Family Guy

WOW!!!  Dennis McBride has many more friends than you could ever dream of having and he has influenced many people, young and old in our community wonderfully over his lifetime in Wauwatosa.  Didier should have had him on the committee to represent his constituents.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see she is stacking the council with her right wing republicans and St. Jude friends and neighbors (that will make three St. Juders on Tosa's board now.)  If you were at the interviews you too would have recognized that there were other candidates much more qualified for the position than Jill Organ.  I applaud Dennis McBride for speaking up in the best interest of his constituents.  When a candidate is given her interview questions ahead of the interview and arrives unprepared to answer all of them it says a lot.  Perhaps when one of your best friends reassures you that you shouldn't worry about having intelligent responses to basic questions because your friend is the mayor and she will make sure she gets her buds to vote for you, you don't bother to use your brain.  Thanks Dennis!  Keep up the great work...if that's what is considered a "temper tantrum" please keep tantruming...I wish you could get this goofball: "Family Guy" for slander...Oh, to all librarians in the world---keep in mind--he's a goofball...(and his avatar is "Spongebob")

Not a smooth start for the newly elected alderman.  I wonder if he throws tantrums like at his attorney job.  

I hate that I can't edit on here, lets do this again. . . .

Not a smooth start for the newly elected alderman.  I wonder if he throws tantrums like that at his attorney job?

It's disappointing to see that you stereotype and slight all librarians as professionals, and in so doing, trivialize Jill Wickham, who was just one of the highly qualified applicants who was passed over by this appointment. Anyone who knows Jill Wickham -- I know her through church and scouting -- knows how much time, energy, substance and intellect she has put in as a community volunteer. Wickham's commitment to this community is as broad as it is sustained. Neither her commitment nor her profession are worthy of the condescension to which you would subject them.

And then you accuse McBride of professional snobbery?

Looks to me like Dennis McBride is doing what his constituents elected him to do: keep watch over the goings-on of the council and speak up if things look like they are not on the up and up.  Thank goodness we have people like him on the city council.  The mayor needs to know that people are watching what she is doing and we know what she is trying to do.  So much for building a consensus to govern the city...  Perhaps she'll learn in time that her ways will backfire in the long run, especially when she's voted out of office after one term.

Looks to me like Dennis McBride is doing what his constituents elected him to do: keep watch over the goings-on of the council and speak up if things look like they are not on the up and up.  Thank goodness we have people like him on the city council.  The mayor needs to know that people are watching what she is doing and we know what she is trying to do.  So much for building a consensus to govern the city...  Perhaps she'll learn in time that her ways will backfire in the long run, especially when she's voted out of office after one term.

I read the article...ummmm.....there was no mention of a "tantrum". This disappointed me because there's nothing I like more then a good tantrum.  

My embarassment at the playground antics with our Council is over the top. I have watched this closely from the campaigning to the election to the first meetings. Ald. McBride, thank you for not being bullied by a very obvious clan of political hooligans. As for our mayor, please have some self-respect. Then perhaps you will be able to show others the same.

Building up your possee of cohorts only makes you look all the weaker. Final words - come on folks, your consituents have put you in those positions for a reason - focus on the issues of our fair city!

Peter, you asked "Let’s see, would you rather have a Librarian or Civil Engineer/MBA on the board."

My answer: I'd rather see someone who can represent his or her district residents the best. That's the job--unless you know of some agenda the rest of us don't. And by that, I don't mean the obvious agenda to bring as many friends to the positions as possible, I mean one that has to do with civil engineering.

"Let’s see, would you rather have a Librarian or Civil Engineer/MBA on the board."

Peter, please tell us that isn't what you meant to say! This is one time when satire doesn't work.

Tosa is infested with librarians, and I've yet to meet one who isn't intelligent, well-informed, highly educated and very involved. And I'm pretty sure all the librarians caught your typo:

"The City is lucky to have a person the caliber of Ms. Organ severing on the board."

Severing the board is exactly what Dennis McBride was trying to avoid. Way to go, Dennis and Linda.

