That's right... it's election time again, and I find it ironic, and also fitting that we're voting on April Fool's Day. Government makes everyone look like fools, and the people who run tend to fit this description very aptly as well. It's nice to finally see a bit of synergy. There are really only two issues specifically facing Wauwatosa voters tomorrow: the mayoral race, and the fire station referendum. As usual, neither of these questions are cut and dry, but I'll throw my analysis in your direction, and also how I'm planning on voting... though I reserve the right to change my mind once I step into the booth.
Mayoral Race: I wrote about some issues concerning me several weeks ago. I also emailed both candidates asking for clarification on the issues I brought up. I was extremely disappointed to find that neither candidate responded to my questions. Not a good start for either person who claims that they want to represent the residents of Wauwatosa when they can't respond to a concerned voter.
My concerns about eminent domain are still at the front of my mind, and are the major issue I'm taking into the voting booth with me. I'm now even more concerned given the news that one of Stepaniak's major contributors is under federal investigation, and is also a major developer who was part of the new Crowne Plaza Hotel. Given my grave concerns about Kelo style eminent domain takings, I find it even more troubling that Stepaniak has major developers contributing money to his campaign.
I also have concerns about other things he'd like to spend tax payer money on, such as surveillance cameras:
I will continue to push technology as a means to strengthen our monitoring and investigative capacity. I will also pursue the possibilities for camera surveillance at key locations within the city as a pre-emptive tool to combat crime.
There is simply no need for the expense of surveillance cameras, and in a city such as Wauwatosa, they'd provide very little value. There is no need for this small suburb to turn into a 1984 style surveillance city.
In the end, all of Stepaniak's campaign postings leave me with the impression that he wants to plan city development from the Mayor's office in a way that is not compatible with a free society where private property ownership is the cornerstone of our nation. So then I look at Jill Didier's website and her experience to see how much better she'd be. I looked, and read all her campaign information and found.... *chirp*... very little... surprisingly little.... shamefully little.
Where Stepaniak provided enough information about his vision for me to discount him as a candidate a libertarian could be comfortable with... Jill Didier provides so little information that I have hard time thinking anyone could be comfortable with her. From what I can tell, the only real accomplishment she touts is for sex offender restrictions in our city which I don't even agree with! Other than that, there is just a lot of superficial ideas of being more open and more responsible with taxpayer dollars. So now I feel I'm stuck between the devil I know, and the devil I don't.
In the end, I think I'll be voting for Didier, but I won't feel good about it. Stepaniak's advertised zeal for urban design and renewal (at the cost of private property rights) is just too dangerous for us to live with. I'd rather take a chance on Didier for four years.
Fire Station Referendum: Another issue which is far from cut and dry. I see the old fire station all the time in Wauwatosa, and understand that it needs to be replaced. However, I look at the scope of the plans for what they want to replace it with, and I'm left to wonder whether we need everything they're asking for. Most of the supporters of the plan keep shining the light on the current fire station, and seem to be using that to smoke screen the vast scale of the redevelopment plans. I think they're irresponsible. Any time... any time... you take people's homes from them, that should automatically create a very high bar that you must over come to justify the need. The City of Wauwatosa has failed miserably in justifying the need for as large of a station as they want at the expense of people's hard earned private property.
This is not to suggest that a new fire station is not needed. However, just because you need to replace something, doesn't give you the right to go overboard in what you replace it with. I believe the city needs to re-evaluate their current plans and come back to the voters with a more responsible plan that does more to honor the rights of the citizens to keep as much of their private property as possible.
In order to force the city to re-evaluate, that means I'll be voting No on this referendum.
If you'd like to see a complete sample ballot for your district, you can visit the State Voter Public Access Site.
