Are financial woes relevant in local politics?
Podcast Episode
Should elected officials who balance government budgets be held accountable for their personal finances? Janesville City Council member Yuri Rashkin answered questions on Your Talk Show on WCLO about his the issues he's dealing with in his personal life. Kyle Geissler reports.
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Yuri Rashkin
JANESVILLE — A city council member’s house is in foreclosure and is being sold at a sheriff’s auction.
Does that mean he can’t manage the city budget?
Or does it mean he has a better understanding of what others are experiencing in this beleaguered economy?
It’s a question voters might consider more often as hard times linger in Janesville. At least two council members and one candidate in the past few years have gone bankrupt, had homes in foreclosure or been close to it.
It’s also a question Gazette editors ponder.
How much publicity is warranted when a local official falls on hard times?
Some people contacted for this article believe personal financial matters have no relation to an individual’s elected job. Others said voters have the right to know so they can consider that information—if they wish—when they cast their votes.
Hard times
Interestingly, the poster child for the issue, Yuri Rashkin, is the most insistent about publishing his financial woes.
Rashkin’s home on Forest Park Boulevard is up for auction Sept. 7. The Gazette reported his bankruptcy two years ago.
“I love the fact of putting this into a wider perspective,” Rashkin said. “I think how we deal with difficult issues like this is really important.”
Since his problems, Rashkin said he has learned to avoid overextending himself by not taking for granted that things will remain the same. That’s an important lesson for city officials to keep in mind, he said.
Rashkin also said his experiences make him empathetic to those going through the same thing.
Residents sometimes say, “Those people on the council can’t relate to regular people,” Rashkin said. “I disagree with that.”
Rashkin appreciated the opportunity to tell his story. He said unforeseen circumstances played a large part and included the collapse of the mortgage industry—he shuttered his own mortgage business—and a divorce.
Rashkin has since returned to school. After renting, he and his fiancé bought a home. He supports himself as a musician and translator, he said.
His bankruptcy became public during his first term, Rashkin noted, and he has since been re-elected.
“People should have the opportunity to evaluate candidates,” he said.
“That’s what democracy is all about. I’m just a strong believer in transparency, especially in government.”
Too much information
Kay Deupree, a member of the local League of Women Voters, and Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said a candidate’s personal finances are nobody’s business.
A foreclosure doesn’t have a bearing on a candidate’s ability to serve, Berry said.
He laments the quality of candidates willing to run and, subsequently, the quality of government.
People don’t seek office because they are subject to scrutiny in areas that have no bearing on their public roles, Berry said.
People can’t control their employment, especially in Janesville, he said. They can’t control the housing market.
Losing a job and encountering problems because of unforeseen circumstances don’t violate the public trust, Berry said.
“I don’t think people should care what’s going on (in candidates’) personal lives,” Berry said. “I think that thoughtful people and responsible media have to, to some degree, police themselves.”
Issues that are fair game show how a candidate “interfaces” with government, Berry said. That includes his or her tax returns.
Deupree discussed the issue as a voter and not a member of the League of Women Voters because that group has no stated position on the topic.
People take on mortgages assuming their current circumstances will continue, she said. Foreclosures mean they didn’t accurately predict their financial futures.
“I don’t hold anyone responsible for not being able to see that,” Deupree said.
She pays attention to some personal information, such as whether a candidate has criminal convictions or who contributes to his or her campaign.
Piece of the puzzle
Dan Thompson, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and a political science professor at UW-Madison, said voters choose information about candidates that is important to them to cast their votes.
Thompson, for instance, considers how well a municipality is run, a candidate’s voting record or whether he or she has been convicted of a crime. He doesn’t think a person’s finances are relevant.
Voters, however, should be the ones to make those decisions, he said. Some might believe a bankruptcy or foreclosure reflects a person’s ability to manage money.
“I think someone who chooses to run for public office needs to expect their lives will be scrutinized by the public in ways that an average citizen’s life would not be scrutinized,” Thompson said.
Bankruptcies and foreclosures are public record.
