After re-reading the article, and seeing Andreah's response, I must point out that they state bankruptcy, in the singular form. Foreclosures is correct, considering you have multiple properties. Instead of trying to distort facts and point the finger at the city of Janesville, why don't you just admit that you were given many notices and warnings and deadlines and that you decided to ignore them. You knew fighting the City would cost you a lot of money, and you went ahead and did it anyway. In some ways you are like an abusive manipulator. You would rather explain how your actions were enticed by others and make it sound like you are justified when you do not accept responsibility and the consequences for your mistakes. You can keep believing that the City is "out" to get you, but your the one who put yourself out there, who deliberately broke the laws, ordinances and violated every rule placed upon you at the local level. You may have friends who were victims of greed and ignorance, and fighting for them is a noble cause, but you have to do it the right way. Complaining about your shack on public television is not the right way. Ranting and omitting facts and distorting truths does not help anybody, and it does not help your image, your reputation or your ego. You can go to every city council meeting and think you are being patriotic, but you need to understand that every body laughs at you behind your back and thinks your wasting everyone's time. On a side note, I can admire the political drive to really make a change, but I have to laugh at how you go about it. Nobody's going to want to buy a house from a realtor who has filed bankruptcy, nobody is going to stand up with you a fight a bunch of mini battles that are scatter brained and far fetched. You need to pick one topic and stick to it. You can't be taken seriously because of your own choices and your own actions. Just to let you know, since nobody else seems to tell you, Karen .

Dear Marcia; How did you confuse one recent bankruptcy, with multiple? Is it not common knowledge that a person can only file every 7 yrs? So does not yr headline "declared bankruptcies" (plural) say 14 to 21 years or more of financial mismanagement? My ownership of those multiple properties for decades is from a life time of excellent credit and management. The recent singular bankruptcy included the 6 yr cost of fighting the code dept confiscation of properties, and a medical emergency and my professional displacement due to the retirement of my broker of 10 yrs, from which I got my own broker's license and opened my own office. I did not "blame" the city, as I chose to challenge a 20 yr city practice of taking homes and buildings w/o paying eminent domain compensation. The city refused to honor the grandfather clause as a means by which to confiscate buildings in the path of redevelopment. Which they did to 20-25 citizen victims per year for 2 decades. The city wasted $450,000 on multiple frivolous lawsuits against me and my $32,000 carriage barn to avoid $40 million in just compensation settlements to 300 to 400 citizens. 2 out of 3 of their citations were tossed out in my favor,but you refused to report my wins.Or that the judge told the city to correct their ordinances, which they have yet to do. I did not run "unsuccessfully" for 5 yrs. My campaigns have changed the face of years of apathetic uncontested local races, changed ordinances, changed procedures, and educated our community of the need to re-establish our democratic checks and balances. At the 1st sheriff's sale of 1402 W Court in Oct '09 I was mailed a ticket for allegedly obstructing an officer after I allegedly tried to disrupt the sheriff's sale. Why did you forget to include the word "allegedly"? The DA's Off dismissed that ticket, and the judge dismissed that sale. When will you report that? I did not "know I was going to lose my properties". I knew that losing them was a -possibility-.
And finally, I am urging the city to make money, not to lose money by buying properties at the sheriff's sale and then land contracting back to the former property owner. But my campaign platform is to correct our bureaucratic procedures for proper representation and citizen input, as follows; to have a functioning and accessible Citizen Appeals Board; to have our Citizen Nomination Committee, not the city manager, choose the citizens on the citizen boards that oversee our city employees - not just "advise"; to have our elected Ward Supervisors that are required by Ordinance 8.08.080; to have 2 city council members voted from each of our 4 neighborhoods; to have a Citizen Budget Committee for each of our 4 neighborhoods instead of city-employee-filibuster sessions; to have an ordinance spring cleaning.

