“Statement from New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government” (NBCRG July 4 blog post on NOW), starts off with a load of gibberish (computer symbols/code) that Ralph Heun calls a “defect of Jsonline”.

Then the blog mentions a letter published in NOW (July 3 issue) from a woman supporting the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Muskego.  

Ralph Heun's next paragraph conveys that he wishes “to clarify a comment about Citizens for Responsible Government and Muskego First."   Which comment? His blog doesn’t say. How are blog readers supposed to know what he is talking about?

Heun goes on to assert that his group New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) is NOT Citizens for Responsible Government and is not affiliated “in any way” with the CRG Network.

Confused? That's understandable.  The groups' names are awfully similar.  

Maybe this will help “clarify” things a bit:

Re: Citizens for Responsible Government/CRG Network----

The Nov 28, 2005 Journal Sentinel describes CRG as a populist movement born of the 2002 Milwaukee County pension scandal recalls. 

That edition also states: “Since its start, CRG spawned or adopted 15 affiliates statewide and has brought to full stops the political careers of Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament, six Milwaukee County supervisors, aldermen in Wauwatosa and Franklin, and now Nowak.” (Pewaukee Mayor Jeff Nowak)

“The group also claims credit for killing the PabstCity project, a Waukesha school referendum and forcing state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) to quit as Senate assistant majority leader.”

According to the CRG Network Website, they (& CRG Milwaukee, previously) have filed only one recall in their history--the recall of Tom Ament. And the site says: “Since that initial event in 2002, CRG Network has been primarily engaged in educating grassroots groups in how to deal with unresponsive government agencies and officials. Every recall and action since then has been accomplished by other groups and affiliates who have come to CRG Network for educational assistance.”

Their Website speaks of holding government accountable and refers to CRG Network as 3 distinct organizations: a PAC; a 501 (c) non-profit, tax-exempt corporation/foundation; and a lobby/advocacy group

Re: New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG)---

According to their Web site, NBCRG was formed in 2002; functions as a political action committee; and has recruited and supported candidates every year since its inception. 

NBCRG endorsed/supported several of our New Berlin aldermen, including Dave Ament, a relative of Tom Ament. All of our current New Berlin School Board members were endorsed/supported by NBCRG.

In other words, NBCRG-supported officials have majority control of the New Berlin Common Council and School Board. Think Ralph Heun and his NBCRG group want that status quo disrupted with recalls?    Hardly.

What about Muskego’s recall movement?

Ralph Heun’s NBCRG blog claims “NBCRG does not interfere with proceedings in our neighboring communities and would expect the same treatment from them about New Berlin issues.”  Ironically, Heun follows that statement by expressing negative comments about recalls and then telling blog readers,  “We encourage voters in the City of Muskego consider the consequence of this possible recall action before initiating it.”

Not everyone supports the war, but we all should support the troops. A wonderfully practical way is by sending “care packages”.

Remembering how great it felt to get such items from folks back home when he served in the first Gulf War, a New Berlin resident asked his motorcycle group to adopt a military unit and send it “care packages”. His motorcycle group, Star Riding and Touring Chapter 372 Milwaukee (Yamaha) agreed and have selected Fox Company Second Battalion 24^th Marines (a unit from the Milwaukee area that is currently stationed in Iraq).

Please consider supporting their worthy endeavor. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Contact Jim at starjim372@aol.com

Here’s a list of suggested, permissible items for the military support “care packages”:

Drinks

Instant coffee; powdered hot chocolate; Powdered Gatorade; Kool-aid (pre-sweetened)

Country Time Lemonade mix; Tea bags; Plastic jug to mix powdered drinks

Snacks

Crackers, such as Triscuit and Ritz; Graham crackers; Goldfish crackers

Easy Spray Cheese; Tuna (in the fresh pouch); Potted meat and crackers; Slim Jims

Plastic knives for spreading, plastic spoons.

Single servings of bagged chips (small bags stay fresh longer)

Cookies; Little Debbie snack cakes; Rice Krispie Treats

Candy--hard candy, M & M’s (anything that won’t melt); Gobstoppers Jaw Breakers

Licorice; bubble gum

Pretzels; snack mixes (Chex Mix, Gardettos); cashews, peanuts, etc

Applesauce, pudding or fruit cups with the pop-off lids

Raisins and trail mix in several Zip lock bags for sharing

Non-Microwave Meals

* Some require access to boiling water (i.e a coffee pot) Most people have access to one , electricity or campfire. A one-cup coffee pot is very small and can be sent, too.

Cup of Noodles soups (made with hot water);

Dry cereal ( the dry individual serving boxes stay fresh); Instant oatmeal or grits (made with hot water)

Bowl Appetite dinners (made with hot water)

Breakfast bars, Granola, cereal and power bars; Pop tarts

Microwave/Campfire meals

Campbells Chunky Soup

Pasta Anytime dinners; Dinty Moore Dinners; Kraft Mac. & Cheese Dinners; small cup Microwave dinners

Microwave popcorn

Toiletries and Comfort Needs

Clorox Wipes; Toilet paper; Baby wipes
Razors & shaving Cream; after shave and body lotion

Soap or body wash; foot powder; deodorant
Shampoo, conditioner & comb
Mouth wash; eye drops

Gel Insoles; Sneaker Balls--they're like sachets for your shoes

T-shirts, underwear and socks
Sachets for their lockers to keep clothes smelling like home
Glade Stick-Ups . (These are easy to hang in their racks); Small bottle of Febreeze

Blanket from home; a good sheet set; fluffy big towel
Egg crate mattress pad (Those racks are thin and not very comfortable)

Other  Ideas

Sun block; Small battery-operated fan
Board games-the ones they have made into key chains. Small & light, they’re as fun as the full size versions
Use your computer to print onto magnetic paper. They can put these directly onto their racks
Magazines; Books on tape are nice, or for an avid reader send small paperback books that they can give away when they're done ( That way they're not having to store it)

Disposable cameras (They can take pictures then mail them home for you to develop)
A Walkman with extra batteries
With a CD burner, make a CD of favorite songs You can also make a cassette tape

CD/DVD disk cleaning kit, since the players and the disks will get a lot of use
Write letters and also consider recording your letters onto a tape (or onto computer to make a CD)

Stamps, paper and envelopes ; 5 padded mailing envelopes
Toys (Slinky, sidewalk chalk, squirt guns, etc.)
Electronic games (There are some little games that cost about $10 each)
GameBoy Color (a handheld video game system) is $69 at most stores (you can get it for less by buying online with coupons). The games are $10-$30 each The guys can trade them, too.