If a person listed in a bankruptcy or foreclosure notice is a public official, Thompson believes a newspaper’s readers would expect more details of the circumstances.
Thompson senses that most voters understand that elected officials are human beings and subjected to the same kinds of pressure and personal disappointment as anybody else.
Kathy Cramer Walsh is a professor of political science who studies public opinion.
“People very much pay attention to character traits,” she said.
“Sometimes, they don’t know a whole lot about the details of policy or how a person has voted in the past. They do use ideas about competition and integrity and reliability to make judgments.”
Actions speak louder than words, and facts about people’s lives understandably guide voters, she said.
A candidate might worry that financial problems might cause people to think he or she can’t handle money and shouldn’t be in charge of a budget.
“At the same time, there a lot of people in the Janesville area who have gone through foreclosure for whom it’s not an issue,” she said.
People have endured layoffs or are unemployed, and that’s not a character flaw, Cramer Walsh said.
“Times are really tough, and unfortunately, they don’t seem to be getting a whole lot better.
“It’s nice to know people making our political decisions go through the same struggles we do.”
Gazette reports issues Janesville candidates, officials
Like all media, the Gazette must weigh arguments on both sides before deciding whether to publish information about local candidates’ or officials’ financial problems, Editor Scott Angus said.
Among considerations are whether it’s fair to the candidates or officials, whether voters would find the information relevant, whether an argument can be made that the problems reflect character traits that matter in public officials, and whether the newspaper can be consistent in its coverage.
After much debate, Angus said, the Gazette has settled on a policy of reporting bankruptcies, foreclosures or other publicly recorded financial issues involving city council and school board members in Janesville.
“We can see the arguments on both sides, but we’re generally inclined to publish public information rather than withhold it,” Angus said. “The information is out there, and we can provide background and explanation.”
Gazette editors believe residents and voters are wise enough to put the information into perspective and make sound decisions about whether it matters in a person’s role on the school board or council, he said.
The Gazette covers Janesville more aggressively and devotes more resources to it than other communities, so editors believe they can be fair and consistent in their coverage there, Angus said.
“In other communities in our readership area, we won’t have a policy of reporting on such problems unless they become significant issues in campaigns,” Angus said. “We’d like to apply the same standards everywhere, but it’s simply a consistency and resource issue.
“We do the best we can with what we have available. We have the most customers in Janesville by far, so that’s where we focus much of our attention.”
Sep 8, 2011 at 8:58 a.m.
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I would not know how he does his homework for his private life, I am not part of his family so that does not affect me, he has a public job so I am concerned with his public life and that homework is always done.
Sep 8, 2011 at 6:24 a.m.
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jvlhousewife.
Does he do his "homework" and preparation for a council meeting the same as he did his "homework" and preperation for his personal finances and his personal life?
What a joke.
Sep 8, 2011 at 6:20 a.m.
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Yada. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda
Sep 6, 2011 at 9:12 p.m.
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youkillme wow are you all over the board. I do believe I said I have "whole life insurance" not "term life insurance" which is basically insurance on your death vs. whole life insurance which an investment that adds value etc. Basically by paying $150/month from when I started at 22 until I die at say 80, I will have over $600,000 to pass on to those I leave behind. So in my lifetime I will have paid just over $100,000 and received over $600,000. I don't see how I have over-extended myself except in intellect. Do you want to know why your insurance premiums are inflated? Look at how much insurance companies advertise and send junk mail. The same goes for financial institutions. Right now as I’m typing this there is an ad for State Farm just below where I am typing. If you’re tired of this do what I do and send an email to every company that sends you junk mail. Besides telling them to remove your name from your mailing list, let them know how their practices are wasting money and if you believe in the “green movement”, you can also add how they are damaging the environment. On my desk in a piece of junk mail to a man who used to live at this house over 5 years ago until he was foreclosed on, now Chase Ink wants to offer him a business owner credit cards. There is more than I can ever tell you about the real world youkillme. If you want to know more feel free to message me.
Sep 6, 2011 at 1:25 p.m.
