In a heated race in Fontana, some residents decided to organize in an effort to defeat what appeared to be a greased status quo incumbency free wheeling deals with the well connected.
Lake Geneva Excerpt:They call this mudslinging??
“If mixing business and politics doesn't appeal to you, and you feel as though your voice doesn't matter because the board has its own agenda and priorities, then vote for us," a FontanaFirst advertisement that ran in last week's Regional News read.
As a reader spectator, I’m only concerned with who is in the drivers seat in Fontana because if the venture capitalists have their tools firmly embedded within the establishment, trying to stop public revenue and resource handouts is nearly impossible. The moment a representative for a private development defends or promotes their growth idea as a benefit to the community because of the “expanding tax base” is the moment the local citizens need to start an opposition group or a political activist committee.
But the odds to defeat give-aways are overwhelmingly difficult in this “economic growth at all costs” era where even appeals boards and state agencies have been trained to support long-held “averaging concepts” whereby all residents participate in capital improvements whether or not a particular capital item provides a direct benefit to a particular resident. That this give-away pumps up the monetary return for the wealthy private interests is inconsequential.
JG Gazette Excerpt:Whether it is the Lake Geneva Regional News or the Janesville Gazette, instead of beating up the citizen’s rights and efforts to organize, they should commend the citizens of Fontana for their active participation and strong positions. However ferocious these debates may appear, that they have gone to this extent is a huge, huge positive statement for the people of Fontana. They are headed in the right direction, not because of the division, but because they insist on controlling their own destiny. This is what America is all about.
Fontana Race takes partisan tone
It may have been a divisive, nasty small-town political campaign, but the village board race in Fontana grabbed voters' attention.
It wasn't a polite campaign.
Lake Geneva Excerpt:Work together, but I would suggest to FontanaFirst NOT forget your differences, unless of course you no longer have differences. It takes two to tango and if you won’t tolerate standing up for what you believe is right and fight for your principles then yes, you may as well surrender.
To get things done, both sides should forget their differences and work together. One of the chief complaints the American public has with politics is that its too divisive. Usually, this complaint is directed toward the Congress. If most constituents are unwilling to tolerate divisive politics at a national level, they certainly aren't willing to tolerate it in their own backyard.
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