First, this was published weeks before the election, and there wasn't any stories of other council candidates problems, I think it was designed to some how ruin potential votes, which wasn't really necessary , considering her tarnished name and reputation. Don't get me wrong, I really do not like this woman, but it does seem a little unfair to run an article about her finances and linking her to the city council candidacy. If the Gazette were inclined to write about her, they should have left it out that she is a candidate for city council. Or do a piece about all of the candidates. Obviously she lost, but the gazette showed some bad form.
As for the actual article, I have known about all this and I just have to laugh at her sad monopoly game and how she doesn't maintain anything for very long. This woman has overflowing closets yet she can not even maintain her house across the street. She is a horrible land lady, who over charges, and finds the cheapest, easiest way to 'repair' and 'maintain' her properties. I'm not at all surprised that she has gone into foreclosure, but sadly I believe she has lumped her self into the group of predatory lending victims when she was in no way a victim. Some people lose everything simply because they got sick, or they got in an accident, or they lost their job. Those are the people who deserve a little help and understanding. She fights for them and calls her self one of them, when she knew exactly what she was doing refinancing her homes and borrowing against the other. She knew exactly what she was doing when she refused to maintain her 'carriage barn' and she decided to fight it after so many years and so many notices. I do NOT feel sorry for her woes at all. Because this woman went to college for so long (she could have been a dr) and she still does not have a career and financial stability. I don't know what all of the loopholes are for bankruptcies, but I can guarantee you that she knows exactly what and where they are and how she can benefit by wriggling through them .

Tinker. Thanks for your reply. I also respect your opinion. As I previously said, I have watched these Council members quite closely this past couple of years and my vote is dependent on their voting records in Council. I might also add that I also watch their participation on the other commitees (appointed) as some serve on more than one in addition to the City Council (elected by the people) which I find disconcerting; who do they serve?

R1234 - I too take voting very seriously but I don't pick my candidate on whether they missed a debate or not. If I have questions for a candidate, I'll just email them and ask them, plain and simple. I have served on a city committee and it takes alot of time and commitment. I don't know why she missed the debate but I am sure she had a good reason. I truly do respect your opinion and your right to disagree.

Tinker. I've seen her at City Council meetings and I've watched her and the other members of Council closely. I even went to a debate and she was absent from the debate. Is she that sure that she will win the vote that she can't participate in a political debate? My opinion of her differs greatly from yours and I don't care to ever know her or any other City Council member. I would rather know what they stand for in relation to the governance and future plans for our city. Many of her votes on Council agendae are in direct conflict with my view and on that note, I will cast my vote as I see it. She had an opportunity to promote herself and didn't participate; Mr. McDonald, Mr. Rashkin, and Ms. Briarmoon were present at the debate and were available to answer questions. Voting is a serious issue for me.

I don't need to regret it. I DIDN'T vote for him!!

econgirl419, the city council instituted a timer for public comments for one specific reason ... er, person.

Opinions to yourself. Who says everyone regrets voting for President Obama. I sure as heck don't regret it. Finally, some sanity in the White House.

Yes, econgirl.., imagine what her rants if on the council would be like.

Yes, frogger.

Oh my god! Her statement on the Forward Janesville site goes on for 14 minutes!!! The other candidates go on for about 3 minutes!!!

neweyes- ANOTHER truth to be removed by crazy fans

gfan- WHEN you make the companies name look bad!!!

OkieFed - From what I've read about her over the years, I don't think she (Briarmoon) has any skeletons in the closet. They're all running rampant around Janesville.
.
(By her choosing).

R1234 - you should really take the time to get to know Kathy Voskuil. She is a fine representative of our city and has a great deal of integrity. I do not believe her decisions regarding the ice area have anything to do with her occupation.

How does anyone get fired from a job where they don't actually draw a paycheck?!!! How screwed up does someone's image have to be to come off as disparaging to other real estate agents?!!!

I suspect that Ms. Briarmoon wants to blame the city on her financial woes when in fact they likely really stem from the fact she was fired from the realty firm she was employed at about two years ago. She advertised herself as self-employed after that, but given the state of home sales, it's been hard for anybody trying to make a living in real estate. She needs to be honest about the real cause of her troubles and quit blaming others.