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"youkillme
Sep 5, 2011 at 11:38 a.m.
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AndrewJackson, Lemk10, etc. If you own any insurance, credit cards or a mortgage"
I totally disagree on this mortgage one. So you save for 30 years while you rent???? That is dumb. You still need to pay for a place to live. It may as well be your own mortgage vs somebodys elses!!!
Sep 6, 2011 at 10:43 a.m.
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Everybody has their own opinions on what makes a good Janesville City Council member and as for my husband and myself we see Yuri Rashkin as a very well informed council member that seems prepared when he walks into the council chambers, and if Yuri doesn't know something he isn't afraid to ask questions until things are clear. Yuri stands up for what he believes is right for Janesville, he isn't always the most popular council member, (what council member is :o) but that is because he has done his research and is standing firm on what he believes is the right vote for the city that he loves so much, the city he chooses to call home just like the rest of us.
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:45 p.m.
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The lenders fault??? He was the lender. He has taken many of his clients down the same road with the mortgages he wrote. He is to blame for giving no documentation, no down payment loans to people who knew they could not pay them. He got caught up in his own mortgage fraud. This opportunist should not be on the city council.
Sep 5, 2011 at 3:40 p.m.
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AndrewJackson, If someone who went through job loss and foreclosure like say Mister Rashkin apparently did, and at the same time regularly preached an ideological wrath about "personal responsibility, choice, freedom," yet scolded and punished his constituents for their fiscal dilemma, I'd have a problem with that and call him a hypocrite. But I don't see that in Rashkin. If you're not holding any insurance of any kind, credit cards, loans or mortgage on you, your family or any of your possessions, more power to you that you have that kind of wealth to underwrite yourself. Very few people in the country can do that without looking foolish or financially irresponsible.
Sep 5, 2011 at 3:02 p.m.
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youkillme, in response to your last sentence, I did and I am. jvlhousewife, then why would you side with someone who can't handle their finances? Sounds to me there should be ALOT more people that have the intelligence that your hubby has.
Sep 5, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
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Andrew Jackson - Your guess would be wrong, we don't go for all the toys that most people go for, we still have a tube T.V. that fits into our entertainment center, my husband should get a new car but he won't because his is paid off and he likes that feeling and doesn't want more payments, mine will be paid off this winter. Not a lot of extras for our family but my accountant husband prefers the bills to be paid before vacations are taken or "toys" are bought, (to ours kids dislike).
BUT, I don't feel that the way we handle our finances or the way any City Council member handles theirs is anybodys business. What should matter is if you agree on how they vote, on how they handle themselves at the meetings, personal things should stay personal.
Sep 5, 2011 at 11:38 a.m.
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AndrewJackson, Lemk10, etc. If you own any insurance, credit cards or a mortgage, you have over-extended yourself. Why would someone as responsible as yourself have insurance? Can't you afford to take on any liability and damages that might occur on your own? Why socialize your losses on my back? So my premiums go up? If you borrowed to buy a car or house, you've clearly bought more than you can afford if you needed somebody else's money to buy what you wanted. If you lose your job and are not rehired and can't make your bills - you become a burden on society and eventually my good will. If you bought your own mortgage and unemployment insurance you've once again are socializing any potential losses on the rest of the participants. That's a risk I'm not willing to take for you. So get rid of all your insurance, credit cards, loans and mortgages and start being responsible for yourself.
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.
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You are attacking the messenger. Everything I said is true. Must be another person that can't add or subtract and took on more debt that one should have. You sure can spell nice though. That should make you entitled.
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:10 a.m.
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AndrewJackson - for someone high on his/her horse with your response, you should at least be grammatically correct. It is not "P.S.S" it is "P.P.S." post-post-scriptum.
Sep 4, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.
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916WI -- which means that it's not Rashkin's new house, doesn't it? It's the fiancee's new house. He has no ownership interest unless they get married, right?
Sep 4, 2011 at 10:46 a.m.