I love Librarians.  I spend a lot of time at the Library and think

Tosa has one of finest library's in the State.

Librarians are on the whole better educated than me.

Tosa spends $1,000,000 a mile on roads.  An alderperson with an

engineering background may, in my opinion, have a better grasp

of spending our public works tax dollars than a librarian.

We need the council to work together.

I can see that for many, the election is still not over.

Pete...

I think it is for you that the election is not over.

Come on – tantrum?  

Since I live in the relevant District (and you do not) I've taken great interest in how this selection was made.

Remember the coaching that former Alderman Grimm required from Ms. Didier and her cohorts?

These kinds of shenanigans have gotten our attention in the past and we’re a tad sensitized to any improprieties – real or perceived.

It is the Mayor's prerogative to use her campaign supporters to stack the Council with another crony.  So what?  

Big deal.  

It is what it is.

It is Alderman McBride’s prerogative (and duty I might add) to call her out.

I rather like the notion that McBride is something of a watch dog.  That is a valuable trait in a public official.

If there are shenanigans of an illegal sort being committed I certainly want to know about them.  After-all that is the stuff of which recall elections are made of and political ambitions dashed upon the rocks.  

I digress.

Inasmuch as Alderwoman Organ was hand-picked to fill Mayor Didier’s former seat on the Council as the most qualified candidate - I expect nothing but the best from her.

I and my neighbors will hold her to the highest of standards.  After all we’ve been told she is the most qualified candidate.

Since one of the respondents has mentioned St. Jude - for any of you non-Catholics out there you may take ironic pleasure (as I do) in knowing that St. Jude is the patron of lost causes…

Tom

There's no need to repeat what has already been said, so I'll just say that I agree with Tosan, DavidKS, OhMom, Maureen Connors Badding, Thomas, et al.

Hart's piece reads as Didier-crony agit-prop at best--he provides no factual information beyond his own personal reactionary take on the situation.  Hart's comments about McBride's vs. Organ's vs. Wickham's vs. his own education clearly show that he's attacking McBride based on his own personal insecurity rather than on any action or comment of McBride's.

McBride was elected with 66% of the vote.  Let's not forget that that was clearly a call for change in Tosa politics.  McBride's holding the council accountable for their actions and keeping Didier and her buddies honest.  That's exactly the kind of alderman I want.

Finally, journalistic ethics dictate that you can print just about anything you want as long as it's true.  But this is rude, inflammatory, and from all reports from the meeting, absolutely incorrect.  And it's badly-written, full of typos and poorly punctuated.  If I were the editor for this site, Hart wouldn't be blogging much longer.

Transplantedtosan, the comment "I am an attorney" was off mic and not the reports (record) but should be on the video (which I will DVR).  The

comment was heard by the Mayor who had to tell Alderman McBride

was he was speaking out of turn.

Let's not forget, Mayor Didler won 53% of the vote (clearly a call for

change) considering our last mayor won by 19 votes.   Were any of

Mayor Estness board appointments questioned?

"Rude,inflammatory", are you talking about my blog or McBride's comments

to committee?

Remember to, the committee (made up of four) only recommended Organ.

The committee as a whole voted 8-2 for Organ with McBride obstaining?

NTT, so you would kick me off for saying something against your guy?

I guess I would consider that censorship, and censorship is wrong.

As for the other comments, yes I can be a goofball some of the time and my TTS Avaitar is spongebob (also my fantasy Football team's name).

Thanks for the shoutout for Tosa Town Square.  Currently there is

a very robust discussion on "Living Wage".  Please join and share your

ideas.

Again, I apoligize to all Librarians.  A Librarian can be just as qualified to be an alderperson as a Civil Engineer, attorney, painter,

housewife (so Im just as guilty as Alderman McBride).

I encourge Alderman McBride state his opinion, in a respectful way.

Like Alderman Brischel said "To say that I had done a deal under the table, the comments are odious and reprehensible,"  

To fellow blogger MCB, thanks for heads up on the typo.  It's great

that fellow bloggers help each other.

