Waukesha County Board Chairman and recent failed candidate for County Executive Jim Dwyer was arrested for drunk driving the same evening after witnessing his opponent getting sworn in to the position he coveted. It would be easy to pile on, and some do, but my first reaction was, “Oh, no.”
The Waukesha Freeman, taking time away from advising drivers to avoid hitting deer, did not disappoint. The giant headline and the accompanying picture of a smiling Dwyer on the front page looked as if war were declared against neighboring Jefferson County.
But the mundane reality soon takes hold, and we realize we’re talking about a one-time mistake. And then we note that Dwyer, far from covering up what has happened or fighting the charge, described it as the “stupidest thing I’ve ever done” (we’ll take his word on that) and that he will accept the full consequences of his actions.
The possible change of venue in this case would seem to be unnecessary unless Dwyer changes his mind and decides to fight the charge.
Still, we cannot help but note the irony of Dwyer’s supporters dredging his opponent’s single arrest for cocaine possession many years ago. Nor can we miss the bitterness of many of Dwyer’s supporters after the election.
And finally, we cannot forget Dwyer’s own conduct in the course of the campaign: his false advertising campaign. It was this final point that begged us to ask Dwyer to consider stepping out of public life.
Will this be the cause of Dwyer’s retirement from the political life? It would be sad if this were the way Dwyer was remembered after his long service to the County.
There’s still time to salvage his reputation. He could work with County Executive Vrakas to find deeper cuts in the County budget to turn a net tax raise to a net tax cut. He could smooth the transition to a new county board leadership. He could even campaign for a smaller County Board.
And then he could retire with a county’s gratitude... say, Spring, 2006.