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I would like to answer for Lemke10. No secret at all. Simple addition and subtraction. You are supposed to learn it in 3rd grade. My guess is that you, like a lot of other people, feel that you "deserve" the toys when you want them. i.e. new cars, big TV's, furniture, motorcycles, etc.
P.S. If you bought a house in Janesville you overextended and overpaid.
P.S.S. If a person is not able to add and subtract they shoud not be allowed to decide or comment on the finances of a city.
Sep 4, 2011 at 9:48 a.m.
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Lemke10 - At 24 with only a high school diploma and paid your house in full and are not making house payments that's great, you should tell us your financial secret. I have a diploma in Early Childhood Education from BTC, my husband has a degree from Whitewater and we are still making payments on our house, we have never missed a payment or even been late but we also know that things could change employment wise and if that were to happen it would be very hard to make the payments, if they could be made. So at 24 to know you are so financially set must be very comforting.
Sep 4, 2011 at 8:27 a.m.
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so. the argument coming from the crabby group on here is that Rashkin makes bad financial decisions. Correct? The way I see it, he made good financial decisions. First, he owned his own mortgage company. At a time when things were going well for mortgages. Good decision? YES. Then, of course, the biggest fall out in recent history for our entire county took place.. which resulted in countless businesses going under - ummmmmm.. including (surprise) mortgage companies. So, now he takes a serious reduction in income - or no income at all. What are many of the rest of the people in that situation doing? Ah yes. going back to school. Rashkin goes back to school. Good financial decision? YES. So, now he has a house that he will never be able to sell, that he shared with his now ex-wife. Sure he could try to work at Taco Bell and Kmart part time to try to keep the house, but why? And chances are, at that time, NO ONE was hiring. Think back to two years ago, people... Why keep it? Why jeopardize the chance to go back to school and do something useful during one of the largest crisis our country/ world has seen with trying to hang on to the house that can not be sold? The best financial choice is to let it go back to the bank.
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:46 p.m.
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"Its not the property owners fault. It all starts with the lender"
This was the most laughable comment of the day. Do people that think like this take responsibility for anything in their lives--or is it always someone elses fault?? People agreed to pay these mortgages, the terms were clear and the mortgage holder didn't alter the terms at all. How does the fault lie with the lender in these situations? Do you seriously want to make them responsible for the irresponsibility, ignorance or stupidity of those who borrowed money from them?
doc0430--I would guess that Rashkin's new house is in the name of his fiance. Because they aren't married yet, his credit issues would be in no way tied to her......
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:35 p.m.
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At first i found it to be interesting in all the support that Rashkin received here, then I remembered that Liberals have no problems with infidelity issues, if you doubt me just see former Bill Clinton and being re-elected in 1996!
Maybe Mr. Rashkin has his sights set on bigger horizons here.
I to agree with befair in their comment, interesting and unusual to say the least, in that he has been able to secure financing for a new home in the current banks tightened lending terms we are now in, only two short years after filing for bankruptcy, how can that be??
Sep 3, 2011 at 4:44 p.m.
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I agree studs. Its not the property owners fault. It all starts with the lender.
Sep 3, 2011 at 4:19 p.m.
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It's in the interest of the powers-that-be that we condemn people for their private misdoings. It keeps us feeling sanctimonious and keeps us from looking at systemic corruption like the banks that are still profiting, even as they brought the US to its knees.
Sep 3, 2011 at 3:57 p.m.
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Wanker, for what it's worth, 66 S. Blackhawk was a rental leased by Rashkin's ex-wife(after separation), and 4406 Windfield Way is a home owned by Rashkin's girlfriend.
Sep 3, 2011 at 3:40 p.m.
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My only thought is if you cannot get it together with your own finances you don't have any business trying to get the tax payers finances together. Yes people fall on hard times and most figure it out some way or another w/o BK-forclosures etc no matter what it takes.
Sep 3, 2011 at 2:44 p.m.