Silly Putty. They love it.
Foam footballs and basketballs, the miniature size.
Frisbee-- the flexible ones are best; Hacky Sack (a little bean bag for kicking around); stress ball
Small stack of Dixie cups
Small battery operated light with a clip
Dryer sheets, in a Zip Lock bag
Small sewing kit

Stain remover stick, such as Shout.

Eyeglass cleaner wipes

If they're gone over their birthday, send a birthday box with streamers, hats, noise makers, a birthday card, and a birthday cookie decorated with icing

In the New Berlin Aldermanic April 1 races:

District 2--- Ted Wsyocki, who had no opponent in the race, was elected.

District 4--- Ald. Ken Harenda was re-elected. He actively campaigned.  Paul Lincoln Scheuble (his opponent) ran simultaneously for three positions (alderman, school board, county board) and later acknowledged that he had not actively campaigned.

District 6---Ald. Bill Moore was re-elected.

Moore won despite the following:

• The active campaign conducted by his opponent JJ Blonien
• New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government’s endorsement/support of Bill’s opponent JJ Blonien
• The falsehoods/distortions of Moore’s record in public office by Vern Bentley in a letter published in a newspaper
• The distortions and misrepresentation of facts re: Moore by  NBCRG/Ralph Heun in its New Berlin NOW blog.
• Anonymous “message” signs displayed near candidate campaign signs in Moore’s District
• Slimy anonymous fliers attacking Moore that were dispersed in Moore’s District shortly before the election. Whoever authorized and paid for those was too cowardly to identify themselves.

Moore was endorsed and supported by Ray McInerny, Sr.’s group We Care-NEW BERLIN.

According to Community NOW, Blonien attributed his defeat by Moore to apathy in District 6 and difficulty beating an incumbent.

Re: apathy

According to the City Clerk’s report of the election  there were 28,206 registered voters, the number of voters was 6761, and voter turnout was 23.9%.

That report indicates that 755 votes were cast in District 2 for Wysocki (the sole aldermanic candidate on the ballot); if you add up the votes of incumbent and challenger in each of the contested aldermanic races, there were 970 total votes cast for an alderman in District 4 and 1211 in District 6.  In other words, more votes were cast for alderman in District 6 than in Districts 2 and 4.

Re: difficulty beating an incumbent:

In the County Board race, Bill Zaborowski defeated incumbent County Board Supervisor (District 21) Karl Nilson. Nilson had been endorsed by the political action group New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government.

New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) President Ralph Heun spouted lots of nonsense in the NBCRG March 7 blog entry. See my previous blog entry titled  NBCRG Spin and Blunders.

In that March 7 NBCRG blog post, Ralph Heun complained that citizens and civic groups cannot use City Hall. He bemoaned the “short-sighted policy that has kept election forums, Christmas and July 4 parades and other events from being televised”--and he blamed Alderman Bill Moore for it. He accused Ald. Moore of being a prime instigator in passing an ordinance two years ago that prohibited any non-city group from using City Hall/or City Channel 25 for any purposes. What a distortion of facts! Actually, in 2006 Ald. Moore argued against and voted against the restrictive policy/resolution No. 06-11. Furthermore, Ald. Ken Harenda---whom NBCRG has chosen to endorse not only voted in favor of this awful policy/resolution that Heun has complained so bitterly about, he made the motion to approve it.

Let’s get something else straight: Ald. Dave Ament called the Feb. 16 meeting at City Hall, but it was for area residents--not only his own District #7 constituents. The meeting dealt with Coffee Road changes, as well as sidewalks, side paths or bike trails in various areas of the City. Heun’s statement that Ald. Poshepny (District #5) was not shouted down is untrue. When Ald. Poshepny attempted to speak, some members of the audience rudely yelled out. I witnessed that. Heun admits that Ald. Ament asked Ald. Poshepny not to speak. And yet, others at the meeting were allowed to speak.

Perhaps if NBCRG President Ralph Heun had not stood beside Ald. Ament at the front of the room, facing and addressing the audience, for part of the meeting --which did occur-- it would not have appeared so much like a NBCRG meeting or political rally. Interesting that Ralph Heun, the president of a political action group, was allowed to do that and grandstand, but the 5^th District alderman who tried to speak during the meeting was silenced and not permitted to speak!  A so-called  “informational meeting”-- that prevents someone--an elected official--  from asking questions or providing information?  Does that serve the public's best interests?  Well, the format gave Heun the opportunity to spew negative comments about the Transportation Committee, sidewalks, etc.

If it was just an “informational meeting” as Heun contends, why was there a stack of inflammatory “Just Say No” fliers opposed to sidewalks (and referring to a petition) prominently displayed on a table inside the meeting room ( by the entry), a petition for people to sign--as well as two individuals seated at the table, apparently to assist them?

And why wasn't a City traffic engineer invited to the meeting? Kudos to him for coming to the meeting anyway (it was held on a Saturday)  to answer people’s questions. Ald. Ament introduced the City traffic engineer, but acknowledged during the meeting that he hadn’t invited him.

