We, like many, will be glad when this current campaign season is over, constantly trying to separate fact from fiction.
One source we have found particularly helpful and very interesting regarding the 80th District Assembly race is the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (http://www.wisdc.org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group that monitors political corruption and works for reform.
The WDC has ranked members of the Wisconsin Legislature regarding political reform. Scoring legislators in four categories, ranging from "Democracy Defenders" - those who consistently voted and worked for passage of reform initiatives, to "Public Enemies" - those who regularly sided with special interests and worked to defeat reforms that would restore power to the general public, 54 of 130 legislators made WDC's Public Enemies list.
We can be very proud that Sen. Jon Erpenbach of the 27th Senate District was one of only nine legislators to earn a spot in WDC's top Democracy Defenders list. But 80th Assembly District residents also need to take another close look, because at the top of the Public Enemies list is the name of Rep. Brett Davis.
While Davis is a likeable young man and makes himself visible in the 80th District, there are those of us who don't share many of Davis' views or beliefs. Additionally, WDC's ranking raises serious questions about whose interests Davis really serves. The current barrage of negative advertising from special interest groups attacking Davis' opponent, John Waelti, reinforces WDC's ranking of Davis. The WDC Web site also shows that from Jan. 1, 2007, to Aug. 25, 2008, Davis spent $22,126.90 in campaign funds, compared to his opponent's $9,303.54.
Do we really need or want a "career politician" who was elected to the Assembly five years after finishing college? Wouldn't it make more sense to have someone in the Assembly with real-life experiences? Waelti's career as an economist, spanning decades, has taken him all over the world, yet he grew up as a hard-working Green County farm boy, with the work ethic and common sense of Swiss immigrant grandparents. Following retirement, when he could have chosen to live anywhere, he returned to his Green County roots, seeking to be of service to citizens of south central Wisconsin.
Everyone should visit www.WaeltiforAssembly.org, and read not only about his rational approach to positions on state issues, but also the incredible wealth of knowledge, experience and ability to work with others Waelti would bring to the State Assembly.
One source we have found particularly helpful and very interesting regarding the 80th District Assembly race is the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (http://www.wisdc.org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group that monitors political corruption and works for reform.
The WDC has ranked members of the Wisconsin Legislature regarding political reform. Scoring legislators in four categories, ranging from "Democracy Defenders" - those who consistently voted and worked for passage of reform initiatives, to "Public Enemies" - those who regularly sided with special interests and worked to defeat reforms that would restore power to the general public, 54 of 130 legislators made WDC's Public Enemies list.
We can be very proud that Sen. Jon Erpenbach of the 27th Senate District was one of only nine legislators to earn a spot in WDC's top Democracy Defenders list. But 80th Assembly District residents also need to take another close look, because at the top of the Public Enemies list is the name of Rep. Brett Davis.
While Davis is a likeable young man and makes himself visible in the 80th District, there are those of us who don't share many of Davis' views or beliefs. Additionally, WDC's ranking raises serious questions about whose interests Davis really serves. The current barrage of negative advertising from special interest groups attacking Davis' opponent, John Waelti, reinforces WDC's ranking of Davis. The WDC Web site also shows that from Jan. 1, 2007, to Aug. 25, 2008, Davis spent $22,126.90 in campaign funds, compared to his opponent's $9,303.54.
Do we really need or want a "career politician" who was elected to the Assembly five years after finishing college? Wouldn't it make more sense to have someone in the Assembly with real-life experiences? Waelti's career as an economist, spanning decades, has taken him all over the world, yet he grew up as a hard-working Green County farm boy, with the work ethic and common sense of Swiss immigrant grandparents. Following retirement, when he could have chosen to live anywhere, he returned to his Green County roots, seeking to be of service to citizens of south central Wisconsin.
Everyone should visit www.WaeltiforAssembly.org, and read not only about his rational approach to positions on state issues, but also the incredible wealth of knowledge, experience and ability to work with others Waelti would bring to the State Assembly.
