Dear Residents of District 3: Thanks for visiting my page. This was originally to be my campaign website for District 3 Alder, but due to unforeseen circumstances I've been forced to rework it and explain why I'm no longer asking for your vote, but for something else...
Why I Decided to Run
Like most of us, I was ignorant about city government since moving here in 2009, mainly because there is no reporting on it anymore. Retirement in 2021 gave me time to attend some meetings and talk to various political and community leaders. What I saw and learned caused me great concern. You can read more about that on the following pages, but there were three things that troubled me most:
- A lack of transparency on the part of city government about decisions being made and little effort being made to inform us or give us an opportunity for input until decisions were practically done deals.
- A "development at all costs" attitude on the part of Mayor McBride and most of the Common Council, which was threatening both the character and livability of the city we all love, and setting up a "fiscal cliff" of revenue shortfalls and reduced services. Moreover, they were not using the leverage they had to get builders to provide truly affordable, family-size units - or any other wider benefits to the city and its residents.
- Lastly, when a few alders have spoken up about these issues, asked tough questions, and tried to get a dialogue started, they were vilified and ostracized by the mayor and city staff, to the point all of them eventually decided to leave the council (and in one case the city!). On several occasions I witnessed extremely unprofessional behavior by the mayor and bullying behavior not only toward them but residents who expressed any dissatisfaction when given the chance for input. Sadly, the other alders on Council have acquiesced to that behavior or contributed to it themselves.
I talked to dozens of you while getting my nomination papers signed back in December and found a lot of support. Currently many of you don't even know who our alderpersons are, because they aren't focused on us, they're in their bubble at City Hall taking marching orders from our part-time (and in his words, "powerless") Mayor and our unelected City Administrator. Many of us have also been disappointed by alders who ran on progressive platforms in recent years but immediately fell completely in line with the the powers that be.
I completed all the paperwork and requirements to get on the ballot and set up donation links on this website by late December. I had designs for yard signs and was starting to think about how to publicly announce my campaign.
Why I Changed My Mind
One thing I told people while door-knocking was that several other reform-minded candidates were running in other districts, most influenced by Onward Tosa, which you can read more about here. But shortly after my papers were approved I learned that a couple of them had decided not to run, and others had tough races in front of them. I realized that if I won, I would likely be in a minority of two or three out of twelve and face the same treatment that had led our last three progressive alders to decide not to run for a second term. I had hoped that five or six of us would be a coalition that couldn't be bullied or ignored, but now I knew our ability to advance positive change was probably nil.
I attempted to withdraw before the deadline for filing as a candidate, but was told that state law requires my name be left on the ballot. So I've decided that although I needed to let people know I was no longer asking for their vote or financial donations, I still might be able to use this site to have an influence on our incumbent Alder, Ernie Franzen, who is running again (one-term Alder David Lewis decided not to run).
Ald. Franzen desperately needs to hear from those of us who disagree with the direction the Council has been going. I hope and believe that he will listen and start voting accordingly if he hears from enough of us.
I've left my "About" page as is in case you're curious, but I'm really hoping you will look through the "Priorities" and "What I'm Asking" tabs above to see how you can still make a difference. Perhaps in two years, I will run again as part of a larger group of reformers!
Join Me in Fighting for These
New Priorities!
- Improved communication and more opportunities for resident input
- Increased transparency in city government (learn more)
- Ensuring that new development benefits our entire community, does not over-rely on TIF funding, and maintains the unique character of our beautiful city (learn more)
- Addressing Wauwatosa's worsening financial outlook utilizing a data-driven approach (as has been proposed but rejected) (learn more)
- Recommitting ourselves to affordable housing so that young people can move here and retired residents can stay
- Protecting and investing in our green spaces, rivers and watershed
- Ensuring safety, especially continuing efforts to calm traffic
- In short, a more progressive, democratic and accountable City Government
Thanks for taking the time to inform yourself about this important election!
From our family to yours, best wishes for a better world, nation, and Wauwatosa in 2026!