Heun also maintained in the NBCRG blog entry that Ray McInerny, Sr. is president of a small group that apparently is not active as they claim to be exempt from state law requiring that expenditures over $25 must be reported to the City Clerk. What a bogus accusation!

Ray’s group formed late last year. It’s an active group whose membership is growing. Heun misrepresented the facts: State law requires that a group that is supporting or opposing candidates (political action group) be registered with the City Clerk before making expenditures over $25. Ray’s group registered in October -- before it even knew who would be running for office in April (candidates had until Jan. 2 to file to get their name on the ballot) and is in compliance with that law. As for filing an exemption: Political action groups and candidates are eligible for exemption from filing campaign finance reports if they don’t anticipate accepting contributions or making disbursements totaling more than $1000 in a calendar year and don’t accept more than $100 from a single source during the calendar year. Local candidates typically claim exemption status. New Berlin candidates for local public office (including those endorsed by NBCRG) often claim exemption from filing . Independent committees have to file itemized campaign finance reports. In 2008, when Ray’s group decided to support a specific candidate--it filed as an “independent committee” and filed the appropriate reports by the reporting deadline as the law requires.

Ironically, Ralph Heun stated, “ If Mr. McInerny does not know the facts, He should not make the complaints”. Mr. Heun should follow his own advice.

New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) has endorsed a passel of candidates, including these fellows------

Ted Wysocki, who is the only candidate running for alderman in District 2. NBCRG is endorsing him anyway and apparently doesn't care about Wysocki's history of poor leadership decisions in public office that helped get the City into costly losing legal battles/lawsuits.

JJ Blonien, who is running in Aldermanic District 6. I guess NBCRG doesn't care that he's less qualified than the incumbent and lacks experience. A New Berlin resident for just a little over a year, Blonien has not held an elected public office. He's also been involved in numerous lawsuits. In contrast, the incumbent Bill Moore has been actively involved in our community, held elected public office (school board and now alderman), served our country (Vietnam Veteran) and passionately cares about the environment.

Speaking of the environment, the State Supreme Court has ruled against Harenda Enterprises, Inc. (an environmental consulting company) owned by Ken Harenda for violating government rules/regulations regarding asbestos, a hazardous substance/pollutant. See my blog:

NBCRG has chosen to endorse Ken Harenda, who is running for re-election (Alderman, District 4)

Ald. Harenda has been less than attentive to his duties:

On March 11, he pushed to table an item that's been on the agendas of Committee of the Whole/Common Council meetings month after month for 16 months---arguing that he was unprepared and wanted more time to review his file on the matter. Hopefully, a lawsuit against the City won't result from his failure to do his homework and this irresponsible stalling. See my blog:

At the Oct. 23, 2007 City Council meetings the mayor was absent so Council President Ald. Harenda presided. Vern Bentley seized the opportunity to give a privilege of the floor (POF) speech that included personal attacks against Ald. Bill Moore. Despite Council rules prohibiting personal attacks in POF speeches (those rules are read aloud by the City Clerk prior to POF), Harenda was silent and did nothing. One of Moore's constituents was so upset at Bentley's attacks being permitted against her aldermanic representative, she emailed Harenda to voice a protest. How do I know? I attended the Oct. 23 meetings. Later, I made an Open Records Request of Harenda, for any correspondence related to Bentley's speech/attacks.  Click here for a previous blog about Vern Bentley's letter containing false accusations against Moore. As Council President, Harenda is paid $600 more than the other aldermen.

By the way, Matt Thomas, who has been posting blogs very infrequently on NOW, recently resurfaced to post one about Ike basketball and surprise, surprise! present his views on the election. After bashing Ald. Moore, he goes on to attack Harenda's opponent Paul Lincoln Scheuble. Thomas refers to Scheuble as a perennial losing candidate, points out that he's currently running for three offices simultaneously and snidely remarks that Scheuble was elected alderman once back in the 20^th century. Actually, Scheuble was elected to a 3-year term which ended in April 2002. Thomas' one year stint as an appointed alderman also ended in April 2002. Thomas was serving simultaneously on the School Board and County Board when he applied for the aldermanic seat vacated by Wysocki. Thanks to Wysocki (who, as mayor, cast the tie-breaking vote), Thomas got the aldermanic appointment--making 3 simultaneous public offices for Thomas. Thomas chose to quit his school board office. But he kept his seat on the County Board which pays more than school board and served his one-year aldermanic appointment. Unlike Thomas, Scheuble served his entire elected term and did not quit in the midst of it.  Thomas has called Keith Heun (son of NBCRG leader Ralph Heun) and himself "political strategists".

NBCRG has endorsed Michael Gableman for Wis. Supreme Court judge. Did you see the disgusting, sleazy TV attack ad by Gableman's own campaign committee against his opponent Justice Louis Butler? It has been denounced by many judges and other people. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorials condemn the ad. The MJS Editorial Board, which evaluated both candidates, has endorsed Louis Butler and claimed that Butler is more qualified than Gableman for the Supreme Court seat.

New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) is using its NOW blog again to endorse candidates for election.

If you’ve heard or read that NBCRG is a civic or watchdog group, don’t be fooled. NBCRG is actually a political action group. In fact, NBCRG states on its own Web site that the group was formed in March 2002 and since its inception, has functioned as a political action committee.

It lists this objective on its Web site: “To recruit and to help elect candidates to public office that best express the positions taken by this organization.” Obviously, NBCRG has a political agenda.