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I am not sure what the big deal is. I bet almost a 1/3 of the janesville residents could and maybe should file backruptcy. What is your home worth in this town? I know I cannot sell my house now and make any profit. Our past town leaders choose to trust one giant company and that company dumped on them and us. I drove down a street that I lived on for years today and 1/2 the properties looked terrible. I pay my taxes in this town and get much less. In fact my taxes are up 20 percent. I do not work in Janesville. I work in Madison. I would move to Madison in a heartbeat but I am stuck in this town that did not seem to look outside the box. What to do if this giant company leaves. So do not get down on others for finiancial problems as you or I could very well be in the same position. In fact it might be a good idea and the only way to get out of this slowly sinking town.
Sep 3, 2011 at 2:33 p.m.
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I don't know of any liberal who really cares if you have "staunch" or any other kind of values in your private life, as long as you're not hurting anybody. The problem is when you decide that you want me to follow your values in mine, which is bad enough, and when you decide that public policy and law must conform to your narrow, self-anointed set of values.
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After all, I consider my own values "staunch" -- I will stand on them and defend them vigorously. I suspect that when you use a word like "staunch", though, what you mean is "values that I want EVERYONE ELSE TO HAVE AS WELL".
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As we see right in this thread, we have people setting up a bizarre, fringe version of morality and applying it to people's private and financial lives, as if nobody should ever face divorce or financial setback -- and if they should have anything like this happen to them at one point in their lives, they should then be permanently excluded from public and political life. That's a "gotcha!" form of morality that isn't what I learned in church, but then you all make out like it's a religious thing, which just shows to me you didn't actually listen.
Sep 3, 2011 at 1:45 p.m.
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Yada. I hear nothing but empty rhetoric from the liberals. I am wondering how tea partiers and conservatives are being labled loosely as red neck or racist, or anything else stupid. I am none of those things nor most of the conservatives I know. Raskin has a specific history and that (good or bad) needs to be the focus if he is in an elected position.
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I am proud of people creating the 'tea-party' and making waves of positive change with it so quickly. Has anyone noticed that the unions can have a isolationist attitude, but completely slam the tea party for doing so? Also, I see how democrats demand equality and anything goes, and Americans better 'respect' it even if it isn't normal, but...oh wait, you better not have staunch values, because that's bad!
Sep 3, 2011 at 1:20 p.m.
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Character is part and parcel of the deal when you enter public life. Mr Rashkin seems to understand that. I disagree with him on issues and will probably not vote for him again. As previously stated have a personal morality problem with his financial responsibility. That being said, I will not stoop to the level of Yada when he calls Walker a fascist. Yada demeans commentary and needs to do a history study of what that means. I would like to hear from Mr Rashkin on that one. He grew up in a totalitarian nation.
Sep 3, 2011 at 1:01 p.m.
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WANKER - That was good post and one of the best Seinfeld episodes. You know we might even get along in the real world if it were not for the facist governor Walker. Hope all the public workers continue to show up for work, bring honor to walker, and do their jobs because Walker did say that the National Guard is prepared and ready to respond. I am sure Walker would make sure that they had their weapons loaded and ready. Walker is a clown and I look forward to hearing more information about the Walker John Doe campaign probe. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a good article about that the other day.
Sep 3, 2011 at 11:57 a.m.
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WackoLADY Any UFO sightings lately? I still remember your early posts about alien abductions - tooo funny.
Sep 3, 2011 at 11:39 a.m.
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the rednecks of the community have spoken...lol
Sep 3, 2011 at 10:18 a.m.
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Surprise surprise.......More ignorance being spouted from yada:) I completely understand that you are upset with Walker and the Republicans shifting the state to coincide with a much more conservative agenda. I would appreciate it if you would stick to facts and not be so dramatic as to use false statements to conjure up analogies that will never happen. It really makes you look desperate and sad.......Walker never threatened to use the National Guard against protesters.
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/stat...
Sep 3, 2011 at 9:24 a.m.
