Commentary 2002: The Year in Pictures
by Tony Palmeri
For politically engaged Wisconsinites, the year 2002 will be remembered as the most scandalous and shameful in the state's history. The lengthy and ongoing investigation of the legislative caucus scandal produced indictments of leaders in both houses and of both major political parties. Reform organizations like the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause put forward priceless reports dramatizing the effects of Wisconsin's flawed campaign finance system on our elections, legislators' votes, and citizen trust in government. [note: in the interest of full disclosure I must point out that I have contributed money to both the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause Wisconsin].
The year 2002 will also be remembered as a time when Wisconsin's Magruder Media finally emerged from its Tommy Thompson era induced slumber and began to reassert its role as a government watchdog. Meanwhile, Commentary in 2002 solidified its reputation as a Fox Valley forum that raises awareness of critical issues and asks the tough questions of leaders in and/or seeking power. When in late October an Oshkosh Northwestern story questioned the "fairness" of the Commentary website, UW Oshkosh student Nick Pustina responded with the following: "Thanks for your continued (and balanced) coverage of local and state politics. The benefits of your Commentary website and television show are invaluable to the students of UW-Oshkosh, as well as the entire community. Your work is ethical, clean, and not full of biased whining (Eric Bradley, anybody?). Thank you for providing us with fair coverage of Wisconsin politics...it's about time."
Probably the best way to summarize Commentary's year 2002 is in pictures. They will be divided into 4 categories: (1) Local Politics, (2) State Politics, (3) the Race For Governor, (4) Global Issues.
Local Politics: The Year 2002 saw local elections for school board, Oshkosh Common Council, Winnebago County district attorney, Winnebago County sheriff, and the 54th assembly district. Commentary questioned candidates in each race.
For school board, one of the candidates endorsed by the Oshkosh Northwestern was "stealth candidate" Brett Smits; Mr. Smits did little campaigning but did appear on Commentary. Victorious school board candidates Tom McDermott and Ben Schneider II appeared, as did losing candidate Ted Sehmer. Neither Smits nor Sehmer has announced an intention to run in the 2003 school board elections. Former school board president LuAnn Bird did not seek reelection in 2002, but she did appear on Commentary to discuss her study of school boards. District Superintendent Ron Heilmann in late November explained the district's budget crisis for Commentary viewers.
For Oshkosh Common Council, challengers Steve Bender and Frank Tower visited Commentary, with Tower emerging as the top vote-getter in the April election. Incumbents Steve Hintz and Paul Esslinger told Commentary's viewers why they deserved to be reelected, and both were. Mr. Hintz finished third in the April election but was elected Mayor by his 6 peers on the council.
Former Oshkosh Mayor Melanie Bloechl did not run for reelection in 2002, but in a March appearance on Commentary Dan Rylance presented her with the "Little Spender Award." The Award text can be found here. Later in 2002, Bloechl with journalist Cheryl Hentz debuted "Eye on Oshkosh" for Oshkosh Cable Access Channel 10. They appeared on Commentary to discuss the program.
For Winnebago County district attorney, Republican candidate Edmund Jelinksi visited Commentary in July. Winner of the Republican primary (and eventual winner of the general election) Bill Lennon and Democratic rival Brad Priebe each made two visits to Commentary. Lennon on August 19th and October 21, Priebe on July 15 and October 21. Republican Joe Paulus twice promised to appear on Commentary, but both times canceled his visit at the last minute.
For Winnebago County sheriff, incumbent Republican Mike Brooks and Democratic challenger Bob Hughes visited Commentary on October 1. Brooks marched to victory in November.
For 54th Assembly District, Democratic challenger Jim Genisio appeared on October 14th with guest hosts Jim Simmons and Matt Zimmerman. Incumbent Republican Gregg Underheim was the only local candidate to refuse to appear on Commentary in 2002.
State Politics: In 2002, Commentary was fortunate to be able to expose viewers to the expertise of some of the top journalists in Wisconsin. In July we visited the offices of the Madison Capital Times to interview John Nichols. In that same month we traveled to videographer Doug Freshner's Milwaukee home to interview the legendary Joel McNally. Melanie Fonder of wispolitics.com and Steven Walters of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explained the fall election results for us on November 11th.
Probably the two most quoted experts in the state press as regards the scandals plaguing us are Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Jay Heck of Common Cause. Heck appeared on Commentary on June 24, while McCabe made his second appearance on August 12th.
Commentary contributed to the discussion of the Milwaukee County pension scandal and resulting recall movement with a September interview of Chris Kliesmet, Communications Director of the reform group Citizens for Responsible Government.
In September, Wisconsin Taxpayers Association President Todd Berry joined us and called the interview "the best" he had ever done.
The Race For Governor: Commentary invited every major party candidate and serious third party candidates for governor to appear on the show; only Republican Scott McCallum refused.
Libertarian Ed Thompson guaranteed victory in his April visit. The Green Party's Jim Young explained his "state of balance" campaign in his April visit. Tom Barrett was his typical charming self in a March visit, while Jim Doyle and Kathleen Falk were polite and policy wonkish in their appearances. The Reform Party's Alan Eisenberg claimed to be Wisconsin's answer to Jesse Ventura, while we were careful not to step on Bill Lorge's blue suede shoes.
Doyle and Barbara Lawton won the fall election, of course. On November 18th Barbara Lawton provided us with some insights as to what to expect from the new administration.
Global Issues: Mike Prokosch of United for a Fair Economy and Steve Watrous of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Campaign explained globalization's threat to democracy in a June visit. Donna Van Grinsven and Barbara Hoffman of the Fox Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation spoke out against a possible Iraq war on the August 5th edition of the show. In September, UW Oshkosh Associate Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts Andy Robson and Student Environmental Action Coalition activist Angela LeNoble discussed the Earth Charter with us. In October Ana Maria Hernandez, Jesus Albeiro Martinez and Jason Wallach explained their opposition to the Free Trade Area of the Americas. In December Steve Dedow, John Eiden, and Karen Prade discussed the local and global impact of corporate labor abuses.
Final Picture Thoughts: As you have seen, 2002 was an active year for Commentary. In addition to the 2002 guests already mentioned, Jim Mather and I would also like to thank Chuck Carlson for keeping us up to date on the world of sports, Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum and Winnebago County Executive Jane Van De Hey for lots of insights during their June visit, Neenah Mayor George Scherck for giving us a clear and candid appraisal of life as a small town executive, Michelle Litjens and Don Wyman for debating Republican v. Democrat ideas with a civility and respect missing in network and cable battles between party reps, and Jim Simmons/Dan Rylance for always being there as souces of information, inspiration, and support. We also want to thank students Shane Borger and Nathan Wardinski (picture not yet available) for their impeccable directing of Commentary in 2002, our ace camera assistant Michelle Falsetta, and our mascot Dundee.
Finally, a special note of thanks to videographer Doug Freshner. The mastermind of the new and improved Commentary in 1999, Doug retired at the end of 2002 and has already left a void that will be difficult to fill. Mr. Mather and I love Doug and wish him all the best for a happy retirement.
Happy New Year to everyone and best wishes for a productive and enlightening 2003!