I wonder if the wall behind her in the video is padded!!!

wechick, though that photo is more recent than the usual one the Gazette prints, it is still very old.

None of my comments re: her photos have anything to do with how she looks; my point is: she could provide the Gazette with a current photo but she won't. This goes to her veracity.

Thank you, at least, for the updated photo. That's something.

this lady must be Obama's half sister or something. I saw a Briarmoon for City Council sign in a yard on the way home on milton ave. I almost stopped right in the middle of the street to pull it out and throw it in the back of my truck. If you people vote for this tool you'll regret it as much as the people who voted for Obama

I know a lot of good people who have gone through financial hardships these past three years. I can't say I care for Briarmoon, but I can't agree with putting her foreclosures on the front page as quality headlining news.

To clear up some of the rumors repeated in this blog: Bill Truman has not filed for bankruptcy, and he is not in foreclosure. He is selling his house, and he has an accepted offer. Marcia Nelesen, reporter

You people who have complaints about others should contact the Gazette directly. I doubt if the Gazette has a regular practice of taking requests from posters.

Haha Briarmoon is a joke! If she gets elected there is no hope left for Janesville.

Interesting. I copied and pasted part of Webmaster's post, then read the rest of the blog to see that others have apparently responded to Webmaster's posts but all of Webmaster's posts have disappeared.....cybergremlins?

"Why no story about VP Council member Kathleen Voskull who is running, and is promoting the Ice Rink for her Pfizer Drug Lobbyist."
.
Thanks for the info Webmaster. Gosh, do we really need her as President of City Council next year? This ice rink issue is almost as bad as the healthcare issue and Nancy Pelosi...mandates with no funds and no return on investment for the taxpayer. As the potential President of the City Council.....well,there's a good chance it could be pushed through. We know that she is in favor of this expenditure and so far, there is no benefit for the taxpayer who has no job or who has had hours cut, and is facing tax increases but must fund this folly.

To those posters who defend her: You either don't know anything about her or you're as goofy as she is. Believe this: even with all the negative comments about her here, she's still happy with being in the paper.

Also: to anyone who wants the comments here disabled: She outright libels people -says things about them that are outright lies. And everything negative said about her here is true.

Sounds like a perfect city council candidate to me on the surface...but unless she has some DUIs and other sordid transgressions in her past, she may not yet be "experienced" enough to hold public office.

Quite convenient, Marcia, to write this just a few weeks before the election. I've read your "stuff" before (I can't call it journalism) and even when we are at the same event, your "reporting" just never hits the mark, whether it is ommission of pertinent facts OR half quotes designed for impact. I will take this article with a grain of salt, a good chuckle, and look forward to your "blockbuster" articles on the other candidates who are running. When you do serious reporting, then I will take you seriously. As for the election....well.....it is my theory that when articles like this, which clearly try to discredit one candidate appear in the local news, it could be because someone or some entity fears this candidate politically. It happens so often on local and national levels of politics. This article actually makes me more convinced that a candidate feared might just be the ticket Janesville needs to upset the status quo of Janesville politics. Who cares about her personal financials? Not me. Just look to Congress and you only have to say, Geithner, Wrangle, Cornyn, Dodd, and the list goes on and on. A bankruptcy in this economic environment is nothing spectacular and is not worth mentioning unless you mention the financials of all the rest of the candidates and the current sitting City Council. She has not been accused or indicted for corruption or anything illegal; she legally went through the court system and legally fought for her rights as a citizen of Janesville. Bankruptcy is legal.