NBCRG functions like an exclusive club, as well.  When a taxpaying New Berlin resident contacted NBCRG via email and requested to join the group, she was turned down. NBCRG President Ralph Heun responded that NBCRG was a “private organization”. How do I know this? The outraged woman forwarded copies of their correspondence to my blog. I referred to the situation in a past blog entry called “Private NBCRG; Court Race”

The NBCRG Web site asserts that NBCRG has actively recruited and supported candidates for public office in every year of its existence. However, on its NOW blog, NBCRG President Ralph Heun claims NBCRG has for many years, invited all candidates for public office to its meetings to hear what they had to say and question them--and then NBCRG decides if it wants to make any endorsements. And then it decides? One would think NBCRG would not “actively recruit” candidates for public office that it didn’t intend to endorse.

On its Web site NBCRG states its primary emphasis has been on city and school board races. Hmmm.  For the upcoming election, NBCRG is endorsing candidates for County Board, State Supreme Court, School Board, and Aldermanic races.

Isn't it interesting that NBCRG boasts on its Web site that it actively recruits and supports candidates for public office -- and routinely puts disclaimers on campaign fliers that it’s a political action committee which acts independently of and without consultation with any candidate or candidate’s committee?

Here are some other examples of NBCRG communication and operation------

In 2004, NBCRG advertised on its Web site that it was interviewing 3 school board candidates at its meeting and that the public was welcome. I decided to attend and contacted a few others, who expressed interest in attending, too. But when we arrived at the door, we were told that the meeting was “private”. I suspected something like that would happen, so took the precaution of printing out a copy of the NBCRG’s web page re: the meeting (and public being encouraged to attend) and brought it with me. After showing it to the NBCRG member barring our entrance (the former president of New Berlin Taxpayers Alliance) we were allowed to stay--but only for the interviews. After the interviews, NBCRG members asked us to leave because they wanted to have a discussion related to the interviews.

Each of the three school board candidates was interviewed separately and were not asked the same questions. Herb Eggie, who was then president of NBCRG, spent time grilling SB candidate Greg Schoepke about the Heritage Foundation, a Washington DC-based conservative think tank!  SB Candidates Brent Chipman and Marc Duff weren’t asked questions about the Heritage Foundation. During his interview, Brent Chipman had little to say of substance. He spouted that taxes were too high and some anti-teacher union rhetoric. In contrast, Marc Duff, a former Wisconsin legislator, was articulate and seemed better informed about the School District. So, who did NBCRG endorse? Brent Chipman. I wasn’t surprised that New Berlin voters elected Marc Duff to the School Board instead of Brent Chipman.  

At a 2005 New Berlin School Board Meeting, Herb Eggie gave a privilege of the floor speech touting his New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government organization. I remember thinking what an inappropriate speech it was and wondering what the topic had to do with children’s education.                                                                 

A few minutes later, a high school student gave a privilege of the floor speech that caused laughter to erupt in the audience. In his speech, the student remarked that when he and another student had tried to attend a NBCRG meeting, they were told they could stay -- if each put $20 on the table.

New Berlin aldermen receive $10,000 annually in taxpayer-funded salary and expenses (the Council President gets an extra $600). I don’t think it’s asking too much of Council President/Alderman Ken Harenda to do his homework and come prepared to vote/take action on items that are on the meeting agendas.

At the March 11 City government meetings (Committee of the Whole/Common Council), Ald. Harenda pushed to table an item: Resolution No. 06-42   A Preliminary Resolution Declaring Intent to Levy Special Assessments and Directing the City Engineer to Prepare a Report for the Installation of Sanitary Sewer System to Service Areas on the North Side of Howard Avenue (west of Sunny Slope Road)

Tabled since November 2006, that resolution has appeared on the Committee of the Whole and Common Council meeting agendas month after month.

At the March 11 meeting, District #5 Alderman Joe Poshepny rightly moved to take the resolution off the table (which allows discussion and possible action). The aldermen voted yes--except for Alderman Ament who voted no.

Ald. Poshepny implored the aldermen to take action to get the process to move forward.

It shouldn’t have been a difficult decision for our aldermen to direct the City Engineer to prepare a report and get the process moving along. However, not only did Council President/Alderman Ken Harenda chose to stonewall, he argued he was unprepared and wanted additional time to review his file on the matter!

Alderman Harenda certainly had plenty of time to familiarize himself with Resolution No. 06-42 and the special assessments affecting a handful of residents, prior to the meeting. His failure to do so was inexcusable. What a poor leadership example Ald. Harenda set for his fellow aldermen.

Using his deficient preparation as an excuse, Ald. Harenda then made a motion to table the resolution. He even refused requests to “defer” the resolution to a later date  rather than “table” it . 

Ald. Harenda’s motion to table was seconded by Ald. Seidl and carried with Alderman Hopkins, Augustine, Seidl, Harenda, and Ament voting yes. Ald. Poshepny and Moore voted no.

It was made clear during the meeting that a developer (who was present and spoke at the meeting) is owed many thousands of dollars for investing in Howard Avenue improvements. Under Ken Harenda’s leadership, the City Council keeps dragging its feet. That’s not efficient or responsible representation. I hope the stalling tactics of Ald. Harenda and his cohorts don’t result in a lawsuit against the City.

Ald. Harenda was elected with the help of a political group that calls itself New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG). NBCRG has a Web site that states one of its objectives is to hold government officials and employees accountable for their actions and lack of action.

"Lack of action", such as the 16 months of tabling Resolution No. 06-42  and the paltry excuse given by Ald. Harenda to perpetuate this irresponsible stalling indefinitely?   But instead of holding Alderman Harenda accountable for his inaction, inadequate preparation for scheduled Committee of the Whole/Council meetings, and poor leadership, NBCRG has chosen to endorse and support him in the April election.

My NOW blog, unlike New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government’s (NBCRG), conveys a person’s viewpoint (mine)---not a political action committee’s. And unlike NBCRG, I’ve never used my blog to endorse candidates for local public offices.

Ralph Heun’s (New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government) March 7 diatribe was so full of malarkey, it would take multiple blog entries to respond to all of it.   

