Patrick seems like a decent enough guy, but when we spoke he kept harping on his experience in running a million dollar not for profit, which he mentioned more than three times in one conversation. I just don’t see how that at all relates to the specifics of the job of third district alderperson and when I pressed him on specific topics, such as using new material for pot-holes, or what he would do to make my neighborhood safer, I just wasn’t impressed at all.

He seems like a nice enough guy, but I’d rather have someone who isn’t going to need on the job training and who already has ideas on making the third district better while simultaneously understanding the meat and potatoes of the job. He would be better suited staying in the not for profit world I think.

As far as Sura is concerned, she seems to be running out of anger (I’m not quite sure what she is so angry about) and not a real passion for the work. Everything I’ve seen and heard from her makes me feel she is uneducated about the job and would have even less of an idea of what to do than someone like Patrick (who at least has had a steady job for the last few years).

I feel like she is being pushed into this because she is a woman, and it upsets me that she is seen as the “female candidate” who is needed to represent women on the common council (that is the main explanation I get when I have spoken with people who try and convince me to support her). There are plenty of great women running for the position of Alderperson (Una in the 6th seems like a good choice if I lived there) and I really don’t believe that Sura would be at all positive for the district.

I don’t want someone running on one issue, I don’t want someone running to advance their personal political career while stepping over the Third District in their pursuits, and I don’t want someone who is running out of pure rancor.

I will be support Sam McGovern-Rowen because I think he has proven, both in the forum I saw and in his service, that he has the right ideas, a great understanding of what the job is and how to do it as well as an earnest humility that would serve the Third District very well.

I hope that clears up my previous statement, I wrote that very quickly and without very much explanation.

By the way, when I say progressive leader I mean someone who has a real vision and a real way to get it done. Screaming revolution while holding a protest sign and a guitar has it’s place, but I want an Alderperson who can get things done and move forward on important issues such as environment and responsible growth. That is why I believe Sam McGovern-Rowen is the most progressive leader in this race, and why he has earned my support.

Leah: What about Sura Faraj and Patrick Flaherty? They’re strong progressives who have both worked very hard for people in the area over the years.

Much as he pretends he didn’t know who Seymer was, Nik would like to pretend now that he doesn’t know who I am. Nik was at my house early in his run to talk about the election and not because I am a voter in the 3rd–I am not.

Nik knows his Wolski’s fundraiser and introduction to the EVA was orchestrated by the Bondar/Seymer/Kaye coalition (all Kovac donors) since his association with them goes back to 2005 at least since he wrote about them for the Currents:

“People versus Property”
http://www.riverwestcurrents.org/2005/October/002465.html

Keep in mind Nik has only lived in Milwaukee about a year; prior to that he was moving back and forth between here and New York, writing for the Currents, and getting into position for this election.

82 out of Nik’s 151 donors live outside Milwaukee, most in other states, chiefly New York, which is home to 50 of his donors.
http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1617&Itemid=567&lang=

Yes, Jan Christensen supports Nik (and to an extent Sura) while Vince picks his words carefully I am told he has a Kovac sign in his yard. People tend to support who they feel they will have an inside track with if they are elected, which is perfectly understandable. Candor about the nature of one’s support is preferable, in my view.

My concern is not ideological; it’s not about Nik being a closet right-winger; it’s not about a secret CRG plot. It is about trust, decency, honesty, vision, and an ability to work well and fairly with others in situations where there are serious divisions. Nik has none of these traits.

In allying himself with angry, petty, and small neighborhood cranks who are willing to sue their neighbors in frivolous actions designed to drain their targets’ time, money, and emotional health, Nik has shown himself able and willing to stoke the flames of division, repeat baseless character-assassination rumors, and generally act the demagogue who will promise anything to anyone, and get into bed with anyone.

I would prefer to see principled, fair, visionary leadership in this city; Nik has chosen a path that turns toward opposite traits of opportunism, favoritism, and small-mindedness.

He has a proven record of fighting slum lords and shutting down drug houses. That is what the 3rd district needs and not some jerk who is going to be kowtowing to CRG people.

Not to mention he is a one issue candidate (and he is on the WRONG side of the issue) as far as those backwards anti-development Nimby folks.

He is not only in the pockets of very bad people, but he is anti-progress.

I will be supporting Sam McGovern-Rowen, a true progressive leader.

Perhaps not being around for long is the reason he doesn’t understand what CRG did and how they have cemented themselves as enemies of democracy and American ideals.

JD, no about Seymer living in Brown Deer. He’s from either Franklin or Oak Creek.

It bonds Kovak and some of the other candidates, too. Trouble for the anti-Mike’s is that they have a difficult time building a coalition or plurality in the District. I know Sura Faraj is working very hard to overcome this in the primary.

He is sleazy and came in out of no where to run for this seat. He hasn’t event lived in Milwaukee before he started running 6 months ago!

This guy is a sleaze ball and I fear for what would happen to us if he came to power and gave his slum lord buddies free reign.

This is supposed to make people take Nik or the Riverwest Current more seriously?

That’s quite the disclosure from Vince Bushnell.

It looks like the original Knaus column is on a website where it is marked as opinion, but how do neighborhood readers know that what they’re getting from the Currents — which is supposed to be “reporting” and journalistic — is not just influenced by a bunch of Kovac supporters?

Of course Kovac is upset about the post. Everyone gets upset when they’ve made bad decisions that suddenly are exposed to the light of day.

For what it’s worth, Dan Knauss is indeed independent of the currents and leans to Sam McGovern-Rowen in the 3rd district race. However, Dan, like me, lives in the 6th District, where we’re not too proud to say, our alderman is in jail.

Una VanDuvall, Fred Gordon and Charlene Hardin are all great choices in our district, and they have all been out doing doors. We’re feeling pretty good about the future of the 6th (as far as city hall goes).

I have connections to Knauss and to Nik Kovac.
I am on the other side of the Bondar debate from Nik but Nik is not a CRG supporter. He may have received some money at a fund raiser at Wolskis from Seymer-CRG-Guy, but I talked to Nik about that and warned him of the backlash.
Nik can clarify his stance on CRG,I cannot, but he definitely left me to believe he is not their guy.

Your short excerpt and the story is NOT from the Riverwest Currents nor does it reflect the opinion of anyone at the Riverwest Currents. Currents’ Editor Jan Christensen supports Nik Kovac for alderman.
Thank you,
Vince Bushell
Publisher
Riverwest Currents