Burlington

Partisan politics marks School Board election

Race features deep divisions between candidates and their supporters

 

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

With the primary round firmly behind them and April’s general election still ahead, the first salvos in what will likely be a contentious School Board election were fired this week.

Votes in last week’s primary seemed to break down two lines – with  WeVote-supported candidates Julie Koldeway and Norma Miller vs. what appears to be an anti-WeVote faction supporting incumbent Larry Anderson and Jim Bousman.

The question seemed worth asking – are endorsements playing a part in the process, and should they?

WeVote representative Bonnie Ketterhagen, when present at Monday’s canvassing of the primary votes, was asked if she would be willing to do a short interview about endorsements and perceived leanings toward “conservative” vs. “liberal” voting.

On Tuesday, Ketterhagen sent off an email response, followed with a comment: “Please do not edit or alter my words.”

Her answer in full:

“One would think that staff employee endorsement of a BASD Board of Education candidate is a legitimate conflict of interest since the Board does set their working conditions and negotiates their wages. After vetting the field of applications for school board, we endorse Julie Koldeway and Norma Miller.

“They are true conservatives, intelligent, fiscally responsible, hardworking, and motivated candidates. Their action of attending every BASD meeting since announcing their candidacy (and before) speaks to their high commitment level. They want to learn and show it by good attendance.

“It is a fact that Mr. Bousman only attended the two 15-minute meetings when the names were drawn for the ballots. He also signed the recall Scott Walker petition. The voting record of Mr. Anderson has been to increase taxes above what is necessary for the budget level. (Even the zero percent tax levy added to the surplus savings) Actions speak louder than words. The bill paying citizens have a clear choice with their vote.”

Ketterhagen also emailed her response to fellow members of WeVote with the comment: “Below is a copy of the email I sent to the Standard Press after they submitted questions and requested an interview with us. If what appears in this week’s edition is different, you will know the truth.”

When contacted by telephone Tuesday evening, Ketterhagen stated that, while BASD staff may not have officially endorsed a candidate or candidates, she has heard that teaching staff has been critical of the WeVote candidates. She also stated that, depending on the non-profit status of the Burlington Education Association, they may not legally be able to endorse a candidate.

However, as of Tuesday, BEA President Bill Berkholtz said that an endorsement of candidates by the teachers union has not happened.

“It wouldn’t be prudent for the BEA to endorse a candidate or candidates until after a public forum,” said Berkholtz. He did agree, however, that teachers certainly had the right to discuss and offer their opinions on the race.

Meanwhile, Bousman answered Ketterhagen’s criticism, readily admitting that he signed the petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

“I’m an independent and I voted for Barrett the first time around,” said Bousman. “I’m not so sure what Scott Walker has to do with (the School Board race), to be honest with you.

“The decisions the board has to deal with are local.”

Bousman said he became an independent mostly because of the current split down party lines.

“I want to be fiscally conservative, but I want to be socially aware,” Bousman explained. “That’s why I became an independent.”

Anderson, meanwhile, outlined his reasoning again for the initial tax levy increase in 2011-12.

“The reason was there was supposed to be a lot of valuation with the TIF coming off,” Anderson said. “I was trying to balance between two years.

“What happened was there was a foul-up in the assessor’s office that moved $25 million off of the (tax) rolls,” he added. “Instead averaging two years, we ended up with all of it in one year.

“Based off of the information we had … it was the best thing to do.”

Anderson said the district has actually used part of its fund balance, and not added to the surplus savings. He said this coming year, BASD will likely have about $350,000 more in state aid, and might not have to raise taxes.

“Essentially, we’re getting aid we should’ve gotten last year,” Anderson said. He added that the following year will be a bigger battle, as enrollment will continue to drop and as a result, state aid.

School Board President David Thompson said the negative atmosphere created by the constant tug of war between the two sides has been a problem.

“There seems to be a negative atmosphere that’s developed in the School Board over the last 12-18 months,” Thompson said. “I don’t think it serves the students or the public well.”

40 Comments

  1. The declining enrollment can be directly tied to the raping of the taxpayer by school board. They seem intent on maintaining the lifestyle of administrators and teaching staff while the average taxpayer in Burlington struggles. If you want to see Burlington grow and prosper, it will not be due to the offerings of public education, we must make it a place where people can afford to live comfortably!

