by Tony Palmeri
September 2, 2001
Appearing on "Commentary" on July 4, 2001, former Oshkosh Mayor Robert Jungwirth called on current Mayor Jon Dell'Antonia to resign from office. Jungwirth, known to his friends and enemies alike as the spokesman of Oshkosh's "Joe Lunchbucket" working class, was outraged at Dell'Antonia's attempt to use the City Attorney to "nail to the cross" an individual whose web site he found upsetting. Jungwirth called the current Mayor's actions "ludicrous." He also criticized Dell'Antonia's colleagues on the Common Council (the "Silent Six") for their failure to speak out about the incident, and said that the Council's inaction was why he had to call for Dell'Antonia's resignation.
Shortly after appearing on Commentary, Jungwirth told Jim Mather and I that he had sent a hand written letter to the editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern. That letter, which I have never seen, apparently called for Dell'Antonia's resignation. A few weeks later, Jungwirth sent another letter to the Northwestern, this time typed and of op-ed size (about 750 words). I have not seen that letter either, but Jungwirth tells me that it is a critical and satirical look at city government.
Even if Jungwirth's letter appears in the paper, at this point its publication has been sufficiently delayed so as to minimize its impact. It has now been two full months since Jungwirth called for Dell'Antonia's resignation on Commentary, and the longer that call goes unreported on by the only major media in town, the less likely it becomes that the Common Council will take seriously its responsibility to deliberate about the conduct of its chosen officers. I have to believe that if former School Board Superintendent Jim Henderson called on sitting Superintendent Ron Heilmann to resign, or if former Winnebago County Executive Jack Steinhilber called on sitting Executive Jane Van De Hey to do the same, the Northwestern would be all over the story like lake flies on a windshield.
Why the news blackout when it comes to Dell'Antonia?
The Northwestern is of course not obligated to print any letters to the editor or op-eds, and especially not obligated to print them on a date dictated by the writer. Still, it is difficult to imagine why a newspaper would not print, or even delay printing, a former Common Councilor's criticism of the sitting council and one of its appointed officers. The very fact that someone as respected in the community as Jungwirth has been willing to launch such criticisms on television and now in writing is, in my opinion at least, "news" in the best sense of the term.
A friend suggested to me that maybe the newspaper is withholding Jungwirth's letter because it might contain "personal attacks." I hope not. Attempts to accuse Jungwirth of making "personal attacks" are as wrongheaded as they are disrepectful to all of the Joe Lunchbuckets in our community. I mean to say that Jungwirth argues his case the way most working people do: passionately, with a strong sense of right and wrong, with the courage to "talk straight" instead of "beat around the bush," and with a willingness to name names. Sure, you won't always get the best grammar or even the best taste from a Joe or Jane Lunchbucket, but you won't get any bullshit either.
I have invited Mr. Jungwirth to submit his letter to Commentary. We will place it on the web site and/or read it on the Commentary program.
For those on the Council or in the press who think they can make an issue disappear by refusing to talk about it, obfuscating it, or mocking the critics, here's an old proverb for you to chew on: "Trying to bury the truth is like trying to bury water: it keeps seeping back up at you."