I suspect many people are annoyed at the wacky remarks, goofy attacks, or falsehoods spouted by Ralph Heun and/or Vern Bentley. (see my Jan 28, 2008 blog entry). 

Ralph Heun’s insinuation that Ray McInerny Sr. is president of a small, inactive group was presumptuous and ludicrous.  Interviews of three New Berlin aldermanic candidates who are in contested races have been conducted. A fourth candidate ( current District #4 alderman--previously supported by NBCRG) was invited but couldn’t attend because he had other plans on that day.  To accommodate him, his interview was conducted later (Thursday, March 6) at Ray’s home. Heun, who is not a member or candidate was not at those interview sessions.  

A group’s choice (like Ray's) to interview and evaluate candidates before filing as an independent committee supporting specifed candidates by independent disbursement should not surprise Ralph Heun. After all, NBCRG has often done that. "Independent committees" must file special paperwork--including an oath identifying which candidates it will financially support or oppose. That notarized, sworn oath is required because registered "Independent committees" are banned by law from colluding with the candidates they are financially supporting.  

NBCRG claims on its web site that it has actively recruited and supported candidates in every year of its existence. Records indicate NBCRG typically supported candidates as a declared “independent committee”. However, when I was at City Hall earlier this week, the City Clerk informed me that NBCRG had not filed the oath/ disclosure of which candidates it was supporting or opposing in the upcoming 2008 election.  Shall we all jump to conclusions like Heun and label NBCRG a small, inactive group?  

If NBCRG follows its usual practice of supporting candidates by independent committee/ disbursement, I hope it doesn’t screw up again and neglect to file the required sworn oath/reports like it did in 2004.

In 2004, prior to the February primary and April elections, NBCRG distributed campaign fliers supporting several candidates. (the fliers conveyed that NBCRG was supporting the candidates as an independent committee).  NBCRG spent hundreds of dollars on the printing of those fliers. But it  failed to follow Wisconsin law requiring "independent committees" to file a sworn oath that it would not coordinate/ collude with the candidates or the candidates’ committees--- BEFORE it dispersed  funds in support or opposition to specified candidates.  NBCRG also failed to adhere to the law and report the names/addresses of the candidates it would be supporting or opposing in the election. That information is supposed to be listed on the oath--the oath that NBCRG neglected to file!    

After I notified the City Clerk of NBCRG’s deficient campaign finance reporting, she contacted the organization. According to the public records, NBCRG did not file the required oath/report until May 2004--- after the Feb. primary and April 2004 elections had already been held!  (and well after funds had been dispersed).  NBCRG also submitted an affidavit acknowledging its reporting mistakes/failures.

Incidentally, Matt Weiss was one of the candidates NBCRG supported n the 2004 election. Prior to that, Weiss had been the treasurer of an organization called Wisconsin Coalition for Voter Participation, a group the State Elections Board charged had illegally coordinated/colluded with Justice Jon Wilcox’s election campaign and funneled money into it. ( See my March 31, 2007  and April 23, 2007 blog entries)

In 2004, NBCRG supported candidates Weiss, Dave Ament, Roger Hegeman, Donna Rathsack, Bart Williams and Brent Chipman.

In his Privilege of the Floor (POF) speech at the September 25 City Council meeting,  NBCRG leader Ralph Heun argued that the Council should postpone/ table its decision re: the Deer Creek Inn & Conference Center until the next meeting because Alderman Dave Ament was absent.  Heun also suggested that the Council become as “enlightened” as the New Berlin School District/Board which has teleconferencing.

But did you know?----
School Board member/Clerk Jennifer Eitel was absent from the School Board’s Regular Meeting on Sept. 24-- the night before the Council’s meeting. She did not attend by teleconference.   Did the School Board, which is led by Ralph’s son Keith, postpone voting on ANY of the meeting's agenda items because the entire board was not in attendance?  Heck no.

Both School Board President Keith Heun and Board Treasurer Joan Doberstein were absent from an August 15 School Board meeting and did not attend by teleconference. There were several items on that meeting agenda, including short -term borrowing up to $14,500,000, approval of new hires and new Orchard Lane principal. Did the School Board postpone/table voting on the agenda items because two of its Board members/officers were absent? Nope.

So, did Ralph Heun or other NBCRG member make a POF speech at those School Board meetings or via Heun's blog, arguing that the School Board should not make decisions on issues at meetings when less than the full board was there (in person or by teleconference)?   Nah.          
     
But getting back to the City Council----
At its October 9 meeting, the Council voted on budget-related issues and other agenda items. Alderman John Hopkins was absent. In the POF speech Heun gave at that meeting, did he argue that the Council should put off making decisions on an agenda item/ items until the next meeting because Ald. Hopkins was absent?  No.   

Seems that NBCRG President Ralph Heun has a double standard.
 
As for teleconferencing---  many community residents dislike the NB School Board’s use of teleconferencing at meetings. They prefer to have their SB officials be physically present at meetings so they can view visual presentations and handouts,  be accessible, and face their constituents when voting on issues.  Furthermore,  the attending meetings-by-telephone practice, while convenient for the SB members, can be abused. Who can forget elusive (former) Board Member/Treasurer Donna Rathsack’s rare personal appearances at School Board meetings or the weird spectacle of Board members Art Marquardt and Susan Manley being sworn in to public office by (former) Board Member/Clerk Tim Cramer's telephone voice?   

NBCRG prez Ralph Heun ’s August blog gushed, “NBCRG supports common sense development in New Berlin” and presented a “solution” for area traffic--- “open” all 6 of Moorland Road’s lanes to thru- traffic. (They argue “Moorland Rd is a 6-lane road, but only 4 lanes are utilized.”)

In other words, NBCRG ’s “simple and cost effective solution” is to eliminate Moorland Rd’s shoulder/turning lanes-- thereby making that busy road less safe for bicyclists and motorists traveling on it.

