person, some of the angry landowners were more colorful in their suggestions of where Enron’s pipeline could be sited.
In Dane County, there is an innate sentiment that neither government, nor large corporations nor anyone else should take a heavy hand in intruding on citizens’ privacy; not in their homes and not in their persons.
Such classical liberal sentiments animated the Bill of Rights at this country’s founding.
Twenty years ago, area politicians of all persuasions, at all levels of government were there to back up their fellow citizens should a Northern Natural Gas Co. intrude with a heavy hand
Not so anymore.
Today’s we have Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk telling her fellow citizens that if they wish to drive their cars, they are required to submit to police searches and roadblocks which Falk euphemistically calls “sobriety checkpoints,” not because of anything law-abiding citizens have done but because others have destructive driving records.
And Falk’s heavy hand is backed up by the State Journal and many other politicians and media.
For Falk it’s not enough now that we live a surveillance society seemingly with cameras at every stoplight.
Nope roadblocks are needed now. You say you’re a law-abiding driver, well then you have to prove it at a roadblock, says Kathleen Falk.
At yesterday’s debate, when the topic of Falk’s over-the-top, draconian, roadblocks proposed alcohol abuse initiative came up, Mistele responded with a considered response that personal responsibility and private action were critical.
“The effects of alcohol are a very serious problem, but I also think it's a problem that is a personal responsibility issue," said Mistele who volunteered that her grandfather was a founding member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Wisconsin.
Good for Mistele.
But from the reaction of the pro-Falk crowd you would have thought that Mistele was proposing giving 14-year-olds free bottles of booze and extolling the virtues of Hunter S. Thompson’s driving on the highway.
Falk’s foray into the more-police, more-criminalization, less-liberty and less-privacy politics is good news for the burgeoning substance abuse industry and the authoritarians who self select to work as cops. And it sure as hell makes me think twice about Falk's land use policies.
It’s bad news for those who feel our privacy and liberty are values to be cherished and need not be given up for the offences and sins of others.
- via mal contends
Jan 28, 2009
Nancy Mistele's Challenge to Falk
Update: Mills: "(Q)uite frankly, I have been unimpressed with Falk's leadership, and am deeply concerned by the glaring holes left in her record by the massive fuck-ups with the 911 center." Rath: Falk dodges as Mistele fires
The Dane County Executive race is off and running with the first debate between Nancy Mistele and Kathleen Falk sponsored by the Dane County Public Affairs Council.
Though the political winds of Dane County blow left, this may prove to be a very interesting race in the face of a host of endorsements of Falk and Falk's 911 Center scandal.
As a Dane County writer who penned numerous anti-GOP pieces during the Bush administration reign, I cover the Nancy Mistele-Kathleen Falk race with negative preconceptions about the GOP, and about Falk’s performance in overseeing the 911 Center during and after the murder of UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann [ignoring a report that a “catastrophic” failure was possible], among other gripes.
One aspect of Nancy Mistele that escapes many progressives is that Mistele is not a fire-breathing, right-wing monster that is going to cook liberal children over fire pits hidden on endless miles of urban sprawl.
The message that the Mistele campaign is sending is that of a smart, judicious, consensus-building listener with a genuine appreciation for the environment, an indignation over the Brittany Zimmermann murder and Falk’s indisputable lack of candor, and an admiration of independent journalism.
"Falk has failed and I will fix it [the 911 center]," said Mistele at Wednesday's debate.
Mistele's message will animate the campaign with the ghost of a murdered UW-Madison student haunting this race.
What follows is an e-mail interview with Mistele composed of three questions sent to Mistele’s campaign and Mistele’s responses.
Question 1
Press queries into the conduct of the 911 Center have been, it is asserted, obstructed and stymied by Kathleen Falk as noted in an Isthmus piece by Jason Shepard?
Do you agree that Ms. Falk has been less than candid and open on the Zimmermann scandal? And would the Dane County’s Exec office be more open and transparent generally under a Nancy Mistele administration?
Specifically what would you have done differently on answering press queries on the Zimmermann affair?
Dane County has a liberal-leaning electorate. If you are elected to the non-partisan exec’s office, what assurances are you willing to make that you will listen to and compromise with liberals holding policy views that seem to be at variance with your own views? In sum, are you the type of person willing to work with stakeholders to get something done?
Question 3
The environment is key to many voters and the environment holds both a quality-of-life aspect and for deeper environmentalists holds a value in itself in that maintaining eco-systems is an objective of policy at all levels of government.
Is preserving the environment a conservative objective, in your view? What do you offer in your policy positions that would reassure Dane County’s many environmentally conscious voters?
The Dane County Executive race is off and running with the first debate between Nancy Mistele and Kathleen Falk sponsored by the Dane County Public Affairs Council.
