November
2