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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – My colleague Meg Ellefson has shared that she is a regular Wheel of Fortune viewer. I’m sure for Meg, it’s been hard to watch lately. Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg’s campaign last week began airing four commercials in each half-hour show. That’s a saturation strategy.
That begs the question, is Rosenberg in trouble? Is she at risk of losing tomorrow’s election. The over-the-top campaign spending over the last week suggests that her strategists know she’s vulnerable. Why else would they make a $191,000 add buy in the final week of the campaign?
The Democratic party has been filling Mayor Rosenberg’s coffers. She has a much bigger war-chest than challenger Doug Diny, although, interestingly, he’s raised more money from local donors. This is easily explained: the political left considers Katie Rosenberg has a rising star. They envision her running for state assembly in the more-favorably drawn 85th district. From there – who knows – perhaps Congresswoman Rosenberg? All of those liberal fantasies implode if she’s voted out as a failed one-term mayor.
You’ve heard in my commentaries that Mayor Rosenberg is a big spender. Here’s another example: One proposal out of city hall was to create a communications specialist – sort of a spokesperson for the city. The salary would have been $85,000 plus benefits. I assure there is no member of the working press in our town makes that much to report on the news in Wausau. So the mouthpiece would be paid better than those who write news stories and cover what’s happening at city hall. The proposal was quickly shelved.
Wausau’s debt has exploded from $50-million to more than $200-million. That’s astronomically high for a city of 39,000 residents. Your share of that debt is about $5,100, in addition to the property taxes, the water bill, and the city’s fees. Mayor Rosenberg is a big spender. Remember, she’s spending your money. Let’s see if voters close the checkbook to her tomorrow.
Out-of-town democrats are spending big to try to save their political asset in Wausau.
Chris Conley
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