Category Archives: Government

Greg Kowalski is Bitter Over Loss … Mark Dandrea Shows He is a Gracious Winner!

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From the April 3rd – FranlinNOW:

Kowalski, who narrowly lost to Olson in the 2010 election, said he was upset with fliers that were distributed - by members of Dandrea’s campaign, he assumes – throughout the city last weekend that were full of misinformation.

“The bottom line is that there was a negative piece that was circulated last minute and obviously the people didn’t have much of a choice,” Kowalski said. “There were a bunch of lies and incorrect statements about me in that flier. And that’s basically what I think was reflected in today’s election.”

Dandrea called the fliers a “comparison piece” that put his qualifications side-by-side to Kowalski’s.

“It was a very truthful and candid piece about (Kowalski’s) involvement with different political groups compared to mine; my business and marketing expertise, compared to his lack of expertise,” Dandrea said.

“He was disappointed,” said Dandrea, referring to Kowalski. “If I was in that position, I would have been disappointed, too. I was the strongest candidate running for the 1st District, and the voters recognized that.”

Unfortunately Greg Kowalski misconstrued factual information for lies and misinformation. If what Greg says is true and these are lies and misinformation, will Greg Kowalski be taking this issue to the Government Accountability Board or are these just the rantings of a LOSER!

61% of the 1st District apparently disagree with Kowalski and his qualifications!

What Would Greg Do?

Sour Grapes?

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More Last Minute Rhetoric from Greg Kowalski. All Talk with NO ANSWERS!

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In his last hours campaign push for 1st District Alderman, Greg Kowalski is making some statements he has no idea of how to fulfil nor does he have the power to fulfil “IF” he was elected to the Common Council. I received a copy of his flier from one of the residents of the 1st district and they have these questions to ask the 26-year-old sage.

Lets go through his statements one by one.

  • First Kowalski is claiming his opponent is Mudslinging.  - Is it mud-slinging if it’s the truth? Factual information to compare candidates positions are not mud-slinging. Aren’t candidates responsible for past actions and statements? Kowalski doesn’t think so!
  • Kowalski says he will Launch EDC initiatives - What kind of initiatives does he propose? Who will do the work? To whom would you launch? A part-time group of people that have only come up with a glossy brochures and have no expertise in economic development? Is he saying that current AlderVisor Steve Taylor (a supposed political endorser and member of the EDC) has done a poor job in EDC initiatives and needs Kowalski’s guidance?
  • Kowalski says he plans to restart discussions with the community and owners on the civic center - What would he talk about? Cost of the land? Sidewalks? Remember Kowalski was part of this group that raised money for a Civic Center that never happened! Would anyone listen to someone with Kowalski’s credentials?
  • Work on solutions for pedestrian safety on Puetz – Kowalski never states how he plans to pay for it? Will he be doing the “work” himself? Does he plan to do it twice? Once now and once when the street gets rebuilt?
  • Work on reconstruction of Hwy 100 and 76th st.  – First off, these are Milwaukee County projects. Aren’t these already designed and scheduled?  What would Kowalski do to change the plans and design?
  • Kowalski says he plans to connect 76th and Rawson to the Rock Sports Center - Another grandiose plan by Greg Kowalski!  What is he going to do to connect it?  Fly helicopters? Build Bridges? Who will pay for it in the end?

Greg Kowalski is following in the footsteps of his favorite liberal AlderVisor Steve (don’t cut my salary so I will actually have to work) Taylor who will tell voters anything they want to hear and then doesn’t do a thing when elected. Kowalski and Taylor are your typical liberal Democratic candidates. The only difference is Taylor is known as a REPUBLICAN IN NAME ONLY.

 

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1st District Aldemanic Candidate Greg Kowalski Whining Again!

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Mark Dandea today put out a factual piece of campaign literature that his opponent Greg Kowalski does not like. The reason why Greg does not like this piece of literature is because it dares to actually compare the qualifications and stances that Mark as his opponent and he are running on. Since we have not had a head to head debate for either candidates for the 1st or 2nd district Alderman races, it now comes down to the candidates attempting to offer a comparison for the voters to peruse.

Kowalski, has made claims that “he is the best candidate” due to his experience on commissions and boards. He makes claims to “knowing what business wants” in Franklin. However the problem is that candidate Kowalski has absolutely nothing to back up his claims.

