Sensing one of those swiftboating moments, Jan Deters, co-chair of the Rock County Republican Party and her husband, Tom, wrote a letter asking Rock County DA Dave O’Leary to investigate whether Barrington-Tillman had violated department rules or state law. They also pointed out in their letter that Barrington-Tillman is a member of Spoden's campaign committee. The Janesville Gazette eventually joined in on the smear and requested Barrington-Tillman’s timecard for that day which shows her signing out at
6:30 PM, though she went to the meeting at 5:30 PM.
JG excerpt:
The Janesville Gazette filed a request for Barrington’s timecard under Wisconsin’s Open Records Law….
Of course it turns out Barrington-Tillman did the right thing by appearing during the meeting at the request/permission of her boss and was representing the department on the clock and in uniform. This is key, because had she changed from her uniform into street clothes, her appearance with Spoden on the counties timeclock would have been suspicious. But that didn’t happen.
The Gazette eventually questions Sheriff Runaas about ordering the directive and Barrington-Tillman’s timecard, and after discovering that she was following orders and entitled to the flex time pay, the Gazette using all their wisdom and power not only ran the article, but gave this highly dubious report front page headlines. Through their own investigation and reporting they discovered that the accusations against Barrington-Tillman are without merit, and if somebody made a mistake on policy and procedures it was Sheriff Runaas, but that doesn’t matter to the editors of the Gazette. After all, Runaas is not running again for sheriff and is a lame duck.
The article also failed to let the reader know when the Gazette filed for the open records and how long they knew of this frivolous incident before they decided to splash it on the front page. Remember, the meeting in question happened in April. What’s even worse is that they mention Spodens challengers in the article thereby linking up what appears to be a neutral and independent news report is really a back-handed and ugly piece of propaganda.
Realizing the Republican hold on the coroners office is probably over, the Gazette then used the coroners candidates against each other in an effort to destroy the office. They don't want to lose another county office to a Democrat, so they are now focused on the sheriffs race and along with the Republican party are attempting to do a number on Spoden’s candidacy. What the Gazette wants, it usually gets. Rock county deserves much better than this kind of misinformation, we need a good newspaper.
7 comments:
Freedom of Thought - Freedom of Speech, that is what this whole "uniform" thing is about. When your commander appears at your union meeting in uniform and on duty, Freedom of Speech no longer exists. The department will hold everything you say against you. It always has. Ask deputy Behm about what is going on with him just because he put an opinion in the Letter to the Editor. This was his OPINION....now he has to stand tall with an attorney in front of Spoden and Runaas. Intimidation? Yes, that's what was going on at the Union Meeting. Many many employees were there to hear both sides and make a good decision. No one felt safe at this union meeting as the commander would remember who said what and never erase it from her memory. This is what goes on at the SheriffsDept every day. Sounds like paranoia, doesn't it? Paranoia has been breeding for many years there and has grown hugely since Chief Deputy Tellefson left. He was then replaced by Spoden. Sad state at that point. Freedom of Speech and thought? Help it return to the Sheriffs Dept. Elect Wasemiller.
I worked in the private sector and have participated in many "employee" and "team" meetings and as long as the "bosses" were there, everybody watched what they said. It's no different anywhere else. Politics, religion and even labor unions bring a different slant to the process of free speech. Under Wasemiller, it may change for two days maybe three, but it will be back to the same thing. This is bigger than one man.
Swiftboating him by endorsing him.
I admit that was the surprise endorsement out of the bunch. The Gazette sure spent plenty of time apologizing to Wasemiller in their editorial. I believe the Gazette chose Spoden to make a political statement and nothing else. "See Rock County voters, we are not as bad as that nut at Rock netroots makes us out to look. We are bi-partisan" What a joke!!
Exactly Louis. They know Bob will win and they don't want to alienate that dept. most of all. Besides they have another dept. they can tear apart now. That being the JPD. They've had what, 4 officers in a year go bad? Wasemiller was Smith's training officer. They couldn't have scripted a better story there. Mahan is going to be crucified by the Gazette. They chose to ignore the facts on Haverly and endorsed an enabler to a felony for 2 years because she's not really an Indy, she's a Republican as everyone knows. So that's not really a surprise either. And besides their token Dem. Sheridan whom they really don't want to mess with they went all Republican. Maybe they figure they know their endorsement is the 'Kiss of Death' anyway and are trying to play more games. Who knows.......it's the Gazette.
You took the words right out of my mouth. In fact, my next rant was going to be titled "Gazette endorsements - Kiss of Death" Really. Back to the drawing board.
And well they should rip the JPD that officers actions were un called for and he should have been let go.
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