This Past Election
Contributed by: Anonymous
Cheryl, I just want you to know that I am one of the small percentage of people in Oshkosh who actually went to the polls and voted on April 5. And you were one of my first choices for the Oshkosh Common Council.
It is apalling that we had such a small voter turn -out this voting season.
Since January I had tried to make my co-workers aware that there was a spring election coming up and that they should research what is at stake and get out and voice their opinion by casting their vote. None of them seem to even be aware of the issues that face this city's near future. Most have never heard of Five Rivers or the river front proposal. They don't even know where the new Amphatheater is located! Can you believe it? That fightens me!
When I mentioned the upcoming election to one of my co-workers, she asked who was up for election. When I showed her the sample ballot she said "well, none of the names sound musical to me, so I wouldn't know which ones to vote for (I'm actually GLAD she did not vote!).
I sincerely hope that you will continue to be in the public eye, voicing your opinion because you really do represent those of us in this city who are actually paying attention to what is happening in our city's government and surrounding issues.
I would love to see your name on the next ballot and will work harder to educate those people around me so that they too will be motivated to take a stronger interest in their community show up at the polls.
Sincerely,
Brenda Brooks-Kuhr
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, April 16 2005 @ 02:17 PM MDT
Very well said; I couldn't agree more!
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 01:05 PM MDT
Many thanks to both of you and to all those 3,801 people who voted for me. While your support and belief in what I stand for are appreciated and encouraging, it is frustrating that so many people do not take the time to go vote. They will complain as loud or even louder than many others, but they won't exercise their privilege and right to vote on election day.
Meanwhile, I want to say to Stew Rieckman over at the Oshkosh Northwestern, that you cannot intimidate or embarrass me by mentioning my coming in last place in the April 5 election. At least I had the courage of my convictions and stood up for what I believed in. I put my name on a ballot and tried to make a difference in the political process.
And while I may have come in last place, I have never served in elected office and been such a disappointment to the electorate that they voted me OUT of office - such as what happened to both Larry Spanbauer and Jon Dell 'Antonia - who, by the way, also came in last place when he ran for relection two years ago.
So Stew, while you're busy taking pot shots at those of us who lost, if you think you can do it better, why not put your name on a ballot? Let's see how well you do at the polls. Hopefully your numbers would be better than the Northwestern's circulation numbers. The figures I was recently told about show quite a drop in the last year or so. Perhaps if people were not so put off by what they read, those numbers would come back up.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 22 2005 @ 05:39 PM MDT
Spoken like a true loser.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 22 2005 @ 07:07 PM MDT
More accurately, it was spoken like the honest and "to-the-point" person she has shown herself to be. Too bad you are such an asshole that you have to continue showing your disdain.
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Saturday, April 23 2005 @ 06:41 PM MDT
It is a shame you seem to think my words portray me as having spoken like a loser. Perhaps you should try putting your name on a ballot so people can take potshots at you, too. In the meantime, I said nothing unfactual and I also pointed out the various types of hypocrisy and bias so often displayed by our local "paper," especially at election time. Have a pleasant evening.
Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 08:05 AM MDT
I find it suprising that Ms. Hentz has again shown her bizarre sense of "fairness" in allowing several questionable posts (containing either specific foul language or thinly veiled references such as "P.O.S." directed at a named individual) to remain for several days on her website. We all saw during the election that should any of these types of insults be directed toward say, Mr. Esslinger or Ms. Bloechel they would have been removed immediately. I cannot begin to understand her reasoning for allowing things like this to go on, all the while removing posts far less inflamatory simply because she didn't like the arguements being made.
Obviously, the blame cannot be placed soley on Ms. Hentz- she had hoped the citizens of Oshkosh could behave like adults and interact productively while engaging in the rational exchange of ideas. We (all of us, to some extent) have failed her in that hope and should really be somewhat embarrassed. However, as the owner and editor of this site who has professed to believe in "fair play" for all, leaving these aforementioned inflammatory and vulgar remaks up certainly do not accomplish this goal.
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 09:16 AM MDT
Excuse me, but if you look at the site you will find that those comments you referenced have indeed been removed. They were placed by someone over the weekend and, unlike some people who seem to monitor web sites and play on the Internet all day long, I do not. I check it periodically, but I have a full life besides this site. If that amounts to bizarre behavior in your book, so be it - I plead guilty as charged.