    • The declining enrollment to due to birth rate. Why do people sling out slogans and talking points as if they were facts. I could leave you alone if you had said, “I think” or “It’s my opinion” but you state it as facts. I asked Larry Anderson about “declining enrollment” and he had a long history of FACTS to support the ebb and flow of BASD enrollment. If we had a forum hosted by the paper, you could ask him yourself directly.

  2. “Raping of the taxpayer”? Mark, if you’re going to sit here and spit out the WeVote party line, get your facts straight. BASD’s taxes are lower on average than most of the school districts surrounding Burlington, and they were well before the school district became even a blip on the WeVote radar.

  3. My SIL pays $500 more for her 12 yo 3500 sq ft home on 2.5 acres in the Town of Mukwonago than I do for my 1500 sq ft 85 yo home here. Yes RAPE.
    Just because other areas do the same to their taxpayers does not give BASD the right to do it here. It MUST stop.

    • Look at the taxes in Lyons, Town of Burlington, and Rochester to compare them to your taxes. Towns just pay less. She lives in the town.

  4. Fiscal Responsibility?

    When “vetting” Norma Miller, how did you justify her not paying her bills? Take a look on Wisconsin Circuit Court System. How can you justify someone running for school board and controlling a multi-million dollar budget when she can’t do her personal budget.

    • thanks Fiscal Responsibility

      Norma’s budget issues go back to the 1990’s and the most recent 2011. How do you not pay your bills? WeVote looks pretty ridiculous backing someone who doesn’t have their own life together.

  5. Is no one else annoyed at Bonnie’s suggestion that the newspaper will alter her comments to make them seem different from her intention? This blatant dismissal of the press as biased is insulting to journalists and typical of the selfish attitude of the wild-eyed, extremist WeVote faction. I hope the Standard will continue its journalistic integrity. Freedom of the press carries heavy responsibilities, and is the base upon which all of our other freedoms depend.

  6. I can answer ALL questions about my finances myself. If you have any questions, the best place to come to for the correct answers is ME. I pay every single one of my bills. I had to bring my mother back to Wisconsin to take care of her. My step-father refused to come back and stayed in their home in Las Vegas. I got breast cancer and had to put my mother in an assisted living center. My stepfather refused to pay for my mother’s bills and wanted her in a nursing home while I went through chemotherapy. He wanted her to apply for Title 19 though I told him they had too many assets and would be turned down. I applied and was turned down; he applied and was turned down; the nursing home applied and was turned down. I have tons of bills that belong to my mother who had dementia. My stepfather has all of her money, trust, home, annuities, everything. I was sued for all of my mother’s bills. Our attorney told us to file bankruptcy to get rid of my mother’s bills. We did BUT we pay every single one of our bills. My mother is gone now and had no idea any of this was going on. I finally got fed up with my stepdad’s wishes and brought my mother back home with us where she belonged. Had lots of courts dates. Even the judge wanted the nursing home to go to Las Vegas to get my stepfather to pay my mother’s bills and two attorneys refused to participate against me when they found out the truth about my mother’s funds. Eventually my name will be cleared. NOW why don’t we talk about William Campbell who has been on the Board for some time…..”He has filed bankruptcy TWICE to get his company out of trouble”. And he didn’t pay his bills. How about that Jennifer? Why don’t you look into that issue?

  7. I believe you should come to ME if you have any “personal” questions. I can answer with the truth. I had to bring my mother back to Wisconsin to live with my husband and me. My stepfather could no longer take care of her. He refused to come back and stayed in their home in Las Vegas. I got breast cancer. I put my mother in an assisted living center while I had surgery and chemotherapy. My stepdad decided he didn’t want to pay for her to live in an assisted living center. He had me put her in a nursing home and apply for Title 19. I informed him they had too many assets to qualify. He wouldn’t listen. I was turned down for Title 19. He applied and was turned down. Then the nursing home applied and was turned down. In the meantime, my mother’s bills ran up. Since he wouldn’t take calls from bill collectors, they called me. I was the only one who would deal with them but my stepfather was the responsible party for her bills. Bill collectors took me to court, not my mother’s husband of 39 years. My stepdad took my mother’s name off of everything she owed in Las Vegas, a home, bank accounts, annuities, a trust, everything without my mother’s knowledge and without my knowledge. Our attorney advised us to file bankruptcy. We have paid every single one of our bills and are continuing to pay every single one of our bills. When I had had enough of fooling around with Title 19 that I knew would never be approved, I brought my mother back home with us where she belonged until she passed away. My mother had absolutely no idea any of this was going on because of her dementia. NOW let’s talk about William Campbell (Bill) who is on the Board right now who has filed bankruptcy TWICE on his company. You’d have thought he would have learned the first time but filed TWICE. Let’s talk about the reckless spending the Board is doing right now and has been for some time. We live on a fixed budget as most all of you do. We pay every single one of our bills and I am definitely not ashamed of having to file bankruptcy. I don’t like it but our attorney advised us or we’d lose our home due to my mother’s bills. My mother would be furious with her husband had she known this was happening. And my stepdad now regrets his decisions.