If NBCRG's "solution" was implemented, getting to or from the shopping plazas, numerous businesses, post office, residences and subdivisions located along or off of Moorland, would be more hazardous.

Where's their concern for people's safety?

Heun/ NBCRG, who can’t stomach widening Calhoun Road from 2 to 4 lanes, evidently wouldn’t mind turning Moorland Rd. into a 6-lane superhighway that lacks shoulders/turning lanes and sidewalks--- and dumping a bigger chunk of the City’s increasing traffic onto it.

Changing our Moorland Road into something resembling Highway 100, may be NBCRG’s idea of “common sense development”, but I doubt if many New Berlin residents would agree.

Heun is free to present whatever goofy ideas and irresponsible “solutions” he wants.
But remember he is not a city traffic expert.
Fortunately, the City of New Berlin employs skilled professionals---our City engineering staff-- to advise it. They look at the whole picture and consider safety aspects. And both New Berlin’s and Brookfield’s staffs recommended widening Calhoun Road.

Ralph Heun titled his Sept. 7 New Berlin Now blog posting: “Resident Comments for 2 lane REBUILDING of Calhoun Road”.

Alas, the “resident comments” (in the posted letter) were from BROOKFIELD residents Jerry and Laurel Mellone.

In their letter’s very first paragraph, the Mellones said they lived in BROOKFIELD.
But they chose to end the letter with this address: 17949 W. Lincoln Ave, New Berlin, directly below their names. I suppose that's their business address. They’ve acknowledged owning an office and warehouse in the New Berlin Industrial Park.

Jerry Mellone is also a BROOKFIELD alderman. He's been opposed to widening Calhoun Road to four lanes. Ald. Mellone couldn't get his Brookfield City Council to see things his way.
Take a peek at the Milw. Journal-Sentinel news article (Aug 22) titled “Brookfield Will Widen Calhoun Road”.
Included in that article: Brookfield Alderman Gary Mahkorn says Brookfield residents overwhelmingly want the road expanded. Also, “An exasperated Ald. Rick Owen accused Mellone of rehashing old arguments.”

Well, Heun’s Sept 7 New Berlin Now blog gave Mellone a soapbox to keep airing his arguments re: Calhoun Road. After Brookfield had rejected them, he sought others to promote and support his agenda.

Did Mellone write the letter to New Berlin citizens posted by Heun because he cares about us New Berlin residents or his own interests?

It was interesting to read in NEW BERLIN resident Paul Gallagher ’s New Berlin Live blog that Mellone was one of a small group who tried to evade paying his share of sewer charges by filing a lawsuit against New Berlin some years ago.

Idiots. Disgruntled. Discredited.
Washed up. Has-beens. Misguided followers.
Malicious. Spiteful. Liar.
Loser. Sicko.

That’s a sampling of repugnant terms some folks affiliated with or supported by New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG), have used to describe citizens in our community.

Ralph Heun is long-time member and current president of NBCRG.
During the 2005 District Annual Meeting in the Eisenhower auditorium, he stood up and loudly declared “The recall people are idiots.”
So, Heun used the Annual Meeting to malign and intimidate some actively-involved District residents/parents by publicly calling them a derogatory name.

Heun has used his blog for personal attacks, too. For example, he posted a letter from NBCRG Secretary Dolores Karner describing me as “malicious” and “spiteful”.

Additionally, Heun’s blog has referred to local current or former elected officials (unnamed) as discredited and/or disgruntled.
School Board VP Matt Thomas (who had been supported by NBCRG), used similar deprecatory words in his blog. Recently, he posted a letter from Ralph Heun's son Keith, that was rife with slurs against me--including a slew of insults

Is the Heun-Heun-Thomas clique excluding certain politicians and former politicians from those colorful but negative, disparaging descriptions?

Matt Thomas, for instance? When he served on the Waukesha County Board, Thomas was cited (discredited?) by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as one of five County Board Supervisors having the worst meeting attendance records.
Thomas’ response was to whine (disgruntled?) about County Board Meetings being held during the daytime. Gee, you’d think he’d have known when the meetings were held before he ran for the office.

If the Heun/Heun/Thomas trio believes losing an election results in one becoming
"disgruntled", "discredited", "washed-up", a "has-been"---then does that make School Board member Jennifer Eitel, who ran for a seat on the County Board and lost, a “disgruntled, discredited politician” ?

Or Keith Heun, who served a term on the New Berlin School Board in the 1990’s--including as its president-- but lost the School Board election the next time he ran for the office in 2002?

Former mayor Ted Wysocki lost when he ran for re-election. NBCRG had supported him. So, should NBCRG members be deemed “disgruntled” or “misguided followers”?

I disagreed with several things Wysocki did, but unlike Keith Heun, I’d never call any of our local former elected officials (including Wysocki)-- a washed up has-been.

Evidently, Keith Heun, the President of the New Berlin School Board--who was supported by NBCRG, has no such scruples. He rants and calls a taxpaying constituent disparaging names. For a School Board leader/public servant, he’s displayed an amazing lack of self-control.

Previously, I referred to a Waukesha Freeman news article, which reported a New Berlin citizen/former official being subjected to insults/name-calling by Alderman Dave Ament, as well as emails from Ament’s wife containing “URALOSER”, “Sicko” and other offensive remarks.

The Aments also have ties to NBCRG. Alderman Ament was supported by NBCRG. Peggy Ament is a NBCRG member/financial contributor.

The Aments, Keith and Ralph Heun, Thomas and Eitel have made personal attacks against community residents. It begs the question: Did they make those attacks out of disgruntlement, as an intimidation tactic, or because they consider such antics acceptable when made against those they disagree with?

