Egelhoff statement on attack ads by Greater Wisconsin Committee

Jo Egelhoff, candidate for the state assembly, issued a statement today in response to a negative attack campaign by the Greater Wisconsin Committee. Coincidentally (of course) it echoes the themes of the Bice column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that I debunked earlier today.

HEADLINE: Egelhoff Statement on Greater Wisconsin Committee's Negative Campaign

Appleton - A couple of years ago, I started my own small business, FoxPolitics.net, to encourage debate and discussion on issues of importance to the people of Appleton. The views expressed by me, my readers and guest columnists were designed to be both provocative and thought-provoking.

Little did I know at the time, that my commentary would be the subject of a $100,000 + smear campaign waged by a third-party Madison-based political action organization with ties to a former State Senator and convicted felon, Chuck Chvala. The lengths to which the Madison special interests will go to put their own candidate, Penny Bernard Schaber, in the State Assembly are truly astounding.

Since June, I have been campaigning door-to-door meeting with Appleton voters. To date, I have knocked on more than 12,000 doors in Appleton. With the generous support of many Fox Valley residents, I have been able to share my views on issues important to the people of Appleton in literature distributed by mail and advertising over the radio. I also maintain a website, www.votejo2008.com, that is updated regularly and details my positions - positions you can count on me to take if I am elected to the State Assembly.

In the closing days of the campaign, I am asking the people of Appleton to look beyond the negative campaigning and look at the issues and their impacton their job, their pocketbook and their family's future. You have my commitment that I will put Appleton first, putting the needs of Appleton ahead of the wants of the politicians and special interests in Madison.

I rarely endorse candidates anymore, but I can truthfully say that the people of Appleton would have a very difficult search to find someone to represent them in Madison better than Jo Egelhoff.

Is Appleton ready for this?

While Jo Egelhoff is off campaigning for the state assembly (did I mention she's a fantastic candidate?) I'll be playing guest-blogger on Thursdays for her at FoxPolitics.net. I'm honored that she would even ask as I really admire her work and her website.

In exchange I think I'll ask Jo to support a state-wide ban on outdoor firepit regulations.

Egelhoff for Assembly

This should be fun. Blogger, FoxPolitics.net editor and former Alderman Jo Egelhoff is running for state assembly in the 57th Assembly District.

“This race is about experience; this race is about courage,” said Jo Egelhoff, 57, who announced her candidacy late Thursday. She will face Peter Stueck, an Appleton Alderman and Outagamie County supervisor, in a Sept. 9 primary. The general election is Nov. 4.

Democrat Penny Bernard Schaber, of Appleton, also is seeking the seat, which has been held by Republican Steve Wieckert since 1996. Wieckert recently announced that he is not running for re-election.

Egelhoff is no stranger to politics and government, she served on the Appleton Common Council from 1993-2003. She has been a member of the Outagamie County Republican party and has served as county chairwoman and has worked on many campaigns, including helping Wieckert win election.

And here is Jo's press release:

Jo Egelhoff Announces Intent to Run For Wisconsin Assembly District 57

Appleton, WI - "With the cost of everyday living going up as never before, jobs being lost on a daily basis, and health care and drug prices almost out of control, many of our politicians continue to spend our tax monies as if there is no problem. Well there is a problem, a serious problem, and the only way it can be solved is by having citizens step forward and run for political office and apply common sense fiscal responsibility to government spending. It really comes down to people keeping what's left of their paychecks – or continuing to turn their hard-earned dollars over to government with increased taxes, fees and assessments. One of my top priorities will be to stop the insane raiding of our pocketbooks. That's why I'm running – to represent the people and the pocketbooks of the 57th District in the Wisconsin Assembly." So said Jo Egelhoff in announcing her intention to run for the seat that will be vacated by Rep. Steve Wieckert.

Egelhoff is the owner and operator of FoxPolitics.net, a policy and politics news site for the Fox Valley and Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Iowa State University and holds a Masters degree in Finance from Claremont Graduate School. She spent 10 years on the Appleton Common Council where she spearheaded tax levy controls in Appleton - the only Wisconsin municipality to have such a spending control.

Egelhoff has served a wide variety of community groups, and currently serves on the Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity and USA Youth boards.

Politically, Egelhoff has worked on many campaigns over the years, including Rep. Wieckert’s campaigns; she is considered by Wieckert to be a competent advisor and he appreciates her excellent grasp of the issues. The newly-announced candidate was a former Chairperson of the Outagamie County Republican Party and has been a member for 15 years.

Egelhoff’s husband is a Portfolio Manager with Associated Bank. They live in Appleton and have two children.

Good luck to Jo. She's a very informed and capable individual, and Appleton would do very well to pick her to represent them in Madison.

Update! Just received a note from Jo Egelhoff concerning her residency in the district:
Dave and I are now empty nesters; we moved recently to a smaller place that is closer to his work in Green Bay. And indeed, it's in the 57th.

The lesson is to ask before jumping to conclusions.

I really would have hated to bring out the moving van cartoons again.

Update 2!Blog post questioning

Water over the dam

From the Library of Congress, Today in History:

On September 30, 1882, the world's first hydroelectric power plant began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. The plant, later named the Appleton Edison Light Company, was initiated by Appleton paper manufacturer H.F. Rogers, who had been inspired by Thomas Edison's plans for an electricity-producing station in New York. With financial backing from three Appleton men, one a personal friend of Edison's, Rogers began building the Appleton plant at his riverside paper mill during the summer of 1882.

Unlike Edison's New York plant which used steam power to drive its generators, the Appleton plant used the energy of the Fox River. The operation's water wheel, generators, and copper wiring took only a few months to install and test. When the plant opened, just twenty-six days after Edison's, it produced enough electricity to light Rogers' home, the plant itself, and a nearby building.

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