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Opposing Groups Face Off Along Janesville Road

Depending on which side you were on regarding recalls, you had an opportunity to honk your horn and wave, or honk your horn and sign to recall the mayor and possibly an alderman.

 

With Mitt Romney in town, the political season was truly in full swing on Saturday, and you didn't have to drive far to come face to face with government issues, on either side of the road (literally).

A planned petition signing drive was held near the Tess Corners Fire Department on Janesville Road in downtown Muskego by the citizens political action committee (PAC) called Muskego for Ethical Government (MEG). The group was there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow residents to sign a recall petition against Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti, and (if you lived in their districts) 4th District Alderman Keith Werner and 6th District Alderman Neome Schaumberg.

Spokesperson Lorie Oliver said they were pleased at the response so far and nearing the end of the day on Saturday, she felt they were "getting very close on the signatures needed for Alderman Werner." She said the response from Schaumberg's district, which lies on the southern end of Muskego, was lighter.

The group will need to gather about 350 signatures in the 4th District, and 430 in the 6th District. Chiaverotti's recall will require about 3,000 signatures to trigger a recall election.

About three blocks east, a handful of residents held their own signs stating "Recalls Cost Money." Marguerite Ingold, one of the protestors against the recall, said, "We are getting more "thumbs up" than you can imagine.  It's been very rewarding out here. We are not quite as organized as the other side  and unfortunately many people who agree with us are afraid to 'come out.'"

"'No more recalls' is the best slogan ever, and I think the other side is being hurt because we are not taking it lying down like last time," she said.

Oliver said she respected the right of the counter protestors, but did take issue with Stand Up Muskego, an opposing PAC, who called police to report that cars were being parked illegally in order to sign the petition.

No warnings or citations were issued, as police told members of the opposing group, led by spokesperson Rob Lucas, that MEG was not doing anything illegal.

"I don't know why it has to be this way," Oliver said. "Why can't we agree to disagree? I hope this can stay civil, because everyone has a right to their opinion."

MEG will be available on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well to collect signatures. If that's not your stance, it's likely their opponents will also be on hand to gather your support.

Related Topics: Kathy Chiaverotti, Keith Werner, Lorie Oliver, Muskego for Ethical Government, Neome Schaumberg, Recall elections, and Stand Up Muskego

JS

5:47 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

What was funny is how Rob Lucas was himself parked illegally on Janesville Rd in the fire lane while he was busy harassing the people he disagreed with

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Muskego Business Owner

8:24 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

ALL of you should receive citations, fines and be ordered to MANY, MANY, MANY hours of community service so all of your free time would be spent doing something productive instead of turning to soap box politics in the center of the city. What I find especially embarrassing is that you had to choose to engage in such NONSENSE on the day that a presidential hopeful was visiting our small community. Again, utterly ridiculous and embarrassing to the city.

The Anti-Alinsky

6:39 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

Rumor has it that the recall group is going to run Dominic D'Aquisto for Schaumberg's seat, Suzi Link for Werner's seat and they are going to bring back Damaske for mayor.

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Denise Konkol

6:54 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

I hate rumors....although it's April Fool's Day.

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Bryan K.

7:14 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

You must be joking. Didn't Damaske move to Watertown?

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Suzi Link

11:06 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

And this was certainly a foolish comment.

Denise Konkol

8:22 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

Yes...I think he runs a bed and breakfast there??

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Warriors Mom

11:37 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

I'm sick of recalls just because people don't get their way. Not signing a thing.

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Jay

1:13 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

This is crazy I didnt move here for this kind of stuff, and the people organizing the recall got their way anyhow. So to me this seems a pointless waste of time, energy, and money.

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Denise Konkol

11:56 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

Ah, Jay....I've heard others say this too. But there is no politics like small town politics. I think it's because people get to 'know' (I use that term loosely) people better and form opinions - strong ones - that last a long time. Familiarity breeds contempt, and when I talk to people, history that dates back decades is often brought up.

Kammy

9:34 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

Another thought to consider--Is it likely that those who sign the mayoral and aldermanic recall petitions will have their names go online, much like the Walker recalls? Look at the can of worms that opened for many.

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Simple Bacon

10:50 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

Funny picture Anti. I guess some in our community do look to government as santa with a big bag of goodies.

Now, after a nice long weekend I must get caught up....

