November 29, 2001
Dear Tony:
I wanted to make a few comments about the letter that Dan Rylance wrote.
Mr. Rylance's hypocrisy is incredible. He berates Mr. Bender for speaking his peace, which I respect Ken for, however, Mr. Rylance was nowhere to be found during the operating budget meetings, the capital improvement meetings, or the Council meeting to approve the budgets. How is it that you can find time to write a letter telling everyone how terrible the Council is to adopt the budget, but you can't seem to find time to actually come and speak to the issue?? He sounds like an armchair quarterback.
Mr. Rylance continues to refer to me as Mrs. Bloechl's "voting companion." I still can't figure out which meetings he is watching. I came on your show several months back and disproved that theory. Is he that blind? Please send Mr. Rylance a tape of the Commentary show that I was on with Mrs. Bloechl. Hopefully then he will see the light.
He also explained that I announced I had done such a remarkable job in my first term, that I deserved a second. Again, I don't know what meeting he was watching, but I never made such a remark. What I said was, that I was proud to be a member of the City Council, and that I would like to serve in that capacity again. I wish he could get the facts straight. He says that evaluating an incumbent was the task of the voters. Wow, is he brilliant; yes Mr. Rylance it's called an election. I was evaluated two years ago, and I will be evaluated again this coming April.
He also states that "(Mrs. Bloechl) was the only member of the Common Council to offer spending cut amendments." Of course, as I stated before, Mr. Rylance was not present during our budget meetings. If Mr. Rylance had been there, he would know that this is false. If I remember correctly, I believe EVERY council member at some point in time had something they would have liked to see cut from the budget.
It's wonderful to see Mr. Rylance involved in local politics, and it's a shame he doesn't actually sign his name on the bottom line and run for local office. But you can bet your bottom dollar that won't happen. If he did that, he might actually have to take the heat.
The most troubling part of Mr. Rylance's letter was in regards to Mr. Bender. Mr. Bender takes time every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, without pay, serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee, and actually put his name on the bottom line and run for Council. Don't we want citizens of Oshkosh to do the things that Mr. Bender does? Don't we want involvement?
Maybe only when Mr. Rylance agrees with your philosophy. The name Mr. Rylance gives Mr. Bender is "Town Crier." Although I don't agree with everything Mr. Bender says, I wish we had more "Town Criers" like him!
Best regards from Dan's favorite Tom,
Paul Esslinger