Janesville Council Member Won't Seek Re-Election

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JG Excerpt:
Janesville -- City council president Amy Loasching will not seek re-election in April because of the traveling demands of a new job, and those who serve with her say the city is losing a council member who puts residents first.

I couldn't agree more but seriously, if putting residents first is such an unusual thing to pursue, who pray tell are the others serving first?

Right away I felt this would be an awkward post to write because it's difficult to praise someone for saving what I consider to be a monster, but here goes.

In my view, Loasching has done well to keep Janesville’s status quo in place. By this I mean she took an unorthodox form of city government on the decline and quickly identified several sore spots that needed some correction and healing to restore a minimum level of trust in an increasingly oppressive and disconnected administration populated by an expanding gang of academic “hires.” She prescribed opening up direct lines of communication with residents at council meetings with an unshakably engaging and inclusive style. That was the key. And if that was her intention, she did it in spades.

JG Excerpt:
She and fellow council member Tom McDonald led efforts to create a citizens committee to choose committee members rather than leaving that to the manager.

But I’m still not sold on the new structural changes with committee appointments. The project committees themselves seem to be more of a tool for the administration to help control and steer the stream of ideas, and there is still no citizen “appeals” committee. For an administration that continues to write code with enforcement outside of constitutional courts, I find this absence of citizen redress appalling. However, these shortcomings are by no means the fault of the out-going council member Loasching.

Ironically, those who have always cherished this backward form of representation have much to be grateful for in Amy Loasching. She along with Tom McDonald may very well have extended its life. They did what needed to be done to make it work.

As a self-described critic of Janesville’s form of government, I can only say she made Janesville city government slightly more palatable, considering the circumstances and the personalities involved. Whole neighborhoods in Janesville are still underrepresented and unengaged in the city administrative process. Nevertheless, this was a monumental accomplishment in my book. I’m proud to say to a person, Amy Loasching served as a unique and honorable representative of my interests. She is among the best and wish her great rewards in her new job.

Separate from Loasching's announcement not to run for city council, the Gazette somehow found an opening in the story to send a little message on their own behalf.

JG Excerpt:
And she always makes sure she is available to the media.

I don’t know if making oneself “available” to the public is something an elected public official owes to a private media institution, particularly when information is marginalized by the Gazette and their local affiliates. This statement out of quote seems obviously self-serving by sending a message of media cooperation to future council members and staff.