Bain-Blog

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Primary election

It's hard to believe we're only a little over a week away from the Feb. 21st primary election. It seems like only yesterday I was out knocking on doors, preparing for debates/forums and drilling holes in yards for signs. It's amazing how fast times flies!

There are some great online resources available for voters to learn more about the candidates. Miles Maguire has again established the Voter Information Project complete with candidate videos and an interactive dialogue. The Oshkosh Northwestern has again created an election page complete with self-submitted candidate statements, candidate profiles and pictures and various local, regional and national election-related articles.

In addition, the League of Women Voters recently held council, school and judicial candidate forums, which will be replayed on Channel 10 several times between now and the primary election. I've listed the replay times below:

SCHOOL BOARD
02/13- 1 p.m. & 6 p.m., 02/14- noon, 02/15- 9:30 p.m., 02/16- noon & 10 p.m., 02/17- 4 p.m., 02/18- 1 p.m., 02/19- 8:30 p.m.

COMMON COUNCIL
02/13- noon & 7 p.m., 02/15- 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., 02/16- 1 p.m. & 9 p.m., 02/17- 3 p.m. & 8 p.m., 02/18- noon, 02/19- 7 p.m.

JUDICIAL BRANCH IV
02/13- 4:30 p.m. & 8 p.m., 02/14- 1 p.m., 02/15- 9 p.m., 02/18- 11 a.m., 02/19- 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

I encourage everyone to learn about the candidates and where they stand on issues facing the council, school district and judicial system prior to casting a vote in the primary election.

-Bryan

posted by Bryan L. Bain at 2/12/2006 04:37:00 PM

5 Comments:

  • Dear Bryan: Tony Palmeri thinks Tuesdays' closed meeting is illegal. I'm posting this at 1:31pm February 13,2006. If there is ANY indication that it is illegal I think we all deserve an immediate answer from you.

    Thank you very much.
    Gary Jepson

    By Blogger Gary, at February 13, 2006 1:32 PM  

  • That's just an opinion! Sound fimiliar?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at February 13, 2006 2:44 PM  

  • Gary-
    Anyone who knows me well knows how much I respect the law, so I take very seriously any assertion that my actions or potential actions would violate a law. I have no intention to violate the law.

    As council members, we rely on the information and advice provided to us by the city attorney regarding legal matters. I know at least four council members, including myself, contacted City Attorney Warren Kraft regarding tomorrow's closed meeting and Mr. Palmeri's claim the meeting will be illegal.

    Mr. Kraft said in an email response to us that there are sufficient 'competitive bargaining reasons' to permit a closed session because not all negotiations have concluded, and a contract is not developed and ready for Council approval.

    I was unable to contact Community Development Director Jackson Kinney today to determine and verify negotiations that will take place, however, I plan to speak with him tomorrow.

    I encourage anyone who has questions regarding the legality of the closed meeting to contact Mr. Kraft directly.

    -Bryan

    By Blogger Bryan L. Bain, at February 13, 2006 5:33 PM  

  • Would that be the same Mr. Kraft who gave the council incorrect advice on the Leach bathroom issue? It may be in your best interest to get an "opinion" from an attorney who specializes in that type of law.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at February 14, 2006 8:38 AM  

  • AG: Closed session sounds ‘legitimate’

    BY ALEX HUMMEL
    of The Northwestern

    A closed meeting Tuesday between the developer of a proposed, $60 million riverfront resort and the Oshkosh Common Council doesn’t sound like it violated the state’s Open Meetings law, a Wisconsin assistant attorney general told The Northwestern Thursday morning.

    “It sounds to me like it would be okay,” Assistant Attorney General Alan Lee told a reporter.

    It’s not a formal opinion, but Lee said the city council’s decision to meet with Five Rivers Resort developer Tom Doig in executive session Tuesday night seemed “legitimate,” even though discussion focused on more than the publicly-noticed reason to close the door: land acquisition and sales.

    Five citizens staged a brief sit-in at the meeting’s beginning before Mayor William Castle asked them to leave. They did without incident. The protestors argued the meeting with Doig did not meet the requirements of an executive session exemption and threatened a legal challenge.

    Lee said the city and developer are afforded some privacy in discussing business matters that, if disclosed in the open, could hamper both the developer’s business and the city’s negotiating stance.

    While the city council approved a nearly $16 million tax-incremental financing district in the redevelopment zone around planned Five Rivers, both parties continue to hammer out a developer’s agreement. The nearly $16 million TIF district includes up-to $6 million in grant money to help build parts of the Five Rivers complex.

    Councilors told The Northwestern Wednesday that they spent 45 minutes with Doig questioning him on efforts to lock private financing supporting the project.

    “The city has to be able to question the developer, and he has to give honest answers without all his business being public,” Lee said, noting rival developers could use such information against the developer or even the city if it was in the open.

    “All in all, this sounds kosher to me,” Lee said.

    The Northwestern will have more on this story in Friday morning’s edition.

    Alex Hummel: (920) 426-6669 or ahummel@thenorthwestern.com.

    http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060216/OSH0101/60216055

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at February 16, 2006 1:44 PM  

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