Letter to Editor: Vote Out Abusive Commissioners
"Under the leadership of Board Chair Tom Wolf, Dave Menden and Joe Wagner, we have seen the most flagrant abuse of personal power and civic malfeasance in the history of Scott County," said Lloyd Erbaugh.
Tom Wolf, Dave Menden and Joe Wagner are seeking re-election as Scott County Commissioners. Residents of Scott County should vigorously debate the ethical and moral standards of individuals we want for office. Under the leadership of Board Chair Tom Wolf, Dave Menden and Joe Wagner, we have seen the most flagrant abuse of personal power and civic malfeasance in the history of Scott County.
On October 17, 2011, Board Chair Tom Wolf met with an employee of Scott County to explain that he and Commissioners Wagner and Menden had a plan to oust Gary Shelton as Scott County Administrator. They had a list of grievances and asked the employee to expand the list of bogus charges and present them as statements of fact. Once these charges were formally presented to Scott County, all of us were dragged into this mess. The real work of Scott County was delayed as these charges took more time and emotional energy of staff, residents and the wider community.
We also know the outcome of this case. Because employees of Scott County told the truth and stood up to these accusations by the employee and these Commissioners, all of the charges were dismissed. None of them were true! This scathing report was presented at the March 20, 2012 Scott County Board meeting; if you like public scandal, see it on the Scott County website (or read the story on Patch).
During this election season, citizens, community organizations, and religious groups should challenge these three candidates on why they are spending thousands of tax-payer dollars to tear apart our community rather than focusing on the real issues in the County? These Commissioners accept excellent pay and benefits from Scott County while spending less time on jobs, health care, education and other priorities. Men and women who have had other experiences with these three Commissioners should share in community meetings and blogs how they have been treated and what results were achieved.
The question for Scott County residents is this: Do we want people to serve as Scott County Commissioners who have plotted to bring down their own County Administrator and smeared the reputation of Scott County, or do we want real public servants? Scott County residents should debate these issues until election day and then Vote them out of office!!!
Lloyd Erbaugh
Prior Lake
Andrew Olson
7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
This sounds very serious and if it is true, they shouldn't be re-elected!!
jackie
9:48 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Barb Kucera
Barb Kucera
Barb Kucera is a Minnesota activist. She is a regular writer for the Communist Party USA newspaper People's Weekly World.
Background
A native of Germantown, Wisconsin, Kucera has a passion for writing that goes all the way back to when she started up a family newspaper while still in grade school. Her interest in the world beyond, even as a child, is evidenced by her analysis of the 1968 presidential election in that little handwritten newspaper. Later she was editor of her high school newspaper.
While attending the University of Minnesota, Kucera worked at the student newspaper, the Minnesota Daily, which she describes as a “ a great experience.” After graduation Kucera went to work as a reporter for the Duluth News Tribune. She later received her Masters degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin. She went on to serve as editor of the Saint Paul Union Advocate for 14 years.
In 2000 Kucera helped create the Workday Minnesota.org, a website that covers news and issues that are important to working people, and is affiliated with Labor Education Services at the University of Minnesota. She also assists with producing “Minnesota at Work,” a weekly cable TV program. She also does some teaching and off-campus workplace training, as well as teaching labor history classes.