Democratic Green Bay

Today let's move to the East side of Green Bay, to a district where the current Alderperson/Supervisor is helping with the efforts to recall Dave Hansen. District 4's 2010 election results:

Barrett won:
14                     323     298
15                     424     302
16                     430     262
17                     221     153

Feingold won:
14                     331     295
15                     417     315
16                     447     255
17                     237     145

Kagen won:
14                     346     285
15                     440     304
16                     443     259
17                     239     145

Klenke took 14, but Soletski won:
14                     291     330
15                     397     340
16                     418     276
17                     224     159

The last time Senator Hansen ran was 2008, the year of the blue tide with President Obama at the top of the ticket. While citizen Theisen seems to have issues with the senator now, the people of district 4 sure liked the Senator back then.

Hansen won big:
14                     650     247
15                     749     299
16                     671     230
17                     452     185

Aldervisor Theisen is a good and honorable man. I worked with him on issues then there was common ground to be found between us when I served on the council. Many people talk about what an good representative he is while serving in local government. But I just wonder if the voters in his district understand how much further right his beliefs are than theirs?

Democratic Green Bay

For example, in the face of massive corporate dollars smearing Democratic candidates, district 8 voters in the last election:

Barrett won:
30                     425     378
31                     208     152
32                     507     436
33                     469     442

Feingold won:
30                     431     385
31                     201     165
32                     510     452
33                     470     458

Kagen won:
30                     454     376
31                     217     146
32                     519     439
33                     501     431

I find it interesting how Republican the subset of spring voters has been over the years when Green Bay is undeniably a working class Democratic town. Both sides are energized right now. It'll sure be interesting to see how the district lines move with the new data and how that high energy might change the face of the council. Who knows? Maybe there will be an election before the new districts are drawn.

Insane?

Either way, it seems to me Glenn Beck went off the deep end on this one.

New Lines

Let the gerrymandering begin!

But seriously, this is the data that will be used to draw the lines on the maps we all have to live with for the next ten years.

It's about the money...

...oh wait it's not. TPM covers the blow by blow.

BizTimes was the first article to hit my feed reader.

Who are the Koch brothers?

Here's one perspective from August 2010.

It seems they are responsible for the Americans for Prosperity group that is currently trying to prop up Gov. Walker against the tide of public opinion opposing the no-compromise position for eliminating most current public sector collective bargaining rights.

Ouch and Thanks

Feelings of betrayal. Maybe I read more in to comments than were there, maybe people lied to me and in front of me. When Jerry moved with Amy seconding for the secret ballot, well, at that point I went from nervous to an ache in the pit of the stomach. That motion from those people... ouch. I expect it from the nut-job coalition but from my friends? I wish someone would have roll'ed that vote. Final special election result? Four votes out of ten does not a winner make. Congratulations to Alerperson Haefs.

Here's a bit of insider politics... I cut a deal with one Alderperson for a vote. He agreed to vote for me if I agreed to stay out of the mayoral primary. A high price on my part but this guy shifts between moderate right and far right depending on the day you catch him so I cut the deal on the spot. He also has a well deserved reputation for flip-flopping. So, an hour before the meeting, this guy starts texting and leaving VMs asking to be released from his obligation. Since I had to pre-pay my part of the deal I was getting dressed I didn't return. With a closed ballot, there is no way to actually know who voted which way but my best guess is that he kept his word.

The most interesting part of this experience? Two of the three most up front and honest guys told me they were not voting for me. Tony because of Dan's long experience and support in the district, Andy because he thinks our politics are too different. I genuinely appreciate the direct honesty where it was given and that includes Dan giving me a heads up that he was running.

Even the chair of a volunteer committee on which I serve showed up supporting another candidate. It just wasn't my night, I guess.

I am grateful for all the supportive calls, texts and emails both before and after last night. For the folks suggesting I run again, it's nice of you to ask. We'll see. Now is not the time to make that decision. Public service is rewarding, getting to know people is fun, solving problems is rewarding. Being a candidate who has to fend off half truths and and lies isn't either. Thanks for reading.