None of this means that he has run an admirable campaign. His use in a radio ad of a couple of Finley quotes was at best disingenuous and at worst a deliberate attempt to mislead voters. The ad implies that Finley has endorsed Dwyer when, in fact, the former county executive has maintained a strict personal neutrality in the race, while his wife, Jennifer Finley, is helping to run Vrakas' campaign. Voters should demand that Dwyer hold himself to higher standards than those he has exhibited in the campaign.Presumably this accountability would come at the ballot box. Or would they rather have Waukesha wait to recall Dwyer?
The (West) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says credit for smaller budgets should be given to Dwyer's predecessor, and that he was merely part of the process. "And when it came to crunch time, Waukesha County approved budgets that were well within the GOP definition of a tax freeze, something Finley has pointed to with pride."
In fact, as former county supervisor Matt Thomas points out, Dwyer has actually stood in the way of lower taxes.
At budget time each year, Dwyer voted for, advocated for, and to be quite frank, twisted arms of his fellow supervisors for a tax levy increase.And as I pointed out, when given the opportunity to set his own budget,
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...in the last year, the new county board, under Dwyer's "leadership" has sought fit to give raises to the entire board, including the chairman.
..."the owner of a typical home with an equalized value increasing from $235,300 to $256,700 would see his or her property tax bill for county government rise about $10, to $506." In other words, Waukesha residents can expect to pay more because of the increased value of their homes.The (West) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel takes eleven paragraphs to tell you not to trust Dwyer, and that he's a lifer county board member. They ask that you vote for him.
So, despite a hot campaign for County Executive centered on taxes, despite having an ally as chairman of the county Finance Committee, County Supervisor Patricia Haukohl of Brookfield, Acting County Executive (and County Executive candidate) Jim Dwyer has given us a $2.8 million dollar tax increase.
The Wigderson Library & Pub gives its endorsement to a politician you can trust. State Representative Dan Vrakas has been a solid conservative and a consistent voice for lower taxes. Vote for Vrakas October 18th.
