That is one question that has long been going through my mind. The opinion of many that I know can tell you that there is a great deal of influence. There isn't much doubt that money drives politics. That will always be true. Just look at recent elections and you will see that the candidates that raise the most and spend the most get the votes on election day. I really don't think that the message matters. Just that people hear the name.
The only election that has even been close was last year when Tower and Esslinger faced off for Mayor. Neither spent a bunch of money and the election was very close (51% to 49% if my memory serves). In that same election, Jessica King came out of nowhere and won a seat on the council. She spent over $7000 to do it, but the outcome seems to be worth it. Now she is looking for a seat in our State Senate.
Another example of how the message doesn't seem to matter. Last year there were four candidates for Oshkosh Area BOE (Becker, Monte, Bowen and Thiel). There is not much of an argument on agendas with that group. Becker and Monte align while Bowen and Thiel have shared opinions for many years. But the outcome was far from "party lines". Becker and Bowen were elected with only a separation of 100 votes. Monte came in 3rd with Thiel following in 4th. What on earth were the voters thinking? I don't understand.
Oshkosh has long been run by those who have power with deep pockets. Whether or not they will step up to the microphone or pull strings from the shadows, both will have the same results. As long as there is private money to "assist" in projects, the city administration will have their hand out. The Sundial was just the latest. A perfect example of how our administrators are spineless. Fitzpatrick stated during the last council meeting when Esslinger tried to bring a resolution to block the re installation of the fountain that nothing needed to be done and that the Sundial would not be put back until more discussion could take place. We can see how far that went. It didn't even make it to the next meeting. By the way, the influence was not C.R. Meyer (thank you for the correction) nor the $5000 that they were paid to R/R the thing. It could have waited.
I will open the door for other examples of Special Interest control... Please don't get personal.
KM
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8 comments:
the influence was not C.D. Smith???
I think the company was CR Meyer.
I also think like another poster
"it was put back merely for show" while the city managers were in town for the tours.
While I know that money does play a part in elections, in the end it is the voters who allow it to be influential. If voters ignored all the stupid TV ads, yard signs, phone calls etc. and did their own research about the candidates, the amount of money spent really wouldn't matter. The fact is the guy with a million dollars gets ONE vote, just like the guy with $1and corporations don't get to vote at all. So while I am not opposed to regulating the dollars spent, in the end it is the voter who allows money to matter. I have never made a voting decision based on a TV ad, yard sign or newspaper ad. I vote based on where a candidate stands on the issues that are most important to me. If everyone did that, the dollars spent wouldn't matter... especially in this "internet age" where any candidate can have a blog, e-mail etc. to get his/her message out!
Jess King has been the best breath of fresh air the council has had in a long time. Her responses are well thought out, an she doesn't cave to the special interest groups. The best example of that is her vote on acquiring the Chamber building. She even made reference to the number of calls she had received privately trying to sway her to approve the measure. You could tell by the look on her face she was disturbed by the topic, and she voted with her heart.
I got to see her on Eye on Oshkosh, and she had great information there, as well. She is intelligent, well spoken, and does what she thinks is best for Oshkosh. I am very impressed with her.
1:28. I tend to agee, but Dennis McHugh, Paul Esslinger and Tony Palmeri are even better than her. The Chamber vote is really all she can hang her hat on. The "boys" can hang their hat on several good votes. She's ok, but she still is a liberal. Not as bad as the others, but a liberal none the less.
Greens are liberals too and that's what Palmeri is. Funny how you've chosen to "overlook" that. I guess some will say anything and spin it any way they can to elevate their good old boys.
Who cares what political affiliation Palmeri has..... he has the balls to so NO to the good 'ol boys network ALL the time, not just once in his life!
Spin that!
Let's see whose go "balls" to say NO to the EAA TIF proposal.
I think the ones that will have "balls" to say no to the EAA TIF will be Palmeri, Esslinger and McHugh. Brian Bain and Jess King will talk for an hour or so explaining why they should vote no, but then vote yes; Burk Tower won't have enought information and Frank Tower won't say anything except for YES!
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