Linda Clifford was endorsed Sunday by The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Editorial Board, which contends that her opponent Annette Ziegler’s numerous conflicts of interest --undisclosed to the parties coming before her in Washington Co. Circuit Court, make her unsuited to be a justice on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court.
Retiring Justice Jon Wilcox has endorsed Ziegler. For information about the 1997 Wilcox campaign scandal (illegally coordinating with a supposedly “independent” organization) see my previous blog

If you thought New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) is for ALL of you in New Berlin, think again. A New Berlin taxpayer e-mailed Ralph Heun’s blog, asking about joining his NBCRG group. Heun rebuffed her! And Heun called New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government "a private organization."

The outraged taxpayer recently forwarded her e-mail exchange with Heun to the mayor and to my Inside New Berlin e-address, conveying it was inappropriate for NBCRG, which she called a “private club” that supports candidates to masquerade as a “civic group” on the taxpayer- funded City web site.
New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government has been kicked off the City web site.

NBCRG is quite a political machine. Heun’s blog is a campaign tool for advertising the endorsements of his “private” NBCRG organization. NBCRG claims to support candidates "independently" and is considered (by campaign finance law) to be a "special interest" committee. Notice that Heun's blog has not disclosed who the NBCRG members are or even which ones interviewed the candidates NBCRG endorses. Heun hides it from you, yet wants you to trust his private, special interest NBCRG group's endorsements.

Be advised that several New Berlin Now bloggers have ties with NBCRG.
Ralph Heun is current NBCRG President. Herb Eggie is a former NBCRG President. Mary Hiebl is a former NBCRG Vice-President. Matt Thomas is endorsed by NBCRG.

Thomas has claimed that that he and Keith Heun (Ralph’s son) are political strategists who’ve helped elect local candidates.
Note also that Alderman Dave Ament’s wife Peg is actively involved with NBCRG.

Candidates endorsed by NBCRG include------

*Dave Ament and all three New Berlin School Board candidates. Duh, those are uncontested races but NBCRG is endorsing the candidates anyway.

*Don Counsell for 5th District alderman. Later, Counsell announced he was withdrawing from the race to spend more time with his family. Turns out he had recently been in a bar brawl, was Tazered twice and arrested, charged with disorderly conduct. NBCRG withdrew its endorsement.

*Roger Hegeman when he ran for 5th District alderman. NBCRG helped get him elected. Now that he’s running for re-election, NBCRG abandoned him and chose to support Counsell instead.

*Ron Seidl for 3rd District alderman. He has a multi-offense arrest/police record--including drunken driving, driving without license, court-ordered $1000 fine and a 2 month- House of Correction sentence. He lacks involvement in our community.

*Dave Ament for 7th District alderman. Ament voted to deny the rezoning request of the Greek Church--against the advice of the City Attorney. The Church sued. The Appeals Court sided with the Church. Ament’s poor judgment is partly responsible for that mess--- leading to unnecessary expense for our city and us taxpayers

*Matt Thomas for School Board. Although he spouts control spending rhetoric and calls himself a “fiscal conservative”, Thomas was unsuccessful at managing his budget and financial affairs. He petitioned for bankruptcy & was declared bankrupt 2 years ago.

Laurel Walker had an interesting column in today’s ( March 15) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper.

Click here:
JS Online

“ Aldermen serve as our representatives. We expect them to exercise good judgment, be concerned about public safety, respect and abide by laws.”----- quote from my Feb. 28 blog.

Kudos to the press for informing us about NBCRG-supported Aldermanic candidate Don Counsell’s shameful conduct.

According to news reports: Around 1 a.m. March 3, after trying to pick a fight at Mo’s Irish pub, 6’6”, 250 lb Counsell got into a bar brawl, punched a security guard, fought with police officers, spit in the face of a police officer, was Tazered twice, and arrested. A report said Counsell appeared “very intoxicated”. Check the articles and his “mug shot”. Scary.

Whew. Imagine if this bloke had gotten behind the wheel of a car, too!
Those news accounts make Counsell seem like a hotheaded bully lacking good judgment or respect for the law. Whatever good qualities Counsell possesses, he is not someone I want for my alderman. Although Counsell announced he was withdrawing from the aldermanic race, he could still get elected--his name remains on the ballot. What a quagmire for our City.

Did you know that Counsell was nominated for Idiot Of The Week on WISN’s Early Spin show? The male radio talk show host called Counsell a liar. He conveyed it was wrong of Counsell not to own up to the bar incident/arrest when he announced his withdrawal from the aldermanic race March 6, citing “family” reasons.

Vern Bentley aggressively promoted Counsell --- Those large white Vote for Counsell signs displayed at various sites around town had an " authorized and paid for by Vern Bentley" disclaimer attached. One of the signs was in front of K-Nine Barber Shop, which is located on National Ave next to Holy Apostles Church. Some years back, K-Nine Barber Shop’s business operator told me her brother is Alderman Dave Ament.

NBCRG filed paperwork with the City Clerk February 12, including a sworn oath declaring that it would be financially supporting candidates Don Counsell and Ron Seidl (by independent disbursement.).
On March 8, Ralph Heun, posted a blog with this terse message: “NBCRG Withdraws Endorsement of Counsell Due to recent circumstances, New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government hereby withdraws its endorsement of Don Counsell for Alderman of the 5th District.”
Heun deleted his blog on which NBCRG endorsed Counsell, Seidl, and the 3 unopposed School Board candidates.
Speaks volumes about how Heun/ "citizen watchdog group" NBCRG communicates, doesn’t it?!!!!!!!
NBCRG's on & off endorsement of Counsell is another NBCRG FLIP FLOP. They helped elect Roger Hegeman. Then when he ran for re-election, they endorsed Counsell, his opponent.
NBCRG should be more careful about whom they endorse in the first place.