Tine, this sounds like a discuss for TTS.

Tom, Tom.

Good one on St. Jude.  What is St. Bernards the patron saint of-

hopefully bad spelling/grammer bloggers.  

This whole thing reminds me of being an umpire for Tosa Baseball.

For four years I volunteered as a umpire (and board member)of

Tosa Baseball (a completely volunteer-run organization).

In those four year umping, I learned one thing--don't argue the call.

Arguing the call, rarely changes the call and only delays the game.

The kids understood this, but the grandparents sometimes needed a reminder.

And like Alderman Herzog said. "Don't fault us because we came up with an applicant who is qualified."

Thanks guys for all your comments.   Now on to TTS for some realy fun:)

I agree with the majority of the posters. Poor showing for Didier et al. Thanks to McBride and Linda Nikcevich for monitoring this process and voicing concerns. Like David, I know Jill Wickham and can attest to her intelligence, her competence, and her service to the community. I hope she runs next year.

What's up with the message window? There's no way to go back and review what I've written. Apologies for any typos.

In a letter dated May 20th before the full council's vote,

Ms. Wickham stated the following

"I am also informed by others attending last night's interviews that my interview was also far superior to Ms. Organ's interview. Alderpersons Nikcevich, Stepaniak and McBride were in the audience and could address any questions you may have about my interview".

Does this sound like Nikcevich, Stepaniak & McBride told Ms.Wichham

that they were for her.  Isn't that exactly what McBride was accusing

the selection committee of?  

Oh, the hypocrisy.

No.....McBride is accusing the selection committee of making its decision before the interviews took place and the Mayor of interfering in the process. There seems to be agreement that the Mayor's chum gave an inferior interview, yet somehow managed to get the appointment. Do you see how this could raise suspicions? McBride, Nikcevich, and Stepaniak were "for" Wickham because she gave a better interview, which is generally considered a valid reason for being "for" someone. This was based on what she did and not who she knows. Also, they weren't the ones making the decision, so they weren't in a position to influence or be influenced. They didn't have any power or authority in this situation.  

I would take Ms. Wickham's letter as a personal statement of concern.  Who did the letter go to and how did you get a copy of it?  I'd be interested in seeing the full version.

Nancy, you can't convince me that McBride's mind wasn't made up

before the process started. If Wickham was such a better candidate

then why did she only get 2 votes out of a possible 15.  Why didn't

McBride vote for her?  Where was Stepaniak?

Didn't Maher (who supported Stepaniak during the election) vote for

Wickham?  Wasn't Maher appointed by the mayor to be chairman of

Budget & Finance (one could argue the best appointment available).

Sounds like Mayor Didier did pick the best person for job, regardless

of political affiliation.

Tosamom, the letter was sent to all the alderpersons.  I heard about the

letter and requested it. (it's public record).

Email me and I will send it to you.

Peter, do you understand that it doesn't matter what McBride thought because he wasn't among the ones making the selection? A committee that was comprised of three members of the Gang of Six and one newbie made the selection. McBride was watching, but he didn't make the decision. Didier's choice flubbed her interview pretty badly, but her cronies picked her anyway - even though she couldn't answer basic questions about community issues and the duties of alderpeople. In other words, she demonstrated that she wasn't qualified for the job, yet she got it anyway. Do you see the problem with this? Again....it doesn't matter who McBride wanted as it wasn't up to him. McBride and several others smelled something fishy and they said so. That's their job. She was appointed because the committee recommended her.

McBride made a motion to have the nomination re-examined and then he withdrew it, probably because it would be more trouble tnan it was worth. The council approved the appointment because they nearly always approve recommendations from committees. That's how they operate. Decisions are made at the committee level and recommended to the council for final approval. It's rare that they vote against a committee recommendation and unlikely that they would do so in this case because the seat

needed to be filled. They went with what they were given, but not unanimously. Four alderpeople including Stepaniak were not at the meeting. That's why he didn't cast a 'No' vote. With two 'No' votes and an abstention from those voting, this was hard

ly a vote of confidence for Didier. McBride abstained and Craig Maher  voted 'No' along with Nikcevich.      