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Muskego Business Owner

11:51 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

ANTI...that Santa sign burst me into laughter. Thanks for posting!!
It reminded me of the little girl crying signs (against the recall on Walker) where she says something to the effect, "What you mean I have to pay for my own insurance????"

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Robert M. Lucas

3:39 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012

CLARIFICATION:
Police were called when anti-recall protesters were asked to move off the public sidewalk so cars could be flagged by a recall organizer to enter at the Fire Department entry/exit to the east of the department and ILLEGALLY drive across the grass and sidewalk to enter the Spitzner property where the recall signatures were being collected. The recall protesters refused to move and the police were called. Police did respond and the officer requested that a sign be moved so as to block the entry of vehicles across the sidewalk and stop the practice. This had nothing to do with illegal parking as Ms. Oliver stated above and at no point did the officer inform or iterate to us in any way that MEG was not doing anything illegal. Legal or not what they were doing was wrong and the officer corrected the situation.

As for the claim of harassment, there was none. What was being said by me was, "If you wish to exercise your right to recall VOTE APRIL 3rd it is already paid for." If the truth is harassment then so be it and get used to it.

As for the illegal parking of cars there was none. All parking signs and regulations were observed and verified by me when police responded for the cars illegally driving on the sidewalk.

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Yada yada yada...

7:04 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012

'so be it and get used to it'...

wow. I thought you were a marketing person. You come off as a 'short-fuse buffoon'...

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The Warrior

4:14 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

thanks for identifying yourself Yada...

Matt Johnson

5:27 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012

We had a lot of positive response Saturday. Many thumbs up and honks as cars passed by us. This is a Republican town and recalls will not go over well, especially with the Walker recall going on.
We had people stop by us who did not vote for the mayor and some who did not support the lake park project, who all agreed the recall was "utter nonsense."
If anyone was illegally parked, the squads patrolling the area would have said something.

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Simple Bacon

7:50 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Would be interested to know what is different about the current recall attempt from the previous recall to oust a sitting Mayor? Do the folks that supported that recall see different circumstances with the recall then or have they simply changed their minds about recalls in general?

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Muskego Politics Make Me Bitter

8:01 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Well, as I remember it, the last Mayor to get recalled got into physical altercations with people and used his authority to launch a vendetta with anyone and everyone who ever disagreed with him. I would call that different circumstances...

The Anti-Alinsky

8:50 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

To Bacon and anyone else trying to equate this recall to Charles Damaske's recall:
Have you heard of the saying "two rights don't make a wrong"? If you feel Damaske was wronged in the recall, does that mean you should run around recalling everyone you don't like?

Although there are no limitations to a recall, they need to be limited or elected officials will be afraid to do anything. If citizen's were compelled to place their individual input on everything, nothing would get accomplished. If the city were compelled to hold a referendum on the Durham Drive project, only the small amount of citizen's it directly affected would support it.

There are times when recalls are the right answer. All 14 Decomcratic State Senators that fled to Illinois should be recalled for shirking their elected duties.

Another great example of the use of recalls was the recent one for Bob Ryan in Sheboygan. His behavior was out of line for years and en embarrassment to the city.

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Muskego Politics Make Me Bitter

3:58 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

MEG should be recalled. They call themselves Muskego for Ethical Government, but their poster boys (and girls) are people like Soltysiak, Damaske, D'Aquisto, and Link. Oh yeah, and don't forget about Hudock, who attempted to resolve his long-standing refusal to pay his property taxes only after he was called out on it in the media.

So let's see...we have bullies, thieves, and tax cheats here. Yeah, real ethical.

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The Anti-Alinsky

10:01 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Should be MEGNOG
Muskego for Ethical Government and No Opportunities for Growth

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Suzi Link

10:15 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012

To "Muskego Politics Make Me Bitter"

You specifically named me, then categorize the named group as:

"we have bullies, thieves, and tax cheats here. Yeah, real ethical."

1.) which category are you placing me in?
2.) what is your basis for this particular slander?
3.) what is your actual name, so I know who to sue for this unsubstatiated accusation?

The alternative is that you could publicly identify yourself and apoligize for your immature and baseless namecalling.

GROW UP

P.S. There are ways of identifying you if you remain too gutless to identify yourself an you continue to remain an annoyance,

Muskego Held Hostage

3:05 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

This sure shut everyone up. Be careful who you "hang" with. It's been said before and here it is again. Deep down, Muskego is still a small town and it has a long memory. What you do and who you ally with will stick around a long, long time.

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