  8. thanks Fiscal Responsibility

    Did your mom buy $5200 worth of Furniture at Schuette Daniels in 2011? Why were your wages garnished? If you work with companies on a payment schedule they won’t take you to court. I can’t take anything you say seriously when you have been to court on and off for over two decades.
    Mr. Campbell is not running for the board right now, you are.

  9. While personal actions and histories of candidates and elected officials are certainly fair game for voter discussion, I caution all those who post comments to make sure they are aware fully aware of the circumstances on which they are commenting and the impact of their postings on the reputations of their targets. Some food for thought: In the case of Norma Miller, Schuette Daniels also provides funeral services in addition to selling furniture. In the case of Bill Campbell, business bankruptcy and personal bankruptcy are too very different things. I know emotions are running high for this election, but please step back and apply the universal precepts of fairness and decency. Knowing the proper context and full circumstances are crucial to any well-informed vote.

  10. To thanks fiscal responsibility: I have no idea what you are talkiing about. I did not buy furniture from Schuette Daniels and no one has garnished my wages. Where do you get your information from? As far as Bill Campbell goes, yes, he IS on the Board. That’s exactly my point. He can’t seem to run his business financially and had to file bankruptcy TWICE and you voted him on the Board. We filed bankruptcy at the advice of our attorney to get rid of my mother’s medical bills which I was never responsible for, NOT because we couldn’t manage our finances as Bill Campbell did.

    To Ed Nadolski: Bankruptcy is bankruptcy no mnatter how you look at it. Bill Campbell filed TWICE. What is he doing with the money from his company that he is not able to pay his bills? My bankruptcy is ONLY to get rid of my mother’s MEDICAL bills that her husband of 39 years who is still alive should be responsible for, not me. Now you seem to want to demonize me for a decision we made per our attorney’s advice. The judge and 3 attorneys believed my mother’s creditors should NOT have come after me for her bills. They wanted her creditors to go after her husband. By the way, I have a friend who is going through the same problem as me with his mother’s medical bills. They’re going after his home, as well. Just a warning for others to decide to take care of their elderly parents when they have assets. We are “paying” OUR bills. Ed, you seem to want to make this something that it’s not to suit your purpose of getting Larry Anderson and Jim Bousman elected.

    To thanks fiscal responsibility: There has been no fiscal responsibility on the present Board. They just spent $244,070.36 on the project at Dyer School. They should have asked for “bids” on 5 different companies who worked on this bid. The school policy is to require bids if it’s over $10,000.00. These totals are $21,780.00, $18,646.00, $53,086.00, $26,446.61 and $88,368.00. NO BIDS. You certainly are doing your best to distract voters from the truth of reckless spending by our present Board. Also, when David Thompson and others raised our taxes in 2011, (supposedly for our children), they gave a $10,000.00 raise to 9 administrators equalling $90,000.00. Guess that’s what they felt “our children” needed. How about the “used” equipment for the tech ed, the Board approved. Phil Ketterhagen found a great used one BUT Bill Campbell wanted to a buy a NEW one. Phil saved the school quite a bit.

  11. Norma, I think you misconstrued my comment. I was simply cautioning people to make sure they know what they are talking about when it comes posting comments regarding candidates’ and officials’ personal histories – yours and Bill Campbell’s. I have no desire to demonize anyone. Rather, my intent was to urge readers to give all candidates a fair shake. The comment was not made in support or derision of any candidate.