Nancy, Wickham got two votes. Case Closed.

As regards the number of votes for Organ vs. Wickham: the council was voting on the recommendation of the committee, that is, "Should Jill Organ be the alderman, yes or no."  Therefore the vote had nothing to do with Wickham and everything to do with Organ's qualifications for the position.  McBride's abstention and Maher's and Nikcevich's "no" votes only signal their disapproval of the committee's recommendation.  Case closed.

Jerry Stepaniak is a family friend and I happen to know that his daughter had given birth to his second grandchild earlier that day--a darn good reason for an absence from a council meeting if I ever heard one.

Now, regarding your accusations of "censorship," Mr. Hart.  People can certainly differ in opinions, but those opinions have to have some basis in fact.  Otherwise that's just bad, unethical journalism.  And that was what I was calling you out for--your opinion seems to be based on nothing more than your own personal prejudices about McBride, as all reports from the meeting state that he was even-tempered throughout.  I wouldn't want to kick you off for saying something against McBride, but I'd sure hope that you'd back it up with some facts.

Re: Wickham's letter and McBride's alleged hypocrisy, the letter clearly states that McBride, Nikcevich and Stepaniak formed their opinion on the basis of the interviews they observed.  Yes, this happened before the full council voted, but it happened after all of the information on the candidates was in the public arena--i.e. McBride and Nikcevich made their decision fair and square based on what they had witnessed and went into the vote having done their research, not before they had even seen the interviews.  Ironic, isn't it, that the only two aldermen present who were not on the selection committee were the ones who disapproved of the recommendation?  Seems to me like neither of them liked what they saw, and I'm very happy that they took the time to actually witness the interviews as opposed to voting on a very important decision based on hearsay.

Finally, just winning an election with 53% of the vote isn't a call for change, that's barely an electoral preference; McBride won in a landslide against a 35-year incumbent.

And I'd suggest praying to St. Francis de Sales: www.catholic.org/.../saint.php

Pete…

Some friendly advice.

Stop digging.

The Mayor wanted her neigherbor to replace her. We all get it.  Thank you for drawing such attention to this (previously) unheralded and lame Clintonian stunt.

It is her prerogative pack the Council with supporters.

I’m now scratching my head trying to figure out if the resident moonbat (Jeff Krol) is vying for first place with the resident wing nut (you) for first place in POing a record number of Tosans on a sacred holiday weekend.

BTW – you and Birschel need to grow thicker skins so please spare us the high-minded platitudes.

Tom

BTW – Did you grill crow tonight for the holiday?  I know I breakfasted on it post election.  If you need a recipe (or a crow) email me.  I can furnish both.

Get over it bud.  

TPT bloggers are not journalists.

Tom, I didn't spend the last weeks of the election ripping on

Mayor Didier.   Keep your crow recipe, I have no need for it.

Get over it, read your own comments on TTS.  You brought back the

whole gang, even "concerned".  Quite impressive.  

BTW, You guys see what's on tap for Tonight's Budget & Finance meeting.

Budgets & Engineering project reviews.

Pete…

My second post violated the name-calling rule.  I was out of line.

Just a heads-up - I’ll probably hold some public officials to account from time to time.  (That term – ripping on – sounds so harsh). But only when they deserve it.

At least you and I agree that the Mayor has the option to pack the Council with her own hand-picked supporter.  

Heck - if I was mayor I certainly would.  I’d like to think I would at least be more nuanced about it.

Chalk it up to inexperience.

Tom

Individuals (Thomas & Nancy, to call out two) responding to the "Family Guy" blog consistently "ripped on" Didier during her mayoral campaign. All they appear to be doing is continuing their criticism of an elected official they didn't support then & don't support now.

The committee's job was to interview all candidates & recommend the one they assess as the most qualified individual. They did their job. Jill Organ has just short of one year to show us whether or not their assessment bears out with good representation. Give her the chance -- and respect -- she deserves.