CRG Editorial

Appeared in The Sheboygan Press on July 30, 2006 – and required to be all factual.

As the citizens of Sheboygan know, there is currently an effort underway - spearheaded by Citizens for Responsible Government-Sheboygan (CRG) - to recall Mayor Juan Perez. CRG-Sheboygan is of the firm belief that Mayor Perez lacks the required skills to be a responsive, progressive, and knowledgeable leader; in addition, his stay as mayor will continue to put the safety and welfare of our great city in jeopardy. Because of this, many hard-working, decent people throughout Sheboygan feel this recall is warranted and justified.

These are only a few examples of questionable leadership practices and lack of integrity Mayor Juan Perez has already shown:

  • He didn't take a stand against the Act 40 resolution to abolish the police department until the very last minute -- only after there were protests in the street and state-level politicians voiced their concerns about its wisdom.
  • He has maintained his drive to build the police station on County land (even though their price has risen twice this year), despite the fact that several surveys of the land indicate contamination. Furthermore, when a clean and potentially cost-saving alternative site (Van Der Vaart) was presented, he would not allow alderpersons to actively pursue it, despite requests of the city police department.
  • He cast the deciding vote to prevent an ethics investigation of Renee Suscha after she accused police of lying and of misconduct regarding a street closing.
  • He cast the deciding vote to sever ties with Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce, after decades of profitable partnership.
  • He was unclear and evasive about his involvement in and knowledge of Library Director Sharon Winkel's contract.
  • He has hampered progress on the police station construction process (with threatening ultimatums), resulting in VERY costly delays.
  • He has restricted city employees in their communication with the media and the public. Due to this repressive attitude, many dedicated city employees fear retribution if they actively support the recall effort on their own personal time.

Many citizens of this city fear that by signing the recall petition, it will somehow be used against them. The CRG would like to make it clear that everyone in the City of Sheboygan has the constitutional right by law to support the recall effort without the fear of retaliation.

It may surprise you to learn that the recall does NOT require an illegal act. Wisconsin State legislation, as well as dozens of other states, provides local communities the ability to recall an official based solely on performance. According to the National Conference of State Legislation: "Proponents of the recall maintain that it provides a way for citizens to retain control over elected officials who are not representing the best interests of their constituents, or who are unresponsive or incompetent. This view holds that an elected representative is an agent, a servant and not a master."

According to state statue, the Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer of the city and must hold himself to that city's municipal code. Sec. 2-267. (a) “Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public ... They are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the public interest must be their primary concern. Their conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach so as to foster respect for all government.”

"We've got to play mother and father and say, 'Kids, this is what you're going to get,'" Perez said. "I can tell you right now that they're not going to like it and they're going to find 30 different reasons why they can't. We need to find 30 reasons why they can." -- Sheboygan Press, July 7, 2006. Comments such as this make it sound to us like Mayor Perez doesn’t have any ‘respect for all government’.

Moreover, it appears that rather than discussing the issues we’ve presented, Mayor Perez is crying racism. Our members do not tolerate racism, sexism or any other negative behaviors. The recall is about the issues, nothing else. The CRG would like to make it known that, from this point forward, we will not discuss racism as a motive behind the recall. We will not dignify the mayor or anyone else with future conversations regarding this insulting suggestion to the good citizens of Sheboygan.

In conclusion, we feel Sheboygan needs a mayor who will speak positively about its employees, citizens, and opportunities. We need someone who will bring us together, not tear us apart. We need someone who will tackle the difficult issues facing us with a clear vision, leading us forward. It is obvious to us that this person is not our current mayor, Juan Perez.

Citizens for Responsible Government -- Sheboygan:

Marge Segalle, Dan Berg, Judy Graff, Barb Tuszynski, Dimple Adams, Chris Balassi, Gina Steinhardt, Jeffrey Bubb

Dimple Adams: 458-0988; Email:  dma88@aol.com
Christos G. Balassi: 208-9976
Dan Berg: 452-9719; Email:  dpberg@powercom.net
Jeffrey A. Bubb: 459-9486; Email:  jabubb@charter.net
Judy Graff: 452-3448
Marge Segalle: 452-9983
Gina Steinhardt: 458-6636; Email:  gina_steinhardt@yahoo.com
Barb Tuszynski: 946-7283; Email:  thomas_paine_lives@yahoo.com

Note: Please be courteous - do not call any of the above after 8 p.m. or before 10 a.m.

Stop the complacency...Seek the truth...Support our city! Together, rebuilding a fractured city!

Paid for by CRG-Sheboygan

See www.recallperez.com for our ‘Reasons for Recall’ and much, much more!

www.recallperez.com

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