In any event, as soon as I saw the comments, and one from another person asking that the offensive ones be removed (a prompt which I did not need but appreciated their thoughtfulness anyway), they were deleted. My sense of fairness is the same now as it has always been. People are treated with respect and fairness until they prove they are undeserving of it.
- Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 11:32 AM MDT
Cheryl,
I certainly understand your current attitude about the Northwestern. But was there ever a time when you considered working for them? I understand they have a revolving door there (I heard the editor is a petty tyrant along with other shortcomings) and certainly a journalist with your credentials would be a welcome addition to the staff, especially with your ties to the community. How about it? Did you ever consider joining the staff or applying? Did they ever try to recruit you?
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 12:59 PM MDT
Thanks for the nice words, but I have my hands full right now with everything else I do. Working fulltime for them - or anyone else for that matter - would likely require my having to give up certain other things. And frankly, those are non-negotiable issues for me. Plus, I am very happy doing what I am doing and having a certain amount of freedom in choosing what projects I take on. So at least for now, the status quo works well.
- Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 26 2005 @ 04:39 PM MDT
Dear Cheryl,
I watched your show on Monday and I thought it was very
inappropriate to be talking about anyone who is not there to
defend themselves. My grandpa or as you know Larry
Spanbauer was not thrown off the council, he just
got beat. He served our city for 6 long years, and stayed on the
council because people voted for him which means he is liked.
And to this very day he is still liked, maybe not by you but by
alot of other people. I truly think if YOU have nothing nice to
say, DO NOT say anything AT ALL. It is very rude and mean.
I'm sure you would rather be a positive person then a negative
person. Thank you for letting me express my opinion.
Sincerely
Kaitlyn Spanbauer
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 10:10 AM MDT
If my math is correct, Spanbauer's 6 years on the board is 3 more elections than both the hosts (Cheryl & Tony) put together.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:13 PM MDT
Your point being what? Ms. Hentz's point seemed to be that people were fed up with Spanbauer and his arrogant attitude. He was given what he asked for which was to be voted off the council if people no longer believed he was doing a good job. The people told him good-bye. That would be more embarassing than not being elected at all.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:31 PM MDT
To use your own phrase, your point being what? People voted. Some people got elected, some didn't. Get on with it. No matter what your politics, running a campaign the way you believe it should be run and participating in representative democracy, win or lose, should not embarrass anyone. A bunch of geeks at computers who dont even have the guts to give themselves screen names (myself included, folks) have no right to say that a particular candidate should be embarrassed for such an honorable pursuit. My hats off to all- be your name Hentz, Spanbauer, Castle, Esslinger or Poeschel. We can disagree with these folks if we want, but NOTHING about their run for office should ever be considered embarrassing. It is an outlook like that one that prevents people from getting into local politics.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:54 PM MDT
Hey people did get on with it. It was you or some other anonymous person with your opinion who brought it up again. Nothing was said about anyone's political campaign. The comment was only made that said the people spoke and gave Spanbauer what he asked for. It's pretty simple when you think about it. What's not quite so simple is trying to figure out your assumption that I am either Hentz, Esslinger, Poeschl, etc. These people have a lot more suport in this community than just themselves or those who voted. So stop the silly assumptions that you know who I am. But if we use your logic then we know your identity too because you have misspelled Brian Poeschl's name just like another frequent visitor to this site. Would that be fair.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 02:00 PM MDT
How on earth did you read something into that post that needed such a defensive response?
My post was not making a judgement on ANYONE involved in city politics, rather stating that we should lay off the talk of an "embarrassing" loss. The point was that no one who ran for office should be embarrassed of their finish, provided they ran their campaign the way they felt it should be run and added to the dialogue on the issues they cared about. I was not assuming any other posters were anyone in particular either, I was simply using examples of people on differing sides of issues who have been unsuccessful in their bid for office at one time or another. That is nothing to be embarassed about, nor is it something for you to be defensive of, although I apologize if I seemed to have touched some sort of nerve. I certainly did not intend to do so.
