Gang of 5 Gets Their Way

I attended West Bend’s City Council meeting this evening.  For a background on the issue at hand, read my column from two weeks ago. 

First off, I apologize but I am reporting this from memory.  I didn’t expect to make the meeting because of another commitment, so I failed to take a notepad or recorder.  If I err on any of the facts, I’ll correct them later. 

The issue of appointing the new mayor came up.  Alderman Nick Dobberstein (who I opposed) brought up the issue and asked if the previous vote to only appoint someone from the council could be rescinded.  Upon advice of the city attorney, Alderman Scott Frederick made a motion to rescind the previous vote.  It was seconded and the issue was debated.  At first, acting Mayor Kristine Deiss declined to let any of the people attending speak.  She insisted that the public had had enough opportunity to speak.  There were 30 or 40 people in attendance.  Finally, after some good prodding by Alderman Frederick, Deiss reluctantly relented and let the people speak.  Eight people spoke out against limiting the appointment to only people on the council.  One person spoke in favor of it.  One guy was all over the map.  I spoke in favor of the motion (in opposition to limiting the candidates to the current council members). 

In the end, the vote was 4 to 4 with Doberstein courageously voting in favor of it.  The motion failed.  The council decided to limit the candidates for a new mayor to one of their own. 

Next up came the nominations for a new mayor.  As predicted, King Riffel nominated Alderman Deiss to be the new mayor.  It was quickly seconded and they were just about to call for a vote when the city attorney reminded them that they should allow for any other nominations.  Fancy that.  Predictably, no other nominations were offered and Deiss was voted our new mayor on a vote of 5 to 3. 

Yes, the Gang of 5 got their way. 

Next up was the decision on how to appoint Deiss’ replacement.  With little discussion, they decided to follow the same procedure as last time.  They are giving the citizens 21 days to apply and then will appoint someone.  Thank goodness the Aldermen couldn’t serve in two seats or I’m sure they would have limited the candidates to one of their own. 

So now I am no longer represented in the City of West Bend.  I did not elect my Mayor and I will not elect my Alderman.  It’s offensive. 

The City of West Bend is being run by a cabal of big-government thugs.  Representative government is offensive to them. 

UPDATE: The MJS files its story:

Common Council President Kristine Deiss was appointed interim West Bend mayor tonight night on a 4-3 vote after a motion to open up the appointment process to city residents failed by the narrowest of margins.

Deiss’ appointment, which will run until next April’s regular mayoral election, came one week after three aldermen walked out of a council meeting to prevent her appointment.

“The city of West Bend has just reached a new level of corruption,” said Ald. Scott Frederick, who led last week’s walk out, just after City Clerk Barbara Barringer administered the oath of office to Deiss.