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WIwoman - don't try to sound so poetic with your words because the bottom line is you are not for the working people, the seniors, the needy,and the list continues to grow as you post your tea "potty" rhetoric. A good day might have you going to youtube.com and looking at the MANY racist signs your tea party friends carry. You are part of the problem in America - one that feels you will save our country with your tea party logic. Go ahead and continue to support a governor & Re-FIB-lican group that now has hired high price lawyers as the Milwaukee John Doe probe continues. It amazes me how anyone could support a man willing to consider putting troublemakers in with peaceful rally members to cause a problem so he(Walker) could get public sympathy. A governor that is willing to call up the National Guard if faced with unrest - just what WI needs another Kent state shooting. Historically it reminds me of Mussolini & Pinochet were involved with in Chile. Jailing union members as the corporate state was being developed.
Sep 3, 2011 at 9:07 a.m.
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Aside from the fact that divorce doesn't just happen, particularly in Mr. Rashkin's case since there seemed to be an infidelity issue, government officials aren't immune to the problems this economy has wrought on us all. A bankruptcy, a foreclosure, either of these could happen to anyone who has lost a job or had their income reduced significantly. So, personal financial difficulties does not automatically disqualify Mr. Rashkin or anyone else for public office, in my opinion. The circumstances of his divorce are troubling though. If a man will cheat on his wife, will he cheat his constituents? Hopefully, someone in that position has learned how to avoid that as well. But even so, I cannot say that Mr. Rashkin's divorce or it's circumstanced disqualifies him either. After all, we're all human. As the old expression goes, "There but for the grace of God go I".
From a different perspective, we do all live and learn. It's better to have someone in office who has hopefully made mistakes and learned from them than to elect someone who has never stumbled in their personal life before. That's the value of electing older people to political office. Their scars prove their mettle.
Sep 3, 2011 at 9:06 a.m.
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Mr Rashkin's former home is to be sold at auction. It would seem he did not pay his mortgage or his taxes. Yet he and his fiancee are buying another home? I have a real moral problem with that. Others, meaning taxpayers, mortgage holders etc, are taking a hit for his financial problems. How has he earned credit for another purchase. Morally, if he has the money to purchase another home, he should first pay off his existing obligations. This situation seems to be indicitative of the financial mismanagement is society and the financial industry that got us into the problem. I am not comfortable with a "user" making decisions about my taxes.
Sep 3, 2011 at 9:06 a.m.
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Yuri Raskin has been an exemplary public official, open and honest in his dialog with the public. Too many powerful people in our town hide their agendas and meet with special interests behind closed doors to shape policy that benefits themselves or their cronies. Rock County 5.0 anyone? Yuri is a breath of fresh air in politics.
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:58 a.m.
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..it's a slippery SLOPE...
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:57 a.m.
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If character in our LEADERS doesn't matter, then we have NOTHING. It's a slippery slop, isn't it?
We have to hold our elected officials to a higher PERSONAL standard. Look at an individual's big picture--is this person really who we want to include in our leadership?
No one is perfect, but if there are too many questionable aspects and behaviors of an individual, then perhaps this is not someone who we want as a leader.
Character and INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY do matter.
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:48 a.m.
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This is why we have some of the problems we have in Janesville. I can't believe we elect people to financially run our city when they can't even run their households. You won't get one once of sympathy from me. Perhaps instead of spending all that time running for city counsel and arguing with other counsel members, maybe you should have worked a little harder to achieve financial success. It's really pathetic to see so many older adults who can't figure this out. I'm 24, own my own house, have a full time job, and have 3 different accounts that I contribute yearly for retirement (ex. Roth IRA, Employee Stock, and Whole Life Insurance.) Now for the shocker, I only have a high school diploma. I've been to college but never obtained a degree. If I can achieve this type of success, so can everyone else!
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:24 a.m.
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Happy and safe Labor Day holiday to all!
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:20 a.m.
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I do find the posts of Mr Rashkin on the various liberal blog sites very entertaining, though. Maybe it's time for another "Sanity" rally, the last one was such a hit.
Freedom for me, but not for thee...is that the freedom yada talks about?
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:08 a.m.
