Doug Diny
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – If you’re a regular reader of these Conley Commentaries, you know that I’m not a fan of Wausau’s current mayor Katie Rosenberg.
It’s not personal. It’s about policies. Mayor Katie appears to be a pleasant enough person. When she was first elected, I tried to ignore her liberal policies. It didn’t matter to me if the rainbow flag flies over city hall; I would care about policies that impact me-like property taxes and the delivery of city services. What I’ve learned is that it’s impossible to separate the two.
Katie Rosenberg is a big spender. Property taxes in Wausau are already higher than surrounding communities. Water bills are among the most expensive in the state. It’s a fair question to ask, who would someone choose to live here when living expenses are cheaper just down the road in Weston, or Mosinee, or Kronenwetter, or Rib Mountain, or Schofield and Rothschild?
In the 19 years that I’ve lived here, the political makeup of Wausau has changed. It’s a liberal city these days. Conservatives live outside the city limits. Wausau’s city leadership reflects that. Mayor Katie and a majority of the city council are liberals. We used to have conservative voices, like former council member Deb Hadley, who stood up for the property owners and taxpayers in town. She knew that taxpayers were not a bottomless pocket that could pay for anything. Now we have environmentalists, clean land advocates and green-energy pushers on the city council. How much can we spend on their causes? As much as it takes.
Now a city council member, District 4 Alderman Doug Diny, is running for mayor. When Diny won his city council seat, he campaigned against the city’s rising debt and economic development challenges. Those are both issues for a mayor to talk about. Rising debt pushes up taxes. Economic development brings in more money to the city.
Diny’s campaign won’t be an easy one. His name recognition is low compared to Mayor Katie. He’s not a Mandela Barnes-Tony Evers liberal. Others may get into the race, diminishing his chances. The good news is this: for Wausau voters who decide they can’t afford Mayor Katie, at least there’s an alternative.
Chris Conley
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