The debate over a 1% sales tax referendum to fund parks, transit, and EMS services for local municipalities has certainly put my County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin in a political bind.
She voted against the proposal on the shaky logic that the public wasn’t “educated’ enough and it would be a tough issue to handle during a campaign cycle. Then she sent out postcards to her district, myself included, to ask what her constituents thought on the matter after she had voted on it.
Now in an interview with the Story Hill community website, she seems even more confused and contradictory, and people are staring to call her ability to lead, much less make any sense on the issue, into question.
The responses are running, she said, “right now, neck and neck…Personally, I’d like to see it a little clearer than 50-50.â€
DeBruin has long opposed advisory referendums, and said she still has problems with them.
“If you’re going to do one, it should be binding,†she said.
DeBruin said she is more willing to move on the issue because of a change she senses among her constituency. “I’m starting to get people saying, ‘Let’s at least have a referendum.” – StoryHill.net
Move on the issue? Move where?
So the referendum should be binding? And what, she’d vote against it?
It’s a repeating theme with her. Waffle on the issue, no matter what it may be. “It should be binding” but she votes against it regardless and fails to offer any kind of solid leadership on this or any other issue.
Sending out a postcard referendum to your constituents to get their opinion after you’ve voted on an issue isn’t just a lack of leadership, it’s insulting to those she claims to represent.
Milwaukee County very much needs leaders right now and her continued indecision on the tough issues facing all of us is becoming more and more apparent.
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and son Carter.
Excellent post Dan! Lynne De Bruin will most likely flip a coin. I’m disgusted by her actions and inconsistency on this issue. I sincerely hope you and others in your district are inundating her office with phone calls and letters in support of the advisory referendum. In my district, we’re fortunate to have Pat Jursik but I’m frustrated that someone like Lynne De Bruin may cast the deciding vote to uphold or override Scott Walker’s veto. Let’s hope she makes the proper choice.
One more thing…are there any serious candidates in the 15th District to unseat this clown in 2008? How about you, Dan? :)
I also happen to think Dan would be a great addition to the Board, the problem is going up against an incumbent who’s been there for years. Or maybe that’s a positive in this case!
Running for office is no small thing, but if I were to want anyone representing me, it would be you Dan, so I say go for it too!
Hello Dan,
I have lived, worked and volunteered in the Washington Heights neighborhood for 25 years. It is unusual that our paths have never crossed before!!
In that time, I have personally worked with Lynne on many issues and my experience has always been a positive one.
In her defense; she has never missed a community meeting, she has never NOT returned a phone call and has been quite responsive to this communities needs.
My work has crossed many years of service with involvement in the Washington Heights Neighborhood Association, the West End Vliet Street Business Association and my current efforts with NUWP (Neighborhoods United for Washington Park). Many of the positive things that have happened in Washington Park are directly related to Lynne’s help and support.
I certainly admire your willingness to step in and make a change..running for public office can be a life-changing experience. I know because I ran for public office myself a few years ago.
No politician can be everything to everyone. This district runs the gamut of ultra liberal to ultra conservatives. I believe that Lynne balances that diversity well.
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for your comments! We actually have crossed paths a few times, I’ve just usually got two kids and a dog in tow which doesn’t make for the best approachability or environment for talking to neighbors :)
That said, I have to disagree on a number of points, the first being that she’s never missed a community meeting. I’ve been to the last three annual WHNA town hall meetings and she wasn’t present at any of them. Almost every other politician who represents the district was there on the other hand, and used the opportunity to speak to those in attendance. I could go on about other events like the WHNA picnic and such which are just within our neighborhood, but from what I’ve seen and from a vast majority of residents in district have told me, she chooses not to attend a lot of public outreach events or communicate more than once every four years with her constituents.
That’s her choice of course, but I’m making community outreach and education a top priority in my campaign, which I think will stand in stark contrast with Sup. DeBruin.
I recall your run for mayor and we actually did meet, briefly, at your election night party at O’Briens. I thought you ran a great grassroots campaign to be honest.
The next time I spot you on the street, I’ll make a point to stop and say hello so I can talk to you personally about some of the issues you raised above, but more importantly why I think the 15th district is ready for a change in representation and why I am asking residents to listen to what I have to say on the issues so they can make an informed choice this spring.
Or just look out for the guy being pulled along by a black lab with an infant in the stroller and a toddler hanging halfway out of it!