First of all, I don't think the gazette reporters are the ones to decide what goes on the front page so don't blame the messenger. Marcia is a wonderful journalist. Second of all, I lived in the 4th Ward for 13 years and was familar with Briarmoon thru neighborhood activities and city committees. She has always been one that wanted the rules and laws bent to accomodate her agenda. Well sorry folks but laws are laws and everyone including Briarmoon has to abide by them. Her untruths she speaks are misleading and people really need to investigate her facts before believing them. I agree that Council members should be able to handle their own financial affairs responsibly before being entrusted with our tax dollars. But remember that circumstances are a factor (divorce, unemployment, health issues, etc.) so don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. Who cares if Kathy has a speeding ticket! But to be financially irresponsible to the point where you continue a fight when you know you will lose several properties to foreclosure is down right stupid. I will move from Janesville before I will vote Briarmoon into office.

This is a lowball article. honestly, anyone that goes out to vote will probably already be aware of this.
This article certainly doesn't expect much of Janesville citizens. It's actually a little demeaning, like a Judge Judy show is to it's plaintiffs.

What is new. Told you it is all about KAB or AKB. She wants the city to buy her foreclosure and buy it back for 50 cents on the dollar. Actually the other news report was investor buys at 50 cents on the dollar so owner can buy it at 20 cents on the dollar.

I see they found the new picture.

You wouldthink the rent should cover the mortgage!!!

"Briarmoon blamed her money woes on a fight she waged against a city condemnation order of a carriage barn on rental property she owned at 1402 W. Court St."

WHAT does this have to do with not paying your bills!!??

You wouldn't have to "fight the city" if you took care of the barn as told to do in the first place!!!!
She was told to fix it and wouldn't. THEN they said we are tearing it down. THEN she fixed it w/o proper permits. So w/o proper permit I assume it was done wrong and still tore down.

Don't EVEN blame the city for all your problems.

I am not sure where she gets the idea that not obeying codes and rules set by the city makes things unconstitutional.

happycamper- EXACTLY!!!! constitution my butt.It is all about her and acting like "the city" is against her.

leostime- I did email gazette the link to "glamour shot" haha

yada- these comments are only truths!
"the Gazette allows comments to be made that defame her character"
She has done quite well on her own!

Since the Gazette DID print an article about the fact that Mr. Rashkin filed for bankruptcy, (http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2009/jun...), I would find it more irresponsible/biased if the Gazette did not inform us of Ms. Briarmoon's filing. As far as Ms. Voskuil goes, a judgement for $1000.00, while relevant, is hardly in the same league as 1 property foreclosed on, 3 properties in foreclosure, and a filing of bankruptcy. Since Mr. Rashkin, Ms. Voskuil and Ms. Briarmoon's financial troubles can be found on CCAP and there is nothing for Mr. Truman, I won't address that until I have a reference for it.

Bad journalism, NV? No. She obviously was contacted and had a chance to give her version of the facts. Questionable timing? Debatable. Both Ms. Briarmoon and Mr. Raskin filed in Apr 2009. The Gazette informed us of Mr. Rashkin's filing in Jun 2009. Ms. Briarmoon's filing is coming to light now. Since Mr. Rashkin WAS a Council member when the story came out and Ms. Briarmoon was a private citizen I can understand why they did not write an article on Ms. Briarmoon.

The City Council is entrusted by us to make financial decisions for us for the greater good of the City of Janesville. If the candidates cannot be fiscally responsible in their personal lifes why should we entrust them with our City Budget?

Speeding tickets? Sorry, KAB has them also, so that is a wash. I overlook the small stuff because, in my opinion, if you don't make a mistake now and then you aren't trying.

My concern is simple. Ms. Briarmoon makes stuff up to support her position displaying a lack of integrity. She is financially irresponsible.

How is she going to act if we elect her to City Council? Will she lie to try to get her way? Will she help manage the City budget better than she has her own budget? Will she turn council proceedings into as big a circus as she has many of the events in her personal life? These are the questions I will ask myself before I vote for someone else besides her on April 6th

Show me the financial records of every other city council candidate. Every one. Then you can call this "journalism." Also when you learn that the council does not set the budget. In which case your entire premise is moot. But since you brought it up, let's see the rest of 'em. Go all the way back.

yada- I agree. Gazette, you are being irresponsible.

Lowball journalism, Gazette. I have no idea who this person is, but I expect more out of Marcia than this kind of personal trashing. Back to Journalism 101 I guess.

