Academy of Local Politics

The Mayor will be out of the office until Monday afternoon.

We learned on Tuesday night of the death of an Uncle of my wife. So, we are off to Tipton, Iowa. We will be returning on Monday afternoon. So, do not expect any news or views until then.

I know it will tough for you...

Mayor Al

Mayor Summerfield is history.

I had in a couple of posts informed you of the trials and tribulations of Mayor Randy Summerfield of Bloomer.

The quick recap is ...

Mayor owns a bar.
City police officer responds to call, to Mayors bar.
City Police Chief (drinking in the bar) interferes in process.
Police Chief charged with obstruction.
Mayor becomes temporary Chief.
Mayor fires police officer who was doing his job.
Recall Election is petitioned by citizens.

It was a narrow 18 vote margin (654-636) recall election. The new Mayor of Bloomer will be City Council Representative Janet Thur.

Congratulations Mayor Thur. It won't be easy. The narrow margin of victory shows the amount of power Mayor Summerfield enjoyed the past years.  You are replacing a legend but, you'll do just fine.

Mayor Al

I don't like to repeat rumors. Every time I do I get burned. But, this is one I can't resist. Airport Director Carl Nelson, heard from _______ that Paris Hilton is scheduled to fly into Rice Lake for a vacation at  Canoe Bay outside of Chetek. 

But, you didn't hear this from me.

Mayor Al

One of the burning issues in CommonSenseville.US, like the rest of the state and nation is health care. I am a frequent critic of health care myself. It galls me to no end when the Doctor recommends something to me, I ask "How Much?" and they don't have a clue how much it costs to do what they are recommending. Something has to be done to protect our citizens from the outrageous costs of heath care. What, I have no idea, I am not a health care expert. But, something has to be done.

With that being said, the Democrats of this state are going about it all wrong. They are inserting in the State Budget a Universal Health Care Scam. It must be a scam. Why else would they do this at the last minute, with no public input? OK, they held a Public Hearing yesterday.  But, they did so without divulging what the plan is really about. This is politics at its worst. I'm not saying that because the Democrats are doing this. I would be just as critical of the Republicans if they were inserting a $15 BILLION item in the State budget without public scrutiny.

The last time a large mandate was inserted in the budget and imposed upon the citizens of this State without adequate notice and public scrutiny was when they inserted and mandated the Smart Growth Comprehensive Planning law. That has turned out to be a disaster. Public input was stifled, and the result was bad.

I do not believe scheming behind the scenes in closed caucuses, is the way to develop good public policy. As if the State Legislature cares what you or I think. They don't. This is politics at its worst.

Mayor Al

At last count CommonSenseville.US had 14 Fireworks stands either in or around the city. Every one of them selling by the Wisconsin Department of Justice's interpretation "illegal" fireworks. In  their own conclusion they write: Contrary to appearances (note the many roadside stands in the summer), fireworks ARE a highly limited and strictly controlled commodity in Wisconsin.

Huh? No, they aren't either highly limited or strictly controlled. They are everywhere! They are illegal to sell and illegal to possess yet they are for sale everywhere. I don't know a single person that can logically explain this situation. They try. But, they fail.

What is even more puzzling to me is how that many stands can make enough money to make it worthwhile to set up these stands. I can see two or three or maybe even five stands being profitable. But, fourteen!

I remember as a kid buying "illegal" fireworks (fire crackers and cherry bombs only) when they were really illegal. It was quite the underground network. You needed to know somebody who knew somebody who had them. Or, in my case my next door neighbor's Dad who sold them out of the back room at his bait shop. I won't go into how/where we shot them off. As kids you do some pretty stupid things. But, it was the thrill of not getting caught and having them confiscated that was the real thrill. Not the actual lighting of them. Then again, it also helped that my neighbor's uncle was one of the cops in town.

Did I just let one of my skeletons out of the closet?

Mayor Al