Monroe

To the editor,

This April election for mayor in Monroe is very important. Our town is growing with new businesses and the downtown business is coming back with its Main Street revitalization. Maintaining this momentum requires excellent decision-makers, leadership and harmony in our city government.

Mayoral candidate Michael Boyce has presented information about his questionable qualifications for this position. As a taxpayer and concerned citizen, I feel the public needs to know the rest of the story.

I understand that during the City budget process, Mr. Boyce developed his own budget and claims he could save the citizens huge amounts of money. His budget was not shown or discussed with department heads or alderpersons. He invited some alders to his office to discuss and work on this. Open meeting laws frown on this activity.

I also understand in Mr. Boyce's budget, he proposed cutting all financing for the Senior Center, thereby eliminating one department. Visits to the senior center has increased dramatically for seniors to use the services it offers. This needs to continue and Mr. Boyce's proposal would put this in jeopardy.

Mr. Boyce has a reputation for a very quick temper as displayed in council chambers by his aggressiveness, intimidation, and an in-your-face manner because of the way he feels about some of the votes by others. He was seen coming out of City Hall yelling at an alder for the way that person voted. When the alder sent a letter to Mr. Boyce and to those in authority at City Hall asking him to stay away and not have contact, he had his attorney send that alder a letter asking for retraction or Mr. Boyce would sue. The alder ignored the letter and Mr. Boyce backed down. Clearly, this is bullying by Mr. Boyce.

Mr. Boyce's baggage is more than most candidates running for office. From the drug paraphernalia charge in 2004, resulting from a search by police who stopped him for speeding and which was then amended to a disorderly conduct charge in Rock County, to the open records request of a well-liked city employee (because he didn't like her comments at a council meeting) costing the taxpayers $250, it makes me as a voting citizen question the qualification of Mr. Boyce for the position of mayor. I urge you to carefully study the facts and circumstances before you cast your vote.