  12. Too bad all the critics are Democrats, lets all work together If it is the dems fault then what are the repubs doing, if it the repubs fault what are the Dems doing. GET THE PICTURE, knock off the fighting and Quit worring about what your buddy has or has not and get off the POT. {and i am not talking about Dope}

    • The last thing that Dave Moyer , our former School Superintendent said after listening to one of the We Vote individuals that is serving on the School Board was “Oh the hell with it, let this community get what it deserves” Don’t let that happen.

  13. thanks Fiscal Responsibility

    Ed, You are right that we need to be careful about personal histories.
    Norma, I applaud you for taking care of your mom, that was a wonderful thing to do. I have to admit that your business is your business, however you do not do your ‘side’ any service by slinging mud at other candidates and pointing fingers. If you would like my attention and want me to take you seriously then talk about what you can do for the school and the children. Why do we even support the school district in the first place? It’s because the children will soon be taking care of us and this nation. Are you so far removed from what it was like to have children in school that you only care about the bottom line? No district is perfect, but you have to admit that compared to others in our area, we’re looking pretty good.
    What can you do to make our board better not only for the taxpayers, but the children? I would like to hear only about you, please.

  14. To Ed: I apologize. Apparently I misunderstood your comments. Larry Anderson has made the statement several times, “My opponents” are saying and whatever. Julie Koldeway and I have not made those statements. A member of the present School Board made those comments. The comments I’ve stated regarding Jim Bousman never attending a Board meeting except for the 15-minute drawing for the ballots is true, not mud slinging. When I said Jim Bousman signed the “Recall Walker” petition is, also, very true. A copy of his signature was faxed to the Racine Journal to prove my statement. Now Jim Bousman has confirmed my statement though he doesn’t know what Scott Walker has to do with the School Board race. I am realizing Jim Bousman does not realize that our governor has a lot to do with the School Board. Governor Walker signed the Act 10 bill which has much to do with the School Board. The state has many rules that we have to follow. We now have to institute RIT into our school system, mandated by our Governor. If Mr. Bousman (who wants to be on our School Board attended some meetings, he just might realize that Governor Walker has a lot to do with the School Board. Larry Anderson did vote a tax increase in 2011, that’s on his record. He also approved the Dyer School project without knowing the cost and did not require bids. These are facts. Again, I apologize if I took your comments inaccurately.

    • Who cares if Jim Bousman signed the “Recall Walker” petition? There are many, many people who had problems with how Scott Walker approached Act 10 and its fallout – and it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be responsible representatives on the school board that I would trust with taxpayer money.

      • His signature on the recall petition tells me he doesn’t agree with the Governor and is most likely not willing to use the tools given to the school board to enact real change. We don’t need another union lackey filling a chair. We need people who are willing to work toward a better Burlington!

        • It tells me that he knew that cuts to education that large would have a negative affect on the classroom. And it has,and is going to get much worse.

        • “Not willing to use the tools.” Seriously, MC – rather than just sitting here toeing the WeVote line, why don’t you try talking to someone that isn’t Roger or Julie Koldeway, or Phil or Bonnie Ketterhagen? Or for that matter, Larry Anderson or Jim Bousman. Do your own research, see what the district has saved/not saved, and then draw your own conclusions.

          I honestly don’t know why I’m taking the time to respond to this post, except on the small chance that perhaps you will take the time to learn something on your own. Trust me: electing Norma Miller and Julie Koldeway is not going to turn the district into some Garden of Eden. Leastwise, not the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve ate the apple.