Though the political winds of Dane County blow left, this may prove to be a very interesting race in the face of a host of endorsements of Falk and Falk's 911 Center scandal.
As a Dane County writer who penned numerous anti-GOP pieces during the Bush administration reign, I cover the Nancy Mistele-Kathleen Falk race with negative preconceptions about the GOP, and about Falk’s performance in overseeing the 911 Center during and after the murder of UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann [ignoring a report that a “catastrophic” failure was possible], among other gripes.
One aspect of Nancy Mistele that escapes many progressives is that Mistele is not a fire-breathing, right-wing monster that is going to cook liberal children over fire pits hidden on endless miles of urban sprawl.
The message that the Mistele campaign is sending is that of a smart, judicious, consensus-building listener with a genuine appreciation for the environment, an indignation over the Brittany Zimmermann murder and Falk’s indisputable lack of candor, and an admiration of independent journalism.
"Falk has failed and I will fix it [the 911 center]," said Mistele at Wednesday's debate.
Mistele's message will animate the campaign with the ghost of a murdered UW-Madison student haunting this race.
What follows is an e-mail interview with Mistele composed of three questions sent to Mistele’s campaign and Mistele’s responses.
Question 1
Press queries into the conduct of the 911 Center have been, it is asserted, obstructed and stymied by Kathleen Falk as noted in an Isthmus piece by Jason Shepard?
Do you agree that Ms. Falk has been less than candid and open on the Zimmermann scandal? And would the Dane County’s Exec office be more open and transparent generally under a Nancy Mistele administration?
Specifically what would you have done differently on answering press queries on the Zimmermann affair?
It was the Isthmus that accused Kathleen Falk of ‘lying’ about the circumstances surrounding the handling of the 911 call from Brittany Zimmermann. Anyone familiar with the facts surrounding this case would not disagree with the Isthmus’ assessment. Within hours of Brittany Zimmermann’s death, Kathleen Falk and others in her Administration knew of the existence of Zimmermann’s desperate call for help. But, it wasn’t until weeks later that aggressive reporting on this incident blew the lid off the case and revealed the existence of Zimmermann’s desperate 911 call. If Kathleen Falk had her way, these facts would have remained hidden from public view.Question 2
In a Nancy Mistele Administration, I can assure you that our emergency responders will have every tool they need, that we will look for the most talented and experienced people to lead our critical public safety operations, and that I will not lie to the public when it comes to matters related to how their tax dollars are being spent and what we are doing to keep the community safe.
When it comes to a homicide investigation, obviously all information cannot be released before someone is apprehended and charged with the crime. But the existence of Zimmermann’s call to 911 was something that should not have been concealed from the public.
Our faith in government has been badly shaken by these tragedies. As County Executive, one of my most important duties will be to earn back the public’s trust, and that starts with always being honest.
Dane County has a liberal-leaning electorate. If you are elected to the non-partisan exec’s office, what assurances are you willing to make that you will listen to and compromise with liberals holding policy views that seem to be at variance with your own views? In sum, are you the type of person willing to work with stakeholders to get something done?
I’m willing to work with everyone to improve the quality of life in Dane County, to create more high-paying jobs, and to protect the lives and property of everyone living in Dane County. I am not an ideologue. I am a woman who is willing to listen to all points of view and consider differing opinions. I realize that much of what the Executive can try to accomplish requires County Board approval, and I respect the diverse viewpoints each of these County Board members brings to the table.
The common ground that binds us all together is our collective desire to make Dane County a great place to live and work. We may not always agree on how that should happen, but we should be able to discuss and formulate a common-sense approach that protects and enhances our quality of life without trampling on the rights of others.
Question 3
The environment is key to many voters and the environment holds both a quality-of-life aspect and for deeper environmentalists holds a value in itself in that maintaining eco-systems is an objective of policy at all levels of government.
Is preserving the environment a conservative objective, in your view? What do you offer in your policy positions that would reassure Dane County’s many environmentally conscious voters?
Like most others in Dane County, I am concerned about preservation, open spaces, clean air and clean water. We’ve got a proud tradition in Wisconsin, and particularly in Dane County, of respecting our Natural Resources, and I intend to respect and continue this tradition.
I think there are legitimate discussions we can have about how you balance the need for environmental preservation with the need for communities to grow and develop. If elected, I would not make an effort to immediately 'clean house' at our regulatory bodies, such as CARPC [Capital Area Regional Planning Commission], because I think we need to respect the experience and expertise many of these employees carry. Instead, I would ensure that members of my Administration support appropriate regulations for reasonable growth.
The Falk Campaign folks are already trying to caricature me as an anti-environment extremist. Not true. I’m an avid road biker and think there’s no better way to relax than to spend some time hiking in the woods or kayaking on one of our beautiful lakes. I can assure everyone concerned about the environment that as County Executive, my decision-making would be guided by my deep respect for the environment.
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