Fun is fun, but I believe that the Janesville Gazette by allowing so MANY negative comments about one person to be responsible for defamation of character. I enjoy a joke and kidding, but I think comments for this story should have been "disabled" from the beginning. The Gazette knows the type of comments that readers will make about a story like this. Time after time, the Gazette allows comments to be made that defame her character. The Gazette should step up to the plate and disable the comments that continue to ridicule this individual. Many of these comments continue to damage her reputation and it reminds me of a person that was a bully at school.

I bet she voted for Obama and wants that "free
healthcare."

What a waste of time and taxpayers money! No wonder she is in foreclosures with an "s".
I agree it's not worthy of a front page story but this lady needs to be ignored. Probably unbalanced.

Briarmoon is one of the those people that has to have attention, whether it is positive or negative doesn't seem to matter to her. If she would spend one half the energy she puts into glorifying herself into supporting herself, she probably wouldn't be in this financial mess.

I think the gazette better pick on the other candidates as well. T

Sounds like Briarmoon wants to be on the council to be able to buy her houses back at the taxpayers expense. That is why I would not vote for her she seriously thinks we should pay for her properties and then sell them back to her at little cost or interest. Well maybe I can let mine go also and instead of refinancing have the city buy it and sell back to me for less interest since I could not handle my finances in the first place. Wow she is out there really out there.

At least her boyfriend supports her -- judging by yard sign placement.

She is a strange one, she even uses a made up name. She was born Carol Prohaska or something similar. I would skip voting before I would vote for her OR Truman.

That photo is very old too.

leftofcenter, I know where you got that 500k figure, from B'moon right? Don't believe it, it's bull. It's as accurate as her 240k figure. She counts lost earnings in that figure. Ha!!!

leftofcenter and makeitbetter, the paranoids are out to get us!!! ;~(

Happycamper, if you pay attention the 240k was not about the carriage barn, it was about what she felt was an invasion of her rights as a property owner. The City spent around 500k to fight to tear it down, for a barn worth less than 20k on the tax roll, so this was more a battle of wills and who could be more stubborn. Shame on the former administration for allowing it to escalate to that level.

Anyone that says she can't be on the Council because of foreclosure, needs to kick off Bill Truman! Council President lost his house to foreclosure, so you are saying he CAN handle our money?

For all those who requested an updated
photo...you got it. Is that a glamour shot??

Webmaster sounds like Pete-Hank-Nancy to me.
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I wonder who MakeItBetter could be?

You would think that if someone ran for city council five years in a row and lost, they would get the hint.

dalegribble: what's your problem with the Beloit city council? I think they have done a decent job at attracting businesses to the gateway site, especially in this economy. What specifically is your complaint with them? They must not be doing too terrible a job considering the incumbants are running unopposed.

what about Kathleen, if she is the same on CCAP she likes to speed and she also likes to get sued for money she owes, and we trust her!!

If he is the sameone that is on CCAP. The address is different than the city website?

If this is the way you want to play then what about Yuri we let him be part of the council and he is in forclosure and he also didnt know how to handle a relationship because he is going through,or was going through,or is divorced. Everyone go and CCAP all the council members and google them find all their mistakes and will put it all out there.

Why would we elect someone who thinks a shack is worth fighting for and spending $240,000.00? This type of fiscal irresponsibility needs to be called to the carpet. Thanks Marcia Nilesen.

There's a really bad stench in Janesville, but it's not coming from the landfill. Why would this compilation of negative information be front page news?

That bad smell is from a veiled, un-named group of city officials, employees, and other "movers and shakers" who influence what really happens in Janesville at all levels from behind the scenes. It really stinks, and I know I'm not the only one who smells it.

On Tuesday, Channel 3000 in Madison (WISC-TV) posted a hugely important article about the Rock County jail in Janesville that the Gazette still hasn't printed. Instead, we get this personal assault on the front page that didn't really need to be reported at all! Not too close to the election, just close enough. Shame on you, Marcia Neleson.