  15. To: Thanks Fiscal Responsibility: I believe you did not see my Letter to the Editor that is sent back in January. I’ll be glad to tell you about myself. I’ve raised 5 children who all went to school here in Burlington. I have grandchildren who have gone through our schools and some still attending. I believe we have good schools. When I attended Board meetings two years ago, I didn’t like the way the Board was spending money. I filled out an application to be on a committee. The Board appointed me to the Building & Grounds Committee. That’s when my beliefs were confirmed, even more than I thought at the time. We had a project for the gym at BHS. We were changing the lighting. There was only one bid. I couldn’t go along with that. We requested more bids. The bid we chose saved the school $12,000.00. Actually it saved them more because the bid the Board wanted included overtime whereas the bid we chose did not have overtime. In the end, we probably saved our school in the neighborhood of $20,000.00 by the choice we made. I’ve been on an association board before. I am familiar with watching what we spend. With the money we save on having bids, we have more money to spend on programs for our children. I am for the children. Every decision I make is about our children. Recently I went to Winkler School and read a story to four different classes. It was great, so much fun. I read a true story about Nubs, a German Shepherd who was a war dog in Iraq. The kids loved it and I loved reading to them. There was a lot of discussion about the story as I read to them. These kids were amazing. Would go back any time I’m invited again. I was supposed to spend 15 minutes in each classroom for a total of an hour. There was no way I could just spend 15 minutes with them. It was over 1-1/2 hours when I finally left. I even got a few hugs from the kids. They made my day. I’m going back on Career Day to talk about Medical Transcription to them. I’ve worked in the medical field since 1974. I talked to a group of children several years back on Career Day at the hospital. The kids drew a picture of me and it was posted at the hospital. I love children and working with them. They’re so much fun. I don’t want taxes raised. Most of that money doesn’t go to our children. $0.85 of every dollar goes to staff wages and benefits and only $0.15 of every dollar goes to our children. That’s not mud-slinging. That’s a fact. I had a tour of our high school. I was amazed with what they offer our children and would like to continue that but also make sure our kids are absolutely proficient in reading and math. My 24-year-old son has a friend who went through BHS but to this day has much trouble reading. He’s ashamed of it. He’s in the Army. I just want this caught in school. One of my sons lives in Lexington, KY. BHS girls softball team will be playing in Louisville, KY, the last weekend of March. My son and his girl friend will be there to cheer the girls on. I am very proud of our schools and have not put them down. My kids had very good teachers (a few not so good, too). My 22-year-old daughter had a teacher at BHS that she felt didn’t like her as she would not call on her when she raised her hand to answer a question. I mentioned it to the teacher at conference. The teacher was surprised to hear that. There was no criticism. The teacher handled it and she became my daughter’s favorite teacher. I love the tech ed they have for students who don’t want to go to college to prepare for life after high school. I have absolutely no criticism of our schools. I hope this answers any questions you may have. P.S. I’d give anything to have my mother back and take care of her. She passed away in my home while I was at her side.

    • Above, and in yesterday’s Standard Press opinion section, candidate Miller said; “Most of that money doesn’t go to our children. $0.85 of every dollar goes to staff wages and benefits and only $0.15 of every dollar goes to our children.”

      That statement alone demonstrates why she is not qualified to be on the Board with regard to both her attitude toward our teachers and by her lack of understanding of how the funds to support our students are applied.

      Apparently, Ms. Miller doesn’t understand that the teachers are there for the students. That’s not only completely misguided, it’s unprofessional and disrespectful. How else are the students supposed to get educated? Education is a people intensive effort, not just in BASD, but in the schools all over our nation. Of course the bulk of the funding goes to teachers and other staff.

      And her notion that only the remaining 15% goes to the children is equally absurd. That 15% goes to run and maintain district facilities. Like the teachers, are not the buildings also for the students? Of course! But apparently Ms. Miller believes that an ediface is more important than an educator to your children’s and granchildren’s future and that of our community.

      I guess by her way of thinking we can cut costs by 85% and give our children nice buildings where they can stare vacantly at an empty blackboard and magically educate themselves.

      Norma Miller does not present the prospect of good stewardship over our schools or our future citizens.

      • So the better the benefits a teacher has means the better off the students? That explains why private schools typically outperform public and the teachers are compensated less.
        Nice Logic Cranley (again)

        • “Andy”…private schools SELDOM outperform public schools. When they do, the difference is very slight. It should be a much larger difference than it is, since privates get to select their students and don’t have to take or keep anyone that may slow them down or create a problem. They get to shuffle through the deck and pick their cards and STILL don’t win every hand. Here’s one link. I have many, many more. http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006461.asp. Even Robin Vos admits that it could be 10 years before charter schools equal what the public schools are doing currently.

          • Andy, there is a reason Burlington has 3 private primary schools that are well attended – THEY EXCEL WELL BEYOND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS! This and the teachers and staff still remember that teaching is a mission, not a paycheck!

