According to a Gazette report, the Janesville school superintendent proposed a new job position within the administration and before anyone could say the word “uncle,” a school board member explained she would apply for the job and quit the board if hired. I can't blame her.
Under past school boards this probably would have gone unchallenged but at least one board member, former Wisconsin state legislator Tim Cullen expressed his disappointment for the seeming parochial trap the superintendent laid for the board members. At the same time, the superintendent should be given some benefit of the doubt that he was unaware a board member would step forward for the job.
Recently, in a similar but unrelated incident at Janesville City Hall, an incumbent dropped out of the council race only to return to paid city administrative duties six months later under obviously suspicious circumstances. This is followed by yet another report that a recently retired city official will return in a permanent? part-time capacity as a paid consultant. Both of these hires coming under city manager Steve Sheiffer, who will be retiring in a few months.
The only real way to stop this from re-occurring in the future is for the Janesville School District and City Council to enact a 1-year moratorium rule on hiring officials for jobs where their former position, influence or relationship to others has given them an inside track of information to acquire the new position, qualifications notwithstanding.
Janesville City Council Taking New Direction
On another issue, the Janesville City Council approved a bartender’s license for an applicant despite an alcohol advisory committee ruling against it. The applicant had past convictions, including felony charges of drug possession, with intent to deliver. However, the applicant has served her time and proved she has turned her life around and needs this second chance to be a productive member of society. This is very different from the anti-resident zero-tolerant city councils of the recent past. They would have denied this applicant in a heartbeat. But not this time.
Council members Amy Loasching and Tom McDonald deserve high commendations for their compassionate remarks and reasons for the decision in granting the license. I also give a big thumbs up to Tim Cullen for not letting the situation at the school board go unchallenged.
Maybe…just maybe, this is the dawn of a new day in Janesville.
6 comments:
I agree completely with your 1 year moratorium on hiring School Board or Council members for public jobs. Whatever their intent, they have an inside track on information. This may be one of those "looks like a duck" "sounds like a duck" "must be a duck" situations. If it looks funny just say no. This supports my feeling that the Rashkins exist for the Rashkins and the same for the Wellnitz clan. There were warnings prior to the spring election about Yuri Rashkin and partisan ties but those were ignored by the Gazette and others.
This has nothing to do with political partisanship. In fact, I would say that this proves that cronyism, favoritism and patronage jobs, all the potentially corrupt things people believe that only happens with party politics, exist just as strongly in its absence. This is about insiders gaining a clear advantage over other job seekers, it's time to ask some of these candidates why they ran in the firt place. This a natural human condition, and it's up to good government to respond to it so it happens less often.
If the Gazette is any standard to judge by, Janesville will sweep this under a rug.
I just heard that Amy Rashkin resigned. That is unfortunate.
I didn't phrase my partisan comment very well and what you say is correct. The Rashkin's are behaving in a very human manner. They were user's of the Democratic Party for personal advancement. I do not believe they adhere to any philosophy other than themselves. That is a trait of insider dealing.
Rich,
It is entirely possible that at least one of the Rashkins is reading your comments. If you would like to communicate with me directly, I welcome the contact. I am also always open to sitting down over a cup of coffee with you. Finally, you can reach me by email at rashkiny@ci.janesville.wi.us.
All the best,
Yuri Rashkin
Yuri - It is great that you are reading these musings. I have lived in Janesville for 65 years and these formats are the best I have ever seen for citizens to speak out and share opinions without fear of reprisals from groups they belong to (aka UAW, Democratic Party). My family has been harrassed in the past by elements of those organizations which should have been my friends but instead were agents of intolerance. The kind of stuff you read is representative of some opinions in the community - how much I don't know. You and your wife decided to come into the kitchen so I'm sure you can take the heat. We will keep in touch. Thanks for you email address. P.S. Tim Cullen represents the best in politics whether I always agree with him or not. I've known him since before he was ombudsman for Les Aspin. Tim takes the high road. On those rare occasions when he gets upset, we had all best listen.
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