I think the motivation for this article was the realization that Andrea has a serious following dedicated to getting her elected. I intend to vote for her, and I hope everyone else who smells the stench will too.

Webmaster might be one of her voices.

There's no way the shack fiasco cost her 240k. Even during one of the biggest real estate booms in history she only sold a few properties. She's non productive.

Wow webmaster, if you aren't SSNancy or Hank you must be using their keyboard cuz your post is a cut and paste of the same stuff they were posting.

Since she has been on the Council, Voskuil has never answered a letter or email I have sent, not even to say "thanks". For this, she will not get my vote.

Her own stubbornness and lack of legal common sense cost her almost a 1/4 million bucks (By her estimate), not her defense of the constitution. But What did she cost the taxpayers of Janesville with her shenanigans?

Her carriage barn troubles were only a convenient excuse to blame her troubles on somebody else which is what she has done all her life. She can't accept responsibility for her actions. How is she to manage others, when she can't manage herself.

gmaof3, find out everything B'moon has to say about the shack fiasco, then think the exact opposite

jvlreader and paperboy, good posts, some of the others too.

"B (the hat) 'moon" has a problem with the truth.

And there was a story about Yuri.

I think you're exaggerating your loss of income dear. Show us your tax returns for the years you were'nt fighting for our constitutional rights. Let's put the cards on the table once and for all.I've listened to your broadcasts and you definately are sick. Get some help.

Actually, I believe there was a story about Yuri?

markr, good point.

Zoom, actually that sounds like a good idea. Wouldn't the city be generating revenue then?

Briarmoon chose to fight the city. She chose to borrow against her properties. She chose to act as her own attorney (and lost). She chose to stay and pay the price. I think she should choose to get over the fact that everything is not about her, find a real job, and stop speaking for her neighbors. I don’t want her to speak for me. We all need to vote against Briarmoon!

Nice hat.

I second the comment by "thetruth" about Yuri Rashkin. I am not a fan of Briarmoon but media balance in an election cycle should motivate the Gazette to print a story about him. He also has a history of messy personal affairs, foreclosure, and bankruptcy. Many of his council positions could be taken as self promoting.

"Briarmoon has been compaigning on a platform urging the city to buy properties at sheriff’s sales and sell them back to the former property owners on land contracts at much lower interest rates."

That pretty much describes her motives for running for city council. How convenient.

When she talks about the city practices being unethical, let's not forget that she went on her local television show and told blatant lies about then-councilmen, and admitted to doing so. How can she possibly call anyone else unethical?

They didn't tear down the carriage barn because it was unattractive. They tore it down because it was LEANING TO ONE SIDE and then repaired without a permit or inspection.

Marcia - I assume a similar article is forthcoming on Yuri Rashkin? Afterall, the Company he owned and managed went bankrupt and he is now renting and thus not paying property taxes. How does he beleive he can make financial decisions on a much larger scale for the city when he cannot even keep his own financial affairs in order?

Is this someone the city of Janesville would hire to manage City property? Given her history?

Hardships happen and I am all for redemption. The idea that someone with these issues making financial decisions for the city strikes me as illogical.

The voters will decide.

How is she above the law if she has foreclosures against her properties? Yes, she has been a thorn in the city's side and I'm sure a lot of that stems from the fact she has not handled business with the city well.

She obviously does not have the cash flow needed to keep her properties out of hock but does that exclude her from being a good council member? Might that make her a better member because she has seen the issues the common folk go through?

The City Council President, Bill Truman, lost his house to foreclosure recently also. He no longer lives in the 4th ward.

I never could quite figure out "why" they tore down the carriage barn, in the first place. I thought it was kinda cute! I'm sure there must have been some "inane" reason, but I thought it was more a case of the "way" Briarmoon handled the whole mess. I can't remember all the details.

But if she has ended up in foreclosures on her properties, I certainly do not think she has any business on the city council. It sounds to me, that she feels she is above the law, and we sure don't need any MORE of that on the council!