James Williamson - Elitist, Untrustworthy, Unprofessional, Disrespectful, Etc.

This is a response to the story by Mr. Randy Hollenbeck that posted on February 18, 2010.

The trailer that I have been using on my emails the past several months is a quote by St. Francis of Assisi. He once said, "Start by doing what is necessary; then do the possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

I recall this is for the simple reason that, if good things have been happening in the "last six months", then I can't wait for the next six months, or the six months after that.

Some facts for a change are in order at this point.

The current administration was elected in 2007 with a new Mayor, Clerk/Treasurer, Comptroller, City Attorney and 2nd, 4th & 5th District Aldermen. Almost a clean sweep. In the next year or so, the Police Chief, Fire Chief, City Engineer and Head of the Department of Public Works retired. After a long process, super people were hired to fill the positions . The 3rd District Alderman resigned requiring a special election to replace him.

The fact that a number of good things have been accomplished despite all of this change and whenever they may have occurred is an outstanding achievement by the administration in my humble opinion.

In regard to my not wanting open record requests on Mayor McCue, Mr. Hollenbeck once again completely misses the point I was trying to make and is completely erroneous. I'm the Comptroller and have no stake or responsibility in providing information for such requests. It is in the Clerk/Treasurer's job descriptions.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hollenbeck selectively chose not to include the Clerk/Treasurer's initial email to me. In essence the C/T was asking me to look up the information for him and what you can see is that I am telling him that he has the access and the responsibility to honor such requests. Even Mr. H admits that. If they concern the Mayor or anyone else is not my purview. I don't care. I wasn't elected to help the C/T do his job which wasn't the first time I have made that point with him during the last three years. His job - his responsibility. Trying to prevent records from being provided had nothing to do with my email and is a false statement.

This brings me to the "someone in the power of authority and respect" and my lack thereof to the C/T.

In the 2007 election, next to the mayor, I received the most votes by a candidate.

During my years on the Cudahy Family Library Board, I was President when the new library was being built.

I am now on the Cudahy Family Library Endowment Fund Board.

In addition I was in the Cudahy Jaycees for several years and was President the year our Chapter won the award for the best JC chapter in the state in our population division. My wife and I(during our Jaycee years) worked on the Sweet Apple Wood Festival when the bands marched up and down Packard Avenue.

I co-chaired the Bicentenial Committee in 1976.

Being active in my parishes has always been a part of my life as were the years I spent on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Board for SE Wisconsin.

It's for these and other reasons that citizens voted for me. They know me; Mr. Hollenbeck does not. I believe that they trusted me to do a good job even though they knew that it was my first attempt at public office. I doubt that they thought I was an "elitist" and I don't think that I have let them down.

If the Clerk/Treasurer and Mr. Hollenbeck really want to talk about the respect and the responsibility that is owed to our citizens and to each other, then I suggest that they work to earn it. I believe I did.

Words on a page just ain't gonna cut it.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Williamson