I have know Greg since 2007, I know what his experience with the city of Franklin is, what his background is and  it comes down to this…. Greg is a spoiled boy-man, who when people point out the truth about him he screams “You are Picking on Me” over and over again until someone believes him. Now he is calling this factual literature “slanderous”. (please see the actual definition of Slanderous at the bottom of this posting)

Please review the piece of literature that was distributed in the 1st District today that Greg Kowalski on his FaceBook Campaign page states  “My opponent, Mark Dandrea, has just taken us back 10 years. Those of you that remember past politics have seen this type of slanderous literature before. It is from the same type of people who have been involved in this tactic in the past, who can’t stand not being in power.”

Here is that literature:

Dandrea3_30_13

Definition of Slanderous:

slander n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or more persons an untruth about another which untruth will harm the reputation of the person defamed. Slander is a civil wrong (tort) and can be the basis for a lawsuit. Damages (payoff for worth) for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malicious intent, since such damages are usually difficult to specify and harder to prove. Some statements such as an untrue accusation of having committed a crime, having a loathsome disease, or being unable to perform one’s occupation are treated as slander per se since the harm and malice are obvious, and therefore usually result in general and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Words spoken over the air on television or radio are treated as libel (written defamation) and not slander on the theory that broadcasting reaches a large audience as much if not more than printed publications. (See: defamation, fair comment)

Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.

Greg, if you want to be an Alderman, you really need to choose your words more carefully.  

 

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Greg Kowalski – Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

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Greg Kowalski, the 26 year old, live at home student running for Alderman in Franklin’s 1st district has pulled out some real whoppers for his latest campaign flier.

He is now claiming to have taken the lead to encourage city and business leaders to direct development into centralized areas according to Kowalski. I’m sorry, how many business leaders take seriously a person who has not been able to complete an Associate of Business at MATC since graduating High School in 2005. Maybe it is those same business leaders who look for him to guide them through the turbulent economic times with all his suggestions of spending property tax dollars, for aquatic centers, sidewalks, community centers, parks, all of which he has never paid cent one for as he is still living with his Mom, Step Dad and two sisters.  Could it be the same business leaders that look to him in guidance with selling beanie babies on ebay with his mom?

Kowalski goes on to say that he brought new concepts to the city as a city commissioner on the Environmental Commission, a Commission he became the chair of because no one else wanted it. Then like a little child, publicly quit (see the FranklinNOW about that one) because the Mayor did not like how he was running it. Later he begged the Mayor’s forgiveness and promised not to write any more blogs that put the city and the Mayor in a bad light. The mayor then put him on the Trails committee, a place where he could do no further harm.

Kowalski now claims that a group (that he founded) Citizens for Community Development were the ones who prompted Franklin developers to create the transformation of the Crystal Ridge Ski Hill into The Rock Sports Complex. When Mike Zimmerman, the developer of The Rock Sports Complex was asked at a Common Council meeting if he was aware of the CCD’s efforts in trying to get the Central Park concept off the ground. Zimmerman replied that he was not aware of those efforts but would be willing to listen to what they found.

I guess we have to remember when it comes to running for a political office, embellishment is just a fact of life.

For Kowalski, it is a “Way of Life“!

 

Pants on Fire

Greg Kowalski – Pants on Fire

 

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Mark Dandrea Makes the Most Sense for Franklin’s 1st District Alderman

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I have said it many times before, if I had chosen where I lived in Franklin by the person who would represent me at Franklin’s City Hall, it would have been in Alderman Steve Olson’s district. Olson who has been Franklin’s 1st district alderman for the past several terms has made the decision to not to run again for another 3 year term.

There are four residents who have chosen to run for 1s District Alderman, but only one shows the true qualifications to take Franklin’s never-ending issues, head on, to getting us back on track, just as Alderman Olson has in the past. That person is Mark Dandrea.

Dandrea, a long time resident of Franklin and the 1st District, is being endorsed whole heartedly by Alderman Steve Olson. I think that speaks volumes to the 1st district residents who in past elections voted for Olson in complete confidence.

I feel I should pass along Marks recent endorsement for your consideration as 1st District residents go to vote at City Hall on Tuesday, February 19th. I like many others who support Mark, hope the District 1 residents vote for Mark, putting him one step closer to giving us an equally qualified Alderman who will help Franklin actually move Forward.
Alderman Steve Olson’s ENDORSEMENT:

MarkDandrea_64847 by

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AlderVisor Steve Taylor Quickly Changes His Tune!