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Mr. Rashkin is able to manage the city budget and is very open about his financial problems. The economic times are difficult for all of us and being open and sharing with the public is positive. It must have been a slow journalism day to include this not very necessary story. I would support Yuri Rashkin because he is a supporter of the people and understands what the word FREEDOM really means. Next part 4 WACKOLADY - You really should look at the background of "THE SKY IS FALLING" Scott Walker. As a County Executive in Milwaukee Walker who has ALWAYS tried to get rid of public employee unions. Walker has ALWAYS used his theme of unions are bad and hurting his proposed budgets even back then. An arbitrator ruled back then that Walker was overstepping his authority as Co. Executive by threatening workers with less hours, less pay or he would have to use layoffs. Even back then big business would get more and the working people less from Walker. He fired all of the union guards at the Co. courthouse and hired Wackenhut guards - the famous ones from Kabul & embassy scandal. Eventually all the union guards were rehired and now the county had to pay TWO sets of guards because of Walker. I can't remember how much that mistake cost, but it was another big bucks mistake. You might want to ALSO look at how Walker handled the bidding process with Bears-stearns in Milwaukee. This is not anything against Bears-Stearns as a company - look at how Walker handled the bidding process or lack of. I could write page after page about the mistakes and problems created by Walker as Co. executive and now as governor. We are being governed by someone that has taken away more than $800 million dollars from education and did not complete his own. We have a man in control like a dictator that has now removed his political foe - the union. Removing the union - collective bargaining - even Walker had to admit saves no money. It's just a complete power move to suppress the opposition and regimenting all industry, commerce, etc. to his extremes of large big business / corporate america being more important than the working people. I think his policies of my way or the highway sound like a definition of facism. Keep in mind LADY that Walker has committed several violations that may come back to haunt him in the future: His anti-union law is a violation of(NLRA) National Labor Relations Act. Three parts to this are--> 1.Employer interference, restraint, or coercion directed against union or collective bargaining. 2. Employer domination of unions. 3. Employer discrimination against employees who take part in union or collective activities. 4. Employer refusal to bargain in good faith with union representatives. Walker believes that he is 100% right for all of the citizens of Wisconsin and believes that by forcing his laws without any compromise is the only way to save our state and the country.
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:52 a.m.
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Good morning, everyone. I appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to serve our community.
If you want to know my thoughts on the subject, please check out my blog.
http://yurirashkin.blogspot.com/2011/09/...
Thank you and have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:40 a.m.
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hello? HELLO. ...the rude, childish garbage that these article comments usually contain makes me wonder what the ratio of jerks to nice normal people in this town actually is. FACT: Having a bankruptcy or divorce on your record doesn't automatically mean that you made a "bad choice." There are unforeseen circumstances. FACT: Going through a bankruptcy or divorce certainly doesn't make you incapable, or prove that you always make bad decisions. There are unforeseen circumstances. Doesn't matter if you like Rashkin or not. Quit ripping on the HUGE, LARGE, EXPANSIVE population of your peers across the country that have gone through bankruptcies and divorces -- many of which happen through no fault of their own. I swear. Most of you people can NEVER - under ANY circumstance - say anything NICE. Or positive. Or thoughtful. Sad, really.
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:39 a.m.
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Hopefully, Rashkin will not be re elected to the (non partisan) city council, giving him more time to devote to his political blogging and protesting.
Sep 3, 2011 at 7:32 a.m.
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Is the present girlfriend the ex wife of the person who targeted Rashkin in an attempted contract-killing?
Sep 3, 2011 at 6:41 a.m.
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Of course it matters. It shows that he makes poor choices. If a person makes poor choices in his own life and cannot handle his own finances, I surely do not want him involved in the city's' and therefore my finances.
Sep 3, 2011 at 6:41 a.m.
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I agree with Diogenes, I dont think he should be on the city council. I think he makes bad decisions all around
Sep 3, 2011 at 5:04 a.m.
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To answer the question...it does matter. I think it is sad we are not held accountable for things whether they are misfortunate or expected. I have had to deal with an incredible over bearing weight from a slight mistake in my past, and it has cost me everything (except money). Now people don't have to pay their bills and say they tried, bull! Out you go. But the kissy-huggie types around here will support you anyway-despite your fiscal responsibility issues? The article is so-called 'open' because it has to be as it will come out anyway. I would like to know really why this happened to this person. Lack of responsibility or truly unexpected hardship.
