Curmudgeon's Corner

Al,

So far you haven't said that the content of the postcards and phone messages were lies.  If they're not lies how is it unethical, and why does it matter where it came from?

Absent of any proof of wrongdoing or accusations that this group lied in what they put out, it just appears that you're whining.  

I doubt a lot of our fellow citizens follow local government as closely as you do, so I'm quite happy when someone points out to me that one of my representatives voted for something I'm not in favor of.

JayBryant10,

I would usually pass on responding to a comment but your note makes a great point.  Thanks for taking time to write the comment.

In the case of many of these 'issue' ads, the actual votes were on the general issue cited but the votes typically didn't do what the issue ad suggests.  When there is not a name involved, people feel a lot better about stretching the truth if that is their goal.

In the case of Mel Ewert which is the one that I am familiar with given my address, the issue ad suggests that he is soft on crime. This is based on his no vote for the initial proposal of $8.2 million for bringing the police building and the old library building together.  I think it is a real stretch to accuse Ewert of being soft on crime when he was objecting to the first proposal and its price tag.

This proposed project is now being revised for the second time, I believe, and, if approved, I suspect will probably be at a cost in the $2.5 to $3.0 million range to accomplish the same basic purpose.  So Ewert's vote meant more in terms of tax loads than anything else.  This is not a shot at the police department; they need to get that done from my perspective.  But, there is a real doubt in my mind that the original proposal was necessary.  And, it appears that this will get done but at a significantly reduced price.

So, back to the issue ads.  Those would have you believe that this was something egregious such as denying the police ammunition or new squads or body armor.  If the shadow group were forced to make the charges in the full light of day, I think they'd be a lot more careful with the truth as I see that.

Well, Jay, I agreed with you 100%, the postcards aren't lies, so what is the problem?

When it came time for the Chief of Police to talk at a meeting, he stated that he was embarassed at the 8.2 million dollar price tag, and that he did not want anything at that amount.  He also stated that he had already sent in for grants and other applications to help fund the whole thing.  The police department in Germantown doesn't ask for a lot from us - they fundraise for so much, that it would be interesting for citizens of Germantown to realize what they have all fund raised and written grants for in these years.  When Mel Ewert says "Zero millions", no matter what price tag comes through, he has stayed strong on that!!! He compared the police department with the senior center, which even a youth in Germantown knows that you are not comparing apples to apples.  He had no problem putting the senior center costs on the tax bill, without it going to referendum, so he does raise taxes.  He is the chairman of the senior committee, so he is the biggest backing behind the spending.  He stated at the forum, that the roads would go on taxes, so I don't think that the postcards were all that wrong!!!  

Right now, it sounded like the senior center came in at $900,000, special meetings to spend money on furniture, vehicles, WII systems, tvs, and much more - do we have to spend the $1.5, or can we take what's left and put it towards the original amount borrowed???  Show the citizens of Germantown, that you are looking out for their interests!!!

Have a great day, and please make sure that you do look at the postcards, and realize that there is more truth than we are told to believe!!!

I recently received some phone calls and post cards about my Trustee Mel Ewert. I did not know much about Mr. Ewert other then what these shadow groups had sent to me so I went online to get some information about him. www.jsonline.com/.../index.aspx

Thank you Al for explaining to me about these shadowy groups

What disturbed me was what I found in an article from last year in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It reported that Trustee Ewert used his elected position to get his son a cushy job as the Germantown Weed Commissioner - getting paid thousands of dollars a year to report on weeds. If this is true it its nepotism at its finest.

Was Trustee Ewert's son qualified for the job as Weed Commissioner? We will never know since he left his application blank. According to the article Trustee Ewert personally hand-delivered the application to Village Hall.

I was not even aware that our tax dollars paid for a position entitled Weed Commissioner. Why did the other two applicants who did apply in writing not get the job? Why did Trustee Ewert tell the Journal Sentinel that no one else applied for the position when that was clearly not the truth?

I think Trustee Ewert has some explaining to do.

Thank you, Sylvia

My child went to Germantown high school and I know students who go there now. What I would like to know is how you (WHAT IS THE PROBLEM) are able to access the computer at both 11:35a.m. and 12:45p.m. rather than doing your classwork ? Also,you sure do know an awful lot about funding, grants, etc. for a " teen/youth." I haven't seen any Germantown "teens" sitting through the meetings. Oh wait-I bet you watch at home, nevermind. How about giving us your name. I'd like to personally congratulate your English teacher on how eloquent your teenage vocabulary is and your writing skills.