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A year ago on April 3, 2012 , Steve Taylor received his Milwaukee County Supervisors crown along with his current crown of Franklin’s 1st district alderman, which residents found out later he had no intention on giving up.  What also happened during that election, that Steve wants you to forget, was how a non-binding referendum in Franklin passed by an extreme margin in in favor of reducing the size of the County board to 13. The newly elected Aldervisor chastised Mayor Tom Taylor and his fellow aldermen for bringing the referendum to vote in the first place. Not to mention that they certify it at the very meeting he was wearing his two crowns.

In a condescending speech to the Mayor and the Council the AlderVisor Taylor had much to say about the results of that referendum. The following is taken virtual verbatim from the Common Council meeting on April 17, 2012  in the first meeting following his coronation as a Supervisor.

 Lets talk about a number of things here. First being there was an election and you had 13 incumbents that ran…. All 13 were re-elected! Some were unopposed obviously, but what that tells you is that every single one that was opposed voted AGAINST the downsizing of the board. YET ALL THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WERE RE-ELECTED! It’s the same thing in Congress that you hear all the time…. Congress has an approval rating of 10% yet 87% of the individuals get re-elected. So this issue which was on the ballot and people overwhelmingly were for. People still put the same Supervisors back in place.

So in my conversations  down there (referring to the Court House), with every single supervisor, you know …. there’s no momentum that this referendum question did anything coming from that. I can tell you that RIGHT NOW they definitely don’t care for meddling in municipalities  and their business. Which is no shock! You know we don’t like when the County meddles in our business, so that one comment I’ll make on these questions…..  I don’t expect anything to come from the board based on those (referendum questions).

It is now almost a year later and former County Supervisor and now State State Representative Joe Sanfelippo has proposed a binding referendum that if passed would cause a major cut in Milwaukee County Supervisors salaries from $55K to $15K. Now Steve Taylor after trying to unsuccessfully schmooze with his supposed friends in Madison has put together propose cut back to 13 Supervisors from the current 18, with his fellow Supervisor Mark Borkowski. Please remember Steve Taylor’s diatribe back in April 2012.

This is a quote from Aaron Rodriguez’s The Red Fox blog:

Milwaukee County Supervisors Steve Taylor and Mark Borkowski endorsed a plan, in a stunner of a press release, that would reduce the County Board Supervisors from 18 to 13 and cut the board’s budget by 40%. The plan surprised many because it was endorsed without consulting constituents, county colleagues, State Representative Joe Sanfelippo, and minority groups. That’s a whole lot of “not consulting.”

The issue of minority groups raised the specter of the county redistricting battle two years ago which resulted in Hispanics in the south-side gaining a second majority voting age population (VAP) district – one that reflected their explosive growth in Milwaukee. Neither the NAACP nor Hispanics for Leadership were contacted by Supervisors Taylor or Borkowski to see how their plan would affect their minority districts. Reducing the size of the County Board to 13 districts would not properly reflect Hispanic population growth in Milwaukee and would likely lead to a redistricting lawsuit.

Rodriguez further says:

I called Supervisor Steve Taylor twice yesterday and left two messages inquiring about their newly hatched plan. Taylor stopped returning my calls since he first ducked the question about supporting Sanfelippo’s bill on January 13. (Who knows, maybe Taylor feels Senate Democratic Leader Chris Larson tugging at his leash from his Madison office. I hear they’re “besties” now.) Taylor was the special guest of Chris Larson to Walker’s State of the State Address and had even attended the Governor’s Mansion at his side.

Interesting Further Information:

 

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1st District Candidate Greg Kowalski Opposes 27th Street Development, Instead Pushes TIF for HWY 100 & Loomis!

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Last time Greg Kowalski ran for 1st district alderman in April 2010, he was unsuccessful and it was speculated that he was far too inexperienced in life to become an Alderman. Shortly after the election he wrote a posting on his blog Franklin Today stating his opposition to the proposed Drexel Interchange (now built) because it would do nothing for the City of Franklin. Kowalski publicly criticized two experienced driving forces behind the development of 27th street in Franklin. Those driving forces were none other than Ted Grintjes and Jim Rhiner who for many years served on the 27th Street Steering Committee.

It was through hours and hours of uncompensated work that Grintjes and Rhiner were able to promote the 27th street corridor, convincing Northwestern Mutual and Wheaton Franciscan Hospitals to locate to Franklin along this corridor. Kowalski discounts their opinions and recommendations in favor of Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm’s, who’s expertise is in the area of environmentalism not development.