Ron Seidl, whom NBCRG continues to endorse, has had “alcohol” issues/ law violations, too. His unsavory arrest/police record includes multiple OWI, driving without a license, hefty fine/ 60 day House of Correction sentence. See my Feb. 28 blog: Information re: Candidate Ron Seidl (and what he didn’t talk about)
Did you read Vern & Peg Bentley’s letter to the editor published in the March 8 NOW newspaper? The Bentleys expressed their support for Seidl, maintaining he has a “positive attitude”, “willingness to listen”, “seems to have an interest in the City of New Berlin”--- but made no mention of Seidl’s views, his platform or his ideas. I guess I have higher standards than the Bentley's.
For someone with an alleged “interest in the City”, Seidl has been remarkably inactive. When I interviewed him, he denied involvement in any community organizations or activities here. I’ve never heard Seidl speak at School Board or Common Council meetings or seen any letters to the editor from him. Has anyone gotten a campaign flier from Seidl?

I am not inclined to trust the endorsements of NBCRG or Vern Bentley.

FLIP FLOP alert: New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government was for Roger Hegeman before they were against him. When Hegeman ran for 5th District alderman in 2004, NBCRG endorsed him and helped get him elected.
Hegeman is running for re-election. NBCRG is supporting his opponent Don Counsell. Flip Flop

NBCRG claims Counsell will keep citizens informed about critical issues.
Informing citizens is important to NBCRG????
There were very significant issues with the Reagan School project, but neither NBCRG (or School Board officials endorsed by NBCRG) informed you citizens about them.
NBCRG President Ralph Heun's NOW blog hasn't even communicated the NBCRG's membership list.
Heun is using his blog as a campaign tool to promote aldermanic candidate Don Counsell and advertise NBCRG's endorsement.

On its web site, NBCRG states its membership dues are $20 annually. It doesn't say who its members are.
NBCRG ( a registered political committee) filed a campaign finance report with the City Clerk on 1/24/07.
It lists $20 contributions (the same amount as the annual membership dues) from:
Peg Ament (spouse of Alderman Dave Ament), Ralph Heun (NBCRG President), Dolores Karner (NBCRG Secretary/Treasurer),Herb Eggie (former NBCRG President), Brian Bell, Ron Koessler, Mark Musselman, Tom and Lee Sitron, Arlene Stock, Adam Horn, and Barbara Zacher
Also listed is a $50 contribution from Vern Bentley.

In its 2004 campaign flyer (on file with the City Clerk), NBCRG claimed it was endorsing Hegeman because he "demonstrated greater familiarity with the many issues confronting the City" ---and he "appreciates the need for conservation of our natural resources and a go slow approach to development".
The NBCRG flyer did not mention taxes, city services or communicating with constituents.
I bet Hegeman is more familiar with issues confronting the City now ---after serving 3 years as alderman---than he was in 2004.
If NBCRG really felt conservation/protecting natural resources, and taking a go slow approach to development were crucial, shouldn't it have raised/expressed those concerns with the Reagan School project?

Re: taxes--- The December 2006 City of New Berlin leaflet states New Berlin 's 2005 tax rate (city only) ranks 170th lowest among 190 Wisconsin cities (based on data published by Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance). 90% of cities in our state have a higher tax rate than New Berlin. And when comparing cities with populations above 30,000 (New Berlin's population is approx 38,920), New Berlin's equalized tax rate of $4.85 was ranked lowest.

The City Center and the proposed new hotel on the edge of the City serve to increase the tax base, generate revenue for the City. In contrast, taxes can't be collected on a large Calhoun Rd property because NBPS now own it and built the Reagan School there.

Ralph Heun’s New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government group has been making lots of noise about a proposed New Berlin hotel, which would be located on the edge of New Berlin at Greenfield Avenue and Moorland Road.

In contrast, those activists were remarkably quiet about the Reagan School project.
Yet on its web site New Berlin CRG declares its mission is to inform the public about significant issues and to hold government officials and employees accountable for their actions or lack of actions.

The reality is New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government is a registered political organization. It recruits candidates for office. It endorsed nearly all of the current New Berlin School Board members, including Ralph Heun’s son, Keith.

A few points:
The giant, newly-built Reagan School ( the District’s largest elementary school) is situated in the heart of the city. The whopping $18.7 million cost figure provided by the District’s business manager for that new elementary school does not include the extra multi- millions in financing costs/interest.
New Berlin Public Schools paid nearly a million bucks for the parcel of agricultural land it bought adjacent to New Berlin Center School-- for the Reagan School.
Then they got the Common Council to rezone the land to “institutional”.
MMSD permission was obtained to extend the sewer boundaries--to accomodate the Reagan School.
The School District plans to demolish New Berlin Center School. Another district asset eliminated.
An athletic field is intended for that site. That field will require maintenance.
The merged Reagan School has twice the amount of pupils of New Berlin Center. Did I mention increased traffic and safety concerns at this centralcity location (Calhoun Rd and National Ave)?
The School Board chose to build the Reagan School on land that has environmental issues--wetlands, proximity to a navigable waterway, threatened/endangered species, etc. Developing that land, triggered DNR involvement.

Nary a peep from NB CRG about those things.

Oh, Ralph Heun did speak out at a DNR informational hearing in 2005---but not to express environmental concerns. In his speech, Heun attacked the citizens who requested the hearing and other citizens who had concerns about the Reagan School project.

City engineers complained of erosion control violations at the Reagan School site. DNR inspectors reported observing multiple violations at the school site. A Notice of Violations/Notice of Claim was served on NBPS. NBPS and its contractor were issued numerous citations for allegedly violating Wisconsin law, Ch.30 permits, DNR rules, regulations.

And NB CRG’s public reaction: silence.

Since NB CRG refrained from speaking up or informing the public on such significant issues--including the violations reported by the City and DNR-- and has not held NBPS officials and employees accountable--- perhaps they should rename their organization: New Berlin Citizens for Irresponsible Government