Good Question

I’m getting ready to sit down and write my column for Tuesday.  It’s about the upcoming school board election in West Bend.  As part of my preparation, I have spent the week speaking with most of the candidates so that I can understand them. 

Yesterday I spoke with Lynn Corazzi - one of the current board members.  Today I spoke with Kathy Van Eerden - the other current member.  Perfectly delightful people, but both of them asked me the same question that made me back up and think a bit.  Lynn was perhaps the most succinct when he asked me, given my public opposition to him, if there was anything he could say to change my mind.  It’s an excellent question. 

I replied that I deal in a world of opinion and my opinion is my currency.  Actually, I said something to that affect, but I wish I could come up with stuff like that on the fly   I also stated that Lynn has a record on which to be judged.  I admitted that while he may be able to sway me with his arguments, I must still weigh those arguments with his actual record. 

Still, it’s a very fair question and one which I may have asked myself had I been in his shoes.  What can he expect from me given that I have already been vocal about my position?

The answer is that he can expect me to be honest about my opinion.  In Corazzi’s case, I think he’s a good guy.  He’s intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, and very approachable.  I certainly thank him for being willing to serve in a public capacity on our behalf.  It’s a lot of effort that should never be discounted.  He professes to be a fiscal conservative and I take him at his word.  But when the rubber hit the road and he had to cast a vote, he voted in a way in which I disagree.  As a voter and constituent, how am I to measure him? 

So to answer Corazzi’s question… probably nothing.  He could have promised the moon, but I can’t look past his previous performance.  I wouldn’t evaluate an employee based on words.  I’d evaluate them based on performance.  This is no different.  I put him in the category of Charlie Hillman.  Good guy who I like and with whom I agree on many issues, but disagree with his actions on the school board. 

For better or worse, Corazzi is running against folks who don’t have a record on the school board.  For them, I have to attempt to measure the veracity of their words, but they don’t have a record for me to judge. 

At the end of the day, I will tell you for who I am voting for because I consider that my obligation if I am going to wander the realm of opinion.  Take it for whatever you will.  It’s one guy’s opinion.  West Bend is blessed to have so many good people willing to serve on the school board.