The days after an election can be uncertain, exciting times. This uncertainty comes in many forms.
In Tuesday's elections, referendums failed In the Brodhead and Black Hawk school districts. Now what?
In Brodhead, five teachers and one guidance counselor will be laid off or have their hours cut in half. Also, the school board experienced some change-over as two write-in candidates ousted board president Peggy Olsen and board member Carol Kloepping.
In Black Hawk, there is less certainty about the future and how the district will have to cut costs. The district did not have a backup plan like Brodhead to help balance its budget, which leaves board members and district administration with a lot of work to do.
In Monroe, voters chose a vision of the past by electing former 12-year mayor Bill Ross to replace Ron Marsh, who was seeking his third term. City voters also elected two new Common Council members in Wards 3 and 9. Michael Boyce will represent Ward 3, and in Ward 9 Mike Rivers to fill the seat vacated by Kent Kallembach.
In each race, candidates made promises or raised issues, and in both local referendums voters spoke loudly with their ballots.
And now, reality sets in.
Going forward, residents have a responsibility to watch the newly-elected local leaders to ensure they work hard to achieve the goals they promised and ideas they set forth. In some cases, the reality of reaching those goals or ideas may set in quickly. Regardless, officials and voters alike have a responsibility to ensure the change promised or voted for fulfills the will of the majority of residents.
Voters also have the responsibility and obligation to accept the changes that accompany the new leadership they elected. By electing new city and county officials voters, may have to accept fewer services if they do not want to see an increase in their property taxes.
And, by voting down school district referendums, voters must now accept the cuts necessary for school boards to create balanced budgets. Just because change is made, there is no guarantee a budget will be balance or the right cuts in services or personnel will be made.
As the short-term will be exciting for the new faces on area boards and councils, the electorate and its public officials must maintain long-term diligence or the changes they may have sought might never happen.
In Tuesday's elections, referendums failed In the Brodhead and Black Hawk school districts. Now what?
In Brodhead, five teachers and one guidance counselor will be laid off or have their hours cut in half. Also, the school board experienced some change-over as two write-in candidates ousted board president Peggy Olsen and board member Carol Kloepping.
In Black Hawk, there is less certainty about the future and how the district will have to cut costs. The district did not have a backup plan like Brodhead to help balance its budget, which leaves board members and district administration with a lot of work to do.
In Monroe, voters chose a vision of the past by electing former 12-year mayor Bill Ross to replace Ron Marsh, who was seeking his third term. City voters also elected two new Common Council members in Wards 3 and 9. Michael Boyce will represent Ward 3, and in Ward 9 Mike Rivers to fill the seat vacated by Kent Kallembach.
In each race, candidates made promises or raised issues, and in both local referendums voters spoke loudly with their ballots.
And now, reality sets in.
Going forward, residents have a responsibility to watch the newly-elected local leaders to ensure they work hard to achieve the goals they promised and ideas they set forth. In some cases, the reality of reaching those goals or ideas may set in quickly. Regardless, officials and voters alike have a responsibility to ensure the change promised or voted for fulfills the will of the majority of residents.
Voters also have the responsibility and obligation to accept the changes that accompany the new leadership they elected. By electing new city and county officials voters, may have to accept fewer services if they do not want to see an increase in their property taxes.
And, by voting down school district referendums, voters must now accept the cuts necessary for school boards to create balanced budgets. Just because change is made, there is no guarantee a budget will be balance or the right cuts in services or personnel will be made.
As the short-term will be exciting for the new faces on area boards and councils, the electorate and its public officials must maintain long-term diligence or the changes they may have sought might never happen.