 In this article Kowalski states that the Drexel interchange is needed only by Oak Creek for their Delphi plant redevelopment at Drexel & Howell  and asks “what does Franklin need the interchange for?”  Could it be that more access to 27th street will continue to grow this area as a “Franklin destination area” such as Brookfield’s Bluemound road?

So lets examine Kowalski’s experience and education that allows him to make these statements?

 Simply said, Greg Kowalski is a 2005 graduate of Franklin High School, he has been attending MATC, (apparently part time since graduation), since the MATC associate degree’s are geared for completion in 2 years. His business expertise is in selling Beanie Babys and stuffed toys on E-bay.  Greg’s basis his life experiences from living with his parents since high school graduation while working on his “exceptional?” career track toward being the 1st district alderman.

Here is his opine on the Drexel interchange and 27th street development from Franklin Today:

Franklin Today – Opposition to 27th Street by

Jump forward to 2013 and his current run for Alderman.  Now Kowalski is boasting on his FaceBook campaign page that he is an expert on the HWY 100 & Loomis Area. It is the one thing that sets him apart from his fellow candidates.

Here is an exact quote from Candidate Kowalski from is Candidates FaceBook page:

I’m probably more informed on this parcel of land and its development history (or lack thereof) than any of my opponents. Since I haven’t heard any views from any of them, I will save some of my thoughts on this for when the primary gets a little closer. As for the city buying the parcel outright, Alderwoman Wilhelm was challenged to convince her colleagues on the Council to purchase only 500 ft to complete a school access road. It would be a significant uphill battle for the city to be convinced to purchase something in the magnitude of the Meijer parcel. An additional problem for the development of this site is the cost to purchase the parcel is too high given the multitude of water and drainage challenges and road access costs. The fact is, a TIF District may be the only reasonable cost-effective method to develop this property.

OK so what has Kowalski written about about the 27th Street TIFFs?

First and foremost, I’m not a fan at all over the city spending millions of dollars for the 27th Street Corridor. While some will just point out and say it’s TIF (tax-incremental financing) money, meaning that those businesses in the TIF will pay it off via property taxes, I still get a little bothered by it. The TIFs along 27th Street do nothing to impact the property tax base that truly needs the additional revenue, the Franklin Public School District. In the meantime, City Hall has been consistent on approving funds and more funds to facilitate a roughly 10-year-long vision to turn 27th Street into the next Mayfair Road. This just extends the TIF Districts that were created for Northwestern Mutual and Wheaton Franciscan drag on longer, and doesn’t provide tax relief for residents.

1st District residents will have to choose which Kowalski they choose to believe!

 

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No Jeff Traylor but Deb Larson and Melissa Klein Run Again for School Board

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Under state elections law, candidates who do not intend to run for the office they currently represent are required to file a Notification of Noncandidacy no later than 5 p.m. on the second  Friday before the filing deadline for nomination papers and other ballot access documents.  This year the second Friday was December 21, 2012.  If the incumbent failed to file the Notification of Noncandidacy by December 21, 2012, and did not file ballot access documents to run for their current seat, the filing deadline is extended 72 hours for any other candidate for the office under extension, except for the candidate. One of incumbent Board of Education  officeholders did not file, that person was none other than Jeff Traylor.

Board of Education candidates were required to submit their paperwork by 5pm Wednesday January 2, 2013. Since Jeff Traylor did not file his Notification of Noncandidacy at all, persons wishing to file candidacy for the BOA office can now do so until Monday January 7th at 5pm.  Under the law, neither Traylor or any other incumbent can file from this point on. That would include David Works or Judith Bialk. Only new candidates for the office can still file.

Currently incumbents Debby (it’s not fair I am not board president) Larson and Melissa (I love to spend your money) Klein have filed papers for candidacy along with new comer Alan Aleksandrowitz. That would make it a shoe in for the two incumbents without a need for any campaign.

Here is the email I received from Meghan Dade, our district’s Communications Coordinator for FPS after I inquired about an extension posted on the FPS website:

From: Dade, Meghan [mailto:Meghan.Dade@Franklin.k12.wi.us]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 2:17 PM
To: MAERSCH, BRYAN
Subject: RE: Board of Education Election 

 Mr. Maersch, 

As of the filing deadline at 5:00 PM yesterday, the following have submitted papers for the April School Board Election:

  • Alan Aleksandrowicz
  • Melissa Klein 
  • Debbie Larson 

The third incumbent, Mr. Jeff Traylor, did not file papers and did not complete a Declaration of Non-Candidacy by the deadline in December, and as such we are required to extend the deadline for other candidates to file papers. The deadline is now extended until Monday, January 7th at 5:00 PM.