Cheryl, I just want you to know that I am one of the small percentage of people in Oshkosh who actually went to the polls and voted on April 5. And you were one of my first choices for the Oshkosh Common Council.
It is apalling that we had such a small voter turn -out this voting season.
Since January I had tried to make my co-workers aware that there was a spring election coming up and that they should research what is at stake and get out and voice their opinion by casting their vote. None of them seem to even be aware of the issues that face this city's near future. Most have never heard of Five Rivers or the river front proposal. They don't even know where the new Amphatheater is located! Can you believe it? That fightens me!
When I mentioned the upcoming election to one of my co-workers, she asked who was up for election. When I showed her the sample ballot she said "well, none of the names sound musical to me, so I wouldn't know which ones to vote for (I'm actually GLAD she did not vote!).
I sincerely hope that you will continue to be in the public eye, voicing your opinion because you really do represent those of us in this city who are actually paying attention to what is happening in our city's government and surrounding issues.
I would love to see your name on the next ballot and will work harder to educate those people around me so that they too will be motivated to take a stronger interest in their community show up at the polls.
Sincerely,
Brenda Brooks-Kuhr
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, April 16 2005 @ 02:17 PM MDT
Very well said; I couldn't agree more!
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 01:05 PM MDT
Many thanks to both of you and to all those 3,801 people who voted for me. While your support and belief in what I stand for are appreciated and encouraging, it is frustrating that so many people do not take the time to go vote. They will complain as loud or even louder than many others, but they won't exercise their privilege and right to vote on election day.
Meanwhile, I want to say to Stew Rieckman over at the Oshkosh Northwestern, that you cannot intimidate or embarrass me by mentioning my coming in last place in the April 5 election. At least I had the courage of my convictions and stood up for what I believed in. I put my name on a ballot and tried to make a difference in the political process.
And while I may have come in last place, I have never served in elected office and been such a disappointment to the electorate that they voted me OUT of office - such as what happened to both Larry Spanbauer and Jon Dell 'Antonia - who, by the way, also came in last place when he ran for relection two years ago.
So Stew, while you're busy taking pot shots at those of us who lost, if you think you can do it better, why not put your name on a ballot? Let's see how well you do at the polls. Hopefully your numbers would be better than the Northwestern's circulation numbers. The figures I was recently told about show quite a drop in the last year or so. Perhaps if people were not so put off by what they read, those numbers would come back up.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 22 2005 @ 05:39 PM MDT
Spoken like a true loser.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 22 2005 @ 07:07 PM MDT
More accurately, it was spoken like the honest and "to-the-point" person she has shown herself to be. Too bad you are such an asshole that you have to continue showing your disdain.
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Saturday, April 23 2005 @ 06:41 PM MDT
It is a shame you seem to think my words portray me as having spoken like a loser. Perhaps you should try putting your name on a ballot so people can take potshots at you, too. In the meantime, I said nothing unfactual and I also pointed out the various types of hypocrisy and bias so often displayed by our local "paper," especially at election time. Have a pleasant evening.
Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 08:05 AM MDT
I find it suprising that Ms. Hentz has again shown her bizarre sense of "fairness" in allowing several questionable posts (containing either specific foul language or thinly veiled references such as "P.O.S." directed at a named individual) to remain for several days on her website. We all saw during the election that should any of these types of insults be directed toward say, Mr. Esslinger or Ms. Bloechel they would have been removed immediately. I cannot begin to understand her reasoning for allowing things like this to go on, all the while removing posts far less inflamatory simply because she didn't like the arguements being made.
Obviously, the blame cannot be placed soley on Ms. Hentz- she had hoped the citizens of Oshkosh could behave like adults and interact productively while engaging in the rational exchange of ideas. We (all of us, to some extent) have failed her in that hope and should really be somewhat embarrassed. However, as the owner and editor of this site who has professed to believe in "fair play" for all, leaving these aforementioned inflammatory and vulgar remaks up certainly do not accomplish this goal.
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 09:16 AM MDT
Excuse me, but if you look at the site you will find that those comments you referenced have indeed been removed. They were placed by someone over the weekend and, unlike some people who seem to monitor web sites and play on the Internet all day long, I do not. I check it periodically, but I have a full life besides this site. If that amounts to bizarre behavior in your book, so be it - I plead guilty as charged.