          • I’m tired of hearing how much better the private schools are to public schools. How can a person compare a public school that is required to accept all students to a private school that can choose which students they accept. Private schools rarely accept or keep students that have any behavioral or academic concerns as well as have ESL students. Private schools require tuition payments that many families can’t afford. I don’t believe private school teachers took a vow of poverty when they accepted their position. I believe the teachers do get paid. I didn’t know public school teachers needed to be shunned for being able to work at a school that pays more. If the private elementary schools are so well attended why does the enrollment drop when it is time for the students to attend Catholic Central. Where do all the extra students go-to the public schools for either middle school or high school. MC, get off your high horse in trying to make public school teachers out as bad guys just because they are able to make more money. In your reasoning does that mean any union tradesmen that makes more then there non-union counterpart have a poor work ethic or shoddy work?

          • MC. Sooo, are you saying that it has to be an “either/or” situation? We can’t have teachers that don’t have to work part time jobs at night and on weekends? Half of all new teachers leave the profession b their fifth year. Is it because they don’t love the profession? Often, they do it because they have bills to pay or families to support, or huge student loans to pay back? Where do the staff in the emergency room fall in your scale, since they are decently compensated for what they do? Does that mean that they aren’t dedicated?

          • Well said Mitch! Private schools don’t have to deal with special needs students or even kids from families in poverty whose parents struggle to meet all their needs, including preparing them for school and ushering them through 12 years to a diploma.

    • “I don’t want taxes raised. Most of that money doesn’t go to our children. $0.85 of every dollar goes to staff wages and benefits and only $0.15 of every dollar goes to our children.” Ms. Miller…I haven’t taught or attended Burlington schools, but everywhere I’ve ever been, the teachers and staff WERE there for the kids. By nature, it’s a pretty labor-intensive job. I’m curious to hear how you think school budgets should be allocated and how you think kids will learn without teachers in the classroom. Please fill us in.

  16. Ms. Miller,
    Can you please clarify your comments re. ACT 10 and something you are referring to as RIT? I’m not familiar with that term–are your referring to RTI (response to intervention)? Thank you.

  17. This election is getting ugly. Our School Board should not be political. Our Board is to serve the children and offer an excellent educational opportunity for them. Instead of searching the Wisconsin Circuit Court Websight, you should search the website for Code of Ethics statements developed by school districts concefning Board member conduct. Burlington’s code of ethics statement as well as others,prohibites membefrs of Political Action Committees from serving on the Board. Llets sthrow these people out and bring our Board back into compliance.

    • Edna, you may be on to something here. I know that the leader of the WeVote Political Action Committee is usually keen on pointing out these things in others. I guess now she will have to tell her two candidates to withdraw and that Roger Koldeway and Phil Ketterhagen should resign since they are in violation. Their big blue signs clearly say WeVote on them.
      “Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest”
      ” Freedom from conflict with any other interest.” I am assuming answering to a PAC
      “A member of a school board is entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities that can be assigned to any citizen—that of helping to direct the education of the youth of his or her community.” The charge is to help children learn; not keeping the tax base as low a possible without turning out the lights. We are a low spending district. That is all there is to it. Teacher’s have taken a huge hit. Wages for some administrators were raised because they are working more hours after not filling a retired administrator’s position. Over all, wages for the administrators are down. Pulling bits of facts out from the bigger more balanced picture is really another way of not telling the truth. That’s why the saying goes, “tell the truth, the whole truth.”

      • The School Board members should review the Code of Ethics document and determine if the 2 We Vote members should continue to serve on the Board.
        The School Districts attorney should also review the document and make a determination. The results should be shared with the public.

  18. Local Businessperson

    All I can say is that I really want all this BS to be over so everyone can get on with their lives. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am so sick of election related bickering, I just want to stick my head in a hole in the ground and wait until it is all over!!! Also, as far as the bankruptcy is concerned Ms. Miller, you screwed up, admit it instead of trying to blame everyone else, and move on. We all hit rough patches in our life, we admit it, learn from it and move on. Just my take on the situation…..

  19. If you have the data (WKCE scores for example) to back up your statement,please post. Thanks.

  20. Cranky, you are misnamed. I suggest “Intelligent Lady” instead.

  21. I just read my Standard Press and I was very upset to learn that Julie Koldeway and Norma Miller, both refused to not only come to a forum, but also to come in for an interview with this paper. They both said that they would only answer questions via email. When the paper return the email it was ignored. I wish that this side bar commentary by Ed Nadowski that was in today’s paper was on line so that I could comment on it in the correct place. It is disturbing that someone who chooses to run for public office refuses to meet the public or even grant an interview to help clarify the issues.