Al -

I didn't realize, that this blog was set up just for people to condemn each other!!!

Well, I do follow politics, even as a young person in this community, and am embarrassed to read your words to me!!!  I will be joining the voting community, and want to know the facts - do you?

I have the meetings taped, and I now know that all meetings are being televised (maybe not senior committee).  Since you've never seen me there, you are a regular and are one of the Trustees, because they are the only people at each meeting!!!  Not even the paper comes each week, and the seats are pretty empty most nights!!!

The schools do allow us lunch hours, study halls, and research time - maybe I'm on a work program, or only go to school 3 hours a day, because I am graduating - if all you're going to blog on is my life, you're in the wrong place.

If you want to know what I know, follow the meetings, donate your time in Germantown, and get to know the community.

The blame games and passing sass to others is ridiculous!!!

We have some trustees who are being blamed for the postcards and phone calls - why do we have to blame?

I am saddened by your comments - how do I know you aren't responsible for these postcards and phone calls, and trying to make it a reverse "Feel Sorry For Me" campaign???

Wow!!!

I would like to recommend the latest book by my favorite author, John Grisham, called The Appeal.  It is about this very same situation that we see happening in Germantown and the State Supreme Court Race.  I read bantering back and forth about 'this card is not lying', etc.  

Instead of bantering, research the facts - do not use cards issued by faceless entities with fearmongering propaganda.  Do not use newspaper articles - there is another primary source:  the minutes for meetings.  It would be quite cumbersome to watch each and every meeting and some are not televised; however, minutes are available.  In my experience, sometimes at meetings when discussion takes place it is difficult to ascertain what just happened.  The minutes provide a synopsis and should leave a lasting voting trail.  

Frankly, fearmongering propaganda such as the Butler/Gableman commercials and the recent attack on Mel Ewert which equates a no vote on a building addition to compromising safety is simply an insult to my intelligence.  

Again, how uncanny that The Appeal is about this very same situation.  In a postnote, the author states that while his book is fiction this type of special interest action is happening in each state election - I never dreamed it would happen in Wisconsin.  Oh boy, and we call this a democracy!  Whoever has the money to burn comes out the winner!

Good Luck tomorrow Germantown!

Sylvia, Thanks for your note. It does sound a bit scurrilous if, in fact, Trustee Mel Ewert used his government job to help funnel taxpayer money to his son. Looks like his son could use the help. According to Washington County Court records, it appears that Trustee Ewert's son Darin and his wife Jennifer have had some money problems in the past year and have had three foreclosure actions brought against them. The case is called Countrywide Home Loans Inc vs. Darin J Ewert and Jennifer R. Ewert Washington County Case Number 2007CV001234 and can be found by simply clicking on this link  http://wcca.wicourts.gov/ and searching for Darin Ewert.

I can appreciate a father trying to help out his down and out son but not on the backs of the hard working tax-payers of Germantown.

Thanks Al for the great job your doing with your blog!

Bob

Sylvia-I read the article you attached and was confused where you quoted "thousands" of dollars. It was only 2 thousand...what a cushy job! Hey what a neat trick-when you click on your name it takes you right to the article-you must really want us to read it. I am not that computer savvy-how did you do that ? Thanks for your information but I rec'd my Mel-bashing phone call today and funny, your comments mirrored the call verbatim.

As for the Weed Commissioner job, the records states Mel abstained from voting-it was a 6-2 vote in favor of Darin Ewart. Perhaps we should castigate those 6 Trustees.

Bob - now we drag a Trustee's family through the mud? Perhaps we should vote for his opponent - have you checked out HIS record on

www.wicourts.gov? I bet not. Maybe you should because it is quite extensive! Where would you like to start - the part where he is being sued right now in Washington County - Case No. 2007CV000407? Or perhaps his earlier lawsuits? What about his delinquent unemployment tax warrant - Case No. 1992UC000021? Lest we not forget the speeding and auto violations too !

Is any of that relevant? Of course not.

A friend offered the best suggestion yet: Look at the trouble Asset Development caused this Village! Germantown needs to rid itself of this pest before the infestation continues to grow!

Pretty disappointed in the childish banter I've been reading on this blog.  What raises a red flag with me is, why all of this consternation over a Village Trustee position?  It makes me think there's something going on behind the scenes regarding money and favors.  Too bad Germantown has joined the larger communities in Wisconsin by foraging into gutter politics.