 Thank you,

 Meghan Dade

Meghan Dade

Communications Coordinator, Franklin Public School District

8255 West Forest Hill Avenue  Franklin, WI 53132

Meghan.Dade@Franklin.k12.wi.us

From: Bryan Maersch
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 1:59 PM
To: Dade, Meghan
Subject: Board of Education Election

Meghan,

I saw on the Franklin Public School web page that submission of election papers are open now until January 7th at 5pm. I am assuming this is because one of the incumbents did not turn in their intention of Non-candidacy paperwork and State Election laws require a 72 extension.

School Board Election: Deadline Extended to January 7th       

NOTICE OF DEADLINE EXTENSION

JANUARY 3, 2013

The deadline for filing ballot access documents for the office of School Board Member has been extended 72 hours to 5:00PM on Monday, January 7th.

Can you tell me (as of last night):

  1. Who the incumbent was that did not turn in their Non-Candidacy paperwork.
  2. Who did file paperwork for the Board of Education spring election.

 Thank You,

 Bryan P. Maersch

Franklin, WI 53132

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In Case You Do Not Receive E-Mail Blasts

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In Case You Do Not Receive E-Mail Blasts from the Franklin Public Schools this one was sent today. With the tragic shooting of innocents that happened at Sandy Hook, I felt it was important enough to share.

From: AlertNow Message from Franklin Public SD [mailto:noreply@alertnow.com]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 3:00 PM
To: Franklin Parents
Subject: A School Safety Message for Parents

 

December 17, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians of Franklin Public School Children,

The incidents of last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut have touched us all and have certainly heightened the awareness for you, as parents, as well as for our school district when it comes to student safety. Student safety is paramount both for you as parents/guardians and for the entire Franklin Public School District staff. We believe we have a safe environment for our students and staff to come to each day.

The Franklin Public School District has and will continue to review and evaluate the safety conditions in our schools on an annual basis, and with the events of last week we will immediately begin evaluating our current practices to determine improved safety measures we may need to implement.

We currently lock the exterior doors to our buildings and will now give even greater attention to our main entrance procedures at all district buildings. The Franklin Public School District has lockdown and evacuation procedures in place and these situations are practiced and reviewed frequently.

In addition to reviewing safety measures in our district, I want to assure you that in dealing with these kinds of tragedies we make any and all resources available to assist students if they need it. For your personal reference, a resource that may be of value to you is that of the National Association of School Psychologists at www.nasponline.org. A helpful article is “Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers” at the following link: http://www.nasponline.org/resources/talkingviolence.pdf.

As we move forward to address this issue, I want to again assure you that student safety is our number one concern.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steve Patz
Superintendent
Franklin Public Schools

 

 

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Time to Rid Ourselves of Fiscally Irresponsible Board Members

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The three worst Franklin Public School Board of Education members are up for re-election in April. The posting has recently gone up on the Franklin Public School website. If you feel you are up for the challenge to take these fast and loose spenders, now is the time to go to the School District website and download your paperwork. You do not need to get any signatures, just fill out the paperwork and turn it in at the Office of the School District Clerk, 8255 West Forest Hill Avenue office by January 2nd, 2013 @ 5pm.

NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

APRIL 2, 2013

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that an election is to be held in the School District of Franklin on Tuesday April 2, 2013, and the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. The term of the office for School Board Member is three years beginning on Monday, April 22, 2013.

Office                          Incumbent

  • School Board Member    Melissa Klein
  • School Board Member    Debbie Larson
  • School Board Member    Jeff Traylor

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that a Campaign Registration Statement and a Declaration of Candidacy must be filed no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 2, 2013 in the Office of the School District Clerk, 8255 West Forest Hill Avenue.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that if a primary is necessary, the primary will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

Linda Witkowski

Clerk, Board of Education November 15, 2012

 

FORMS:

Campaign Registration Statement (GAB-1)

Declaration of Candidacy (GAB-162)

link to Government Accountability Board

*Anyone interested in running for the school board is encouraged to talk with current Board members and/or administrators on the Board to get more information.*

  • Dr. Steve Patz, Superintendent 414-525-7604
  • Janet Evans, Board President  414-421-9804

Remember – It is critical we replace all three members, but especially the extremely liberal Jeff Traylor and Deb Larson who both supported the Anti-Scott Walker candidates that ran in last April elections.

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