Sep 3, 2011 at 12:52 a.m.
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[salient point is the big picture]
Kathy Cramer Walsh is a professor of political science who studies public opinion.
“People very much pay attention to character traits,” she said.
“Sometimes, they don’t know a whole lot about the details of policy or how a person has voted in the past. They do use ideas about competition and integrity and reliability to make judgments.”
Actions speak louder than words, and facts about people’s lives understandably guide voters, she said.
[Thank goodness]
Sep 2, 2011 at 10:36 p.m.
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The law pointed the finger not me. Not very wiselady.
Sep 2, 2011 at 8:45 p.m.
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While I disagree with a lot of what Mr. Rashkin believes in, to me, it boils down to the council being a position that is not a paid position. That factor means he runs/holds his council position because he wants to help/contribute to the city’s well being. Being under intense public scrutiny of your personal life isn’t that appealing and I’m guessing he’ll think about running for another term.
Sep 2, 2011 at 7:06 p.m.
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The most intriguing thing in this whole story is that Mr. Rashkin was able to purchase another house within two years of a bankruptcy and while another one was in foreclosure. (The foreclosure is not a new situation and has been published before; quite awhile ago in fact.) A cursory glance at the foreclosure amount versus the city's idea of the home's "fair market value" also provides food for thought.
Sep 2, 2011 at 6:50 p.m.
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I have no idea how anyone can misconstrue Dupree's statement as being one of support or approval for the criminal conduct or indictment of political candidates, but TCB should tries.
Sep 2, 2011 at 6:46 p.m.
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THIS IS NOT MEANT TO INFER IN ANY WAY MR RASKIN IS ANYTHING BUT AN EXCEPTIONAL, HIGHLY VALUED COUNCILMAN WHOM I WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR ANYTIME HE CHOOSES TO RUN FOR ANY OFFICE HE CHOOSES
My only problem with elected officials who have money difficulties is that it makes them vulnerable to special interests.
Again, I can't imagine Mr Rashkin using his office for personal gain, but if there were to be a national convention of all the politicians with that much personal integrity, a six pack would cover the bar tab.
Sep 2, 2011 at 6:29 p.m.
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happycamper
Maybe you shouldn't point fingers...
Democrats pull tax cheat bill
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/031...
41 Obama White House aides owe the IRS $831,000 in back taxes
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt...
Another Obama pick owes back taxes
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt...
Accused Union Embezzler Moves Towards Plea Deal
http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/2...
AFSCME’s Bad Apples…
http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/2...
Sep 2, 2011 at 6:07 p.m.
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Whether we all agree with his political stance or not, we should at least give him a little credit for being honest about his situation. (ha ha - credit - get it?)
Sep 2, 2011 at 6:02 p.m.
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I assume that Mr Rashkin did not take a 2nd or 3rd mortgage out on his property to finance his election to the City Council as California Democrat Laura Richardson did. Richardson purchased a home for 500K and then owed more than 900K as she used the refi proceeds to finance her failed congressional bid.
That being the case, while I might not personally agree with Mr Rashkins politics, I see no reason that he or anyone else who suffers from short term financial woes should be excluded from running for public office-assuming the law is followed.
I guess Kay Dupree believes that former Presidential candidate John Edwards is being mistreated and his 6 count indictment should be thrown out? Same for republican Rick Renzi-indicted for fraud should be thrown out as well? What about Democrat William Jefferson of New Orleans? Personal finances? The FBI found him taking bribes-it was only 100K....its his personal finances-was he mistreated?
The issue-is that a candidates personal finances as well as his/her character (DUIs, for example) issues are legitimate-yes they are.
Sep 2, 2011 at 5:12 p.m.
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Catalina V. Villalpando, the United States Treasurer in the Bush Administration, was sentenced today to four months in prison for evading taxes and obstructing justice.
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