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11/10/2006
What does it mean if your alderman missed a few tax payments?
On November 1, the Neenah Common Council conducted a wide-open interview process to select an alderman to replace the late (and highly revered) Kip Kitzerow. The process consisted primarily of candidate presentations – some just a few paragraphs, some extending to ten minutes and more.
After the presentations, the Council voted. Openly. No secret ballots. (That was a bit of a welcome surprise.) Two ballots, actually, before they reached a decision, electing Steve Erbach as a new alderman from District 3.
Via his blog, Mr. Erbach will tell you that among other things, he’s “Pro” the ninth and tenth amendments to the constitution (placing limitations on the powers of the federal government) and “Anti” income tax.
Interesting….
If you do a bit of run-of-the-mill personnel checks, you’ll find Mr. Erbach has a delinquent tax warrant of over $3,300. A foreclosure in 2003 is detailed. As well as additional delinquent tax warrants in the early 90’s.
Now… everybody goes through a bit of bad luck. Lists of traffic tickets and/or minor issues will show up on most of our records. But here’s the point. Whose job is it to vet those folks who are our representatives in our governments?
This case is a hairy one. Not normal. Not typical. Aldermanic candidates submitted what was essentially an employee application. So was discovering these tax warrants the job of the city personnel department? Was it the responsibility of the council or the mayor? Was it even important or relevant?
Mr. Erbach suggests it was his responsibility to have been 100% transparent to the Council. He’s been a “semi-regular” Council meeting attendee for the past 4 years and believes he has something to contribute. It was a whirlwind application and selection process. He never thought about his bankruptcy and tax concerns, believes he and his wife are being fiscally responsible, and is working with the state and federal governments on a payment plan.
I don’t know the details of Mr. Erbach’s financial life. I don’t know what importance voters will place on those details. Or place on the fact that he’s back on his feet after a couple of tough years with a small business.
What I do know is that it’s critical we voters know who and what we’re voting for. It’s critical candidates have ballot opposition to increase the chances that voters (and to be honest, the opposition) will dig to determine a man or woman’s background is what they say it is. In this unique case, it was critical the aldermanic applicants be vetted somewhere in the process.
The Neenah Council is to be commended for making the process efficient and very open. But when it comes time for voting, always be informed. Trust but verify. Examine, forgive if necessary. Then and only then, VOTE your principles.
COMMENTS
Dear Ms. Egelhoff,
Just thought I'd let you know that the link to my web log in your article is incorrect. Currently the link reads: http://www.foxpolitics.net/www.thetowncrank.blogspot.com . Here's the correct link:
http://TheTownCrank.blogspot.com
Very interesting piece! As you remember, I offered to send you a copy of my speech. I am still willing to do so, if you'd like.
I wish you success.
Regards,
Steve Erbach
Steve Erbach (Fri Nov 10 05:57:01 2006)
While I do like to know who I'm voting for, I'm also aware that there are no perfect people. Yet, in this day and age, if a candidate cannot present the appearance of perfection, some enterprising soul looking to be the next Woodward and/or Bernstein, will report on all the details of any potential candidate's private life.
I wonder sometimes if the electorate that put Thomas Jefferson, for example, in the Presidency, was aware that he was, apparently, incapable of noticing in his very detailed accounting records, that he spent significantly more than he took in - not to mention his "affection" for one of his slaves.
Somehow, I do not think that Jefferson could be elected in this day and age.
Combine obsessive reporting (and obsessive consumption of that reporting)on a potential candidate with a professional political class - and voila. We get consistently poor quality choices for state and federal offices, because no sane human being would get anywhere near it.
Mr. Erbach has not, according to this report, commited a crime. Lacking criminal activity, I don't think it's anybody else's business, even if he should run for office.
P Budge (Fri Nov 10 23:42:12 2006)
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