I'll be happy to. - James
--- Matt Thomas wrote:
The following letter was printed in the Waukesha
Freeman today. I'm not sure how extensive the
distribution is of the Freeman, so I'm wondering if
you could post it up on your blog too?
Matt Thomas
----------
Former supervisor backs Vrakas for county executive
To the editor:
On virtually every conservative reform issue,
incumbent County Board Chairman Jim Dwyer is on the
liberal side and newcomer to county politics Dan
Vrakas is on the conservative side.
During my four years of service as a county
supervisor from New Berlin, I served with Dwyer. 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.
In contrast, the reform-minded Vrakas supports a tax
freeze and has even co-sponsored tax freeze
legislation.
Throughout the last decade, Dwyer has refused to
consider reducing the size of the board.
Like me, Vrakas thinks that the county board should
be reduced to save money and reform the way our
government operates.
One thing I am proud of accomplishing before I left
the county board in 2004 was a pay freeze for county
supervisors, including the pay for the full-time
chairman. Even Dwyer couldn't twist enough arms to
stop the pay freeze then. However, 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.
Unlike Dwyer, Vrakas has questioned if the
chairman's position should even be full-time.
If you want to continue the legacy of tax levy
increases, of blocking reform and of raising the pay
for politicians, then Dwyer is your man. If you want
a conservative, reform-minded leader who wants to
change the way things are done, vote for Vrakas for county
executive on Tuesday - I know I will.
Matt Thomas
New Berlin