In any event, as soon as I saw the comments, and one from another person asking that the offensive ones be removed (a prompt which I did not need but appreciated their thoughtfulness anyway), they were deleted. My sense of fairness is the same now as it has always been. People are treated with respect and fairness until they prove they are undeserving of it.
- Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 11:32 AM MDT
Cheryl,
I certainly understand your current attitude about the Northwestern. But was there ever a time when you considered working for them? I understand they have a revolving door there (I heard the editor is a petty tyrant along with other shortcomings) and certainly a journalist with your credentials would be a welcome addition to the staff, especially with your ties to the community. How about it? Did you ever consider joining the staff or applying? Did they ever try to recruit you?
This Past Election
Authored by: admin on Monday, April 25 2005 @ 12:59 PM MDT
Thanks for the nice words, but I have my hands full right now with everything else I do. Working fulltime for them - or anyone else for that matter - would likely require my having to give up certain other things. And frankly, those are non-negotiable issues for me. Plus, I am very happy doing what I am doing and having a certain amount of freedom in choosing what projects I take on. So at least for now, the status quo works well.
- Cheryl Hentz
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 26 2005 @ 04:39 PM MDT
Dear Cheryl,
I watched your show on Monday and I thought it was very
inappropriate to be talking about anyone who is not there to
defend themselves. My grandpa or as you know Larry
Spanbauer was not thrown off the council, he just
got beat. He served our city for 6 long years, and stayed on the
council because people voted for him which means he is liked.
And to this very day he is still liked, maybe not by you but by
alot of other people. I truly think if YOU have nothing nice to
say, DO NOT say anything AT ALL. It is very rude and mean.
I'm sure you would rather be a positive person then a negative
person. Thank you for letting me express my opinion.
Sincerely
Kaitlyn Spanbauer
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 10:10 AM MDT
If my math is correct, Spanbauer's 6 years on the board is 3 more elections than both the hosts (Cheryl & Tony) put together.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:13 PM MDT
Your point being what? Ms. Hentz's point seemed to be that people were fed up with Spanbauer and his arrogant attitude. He was given what he asked for which was to be voted off the council if people no longer believed he was doing a good job. The people told him good-bye. That would be more embarassing than not being elected at all.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:31 PM MDT
To use your own phrase, your point being what? People voted. Some people got elected, some didn't. Get on with it. No matter what your politics, running a campaign the way you believe it should be run and participating in representative democracy, win or lose, should not embarrass anyone. A bunch of geeks at computers who dont even have the guts to give themselves screen names (myself included, folks) have no right to say that a particular candidate should be embarrassed for such an honorable pursuit. My hats off to all- be your name Hentz, Spanbauer, Castle, Esslinger or Poeschel. We can disagree with these folks if we want, but NOTHING about their run for office should ever be considered embarrassing. It is an outlook like that one that prevents people from getting into local politics.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 12:54 PM MDT
Hey people did get on with it. It was you or some other anonymous person with your opinion who brought it up again. Nothing was said about anyone's political campaign. The comment was only made that said the people spoke and gave Spanbauer what he asked for. It's pretty simple when you think about it. What's not quite so simple is trying to figure out your assumption that I am either Hentz, Esslinger, Poeschl, etc. These people have a lot more suport in this community than just themselves or those who voted. So stop the silly assumptions that you know who I am. But if we use your logic then we know your identity too because you have misspelled Brian Poeschl's name just like another frequent visitor to this site. Would that be fair.
This Past Election
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27 2005 @ 02:00 PM MDT
How on earth did you read something into that post that needed such a defensive response?
My post was not making a judgement on ANYONE involved in city politics, rather stating that we should lay off the talk of an "embarrassing" loss. The point was that no one who ran for office should be embarrassed of their finish, provided they ran their campaign the way they felt it should be run and added to the dialogue on the issues they cared about. I was not assuming any other posters were anyone in particular either, I was simply using examples of people on differing sides of issues who have been unsuccessful in their bid for office at one time or another. That is nothing to be embarassed about, nor is it something for you to be defensive of, although I apologize if I seemed to have touched some sort of nerve. I certainly did not intend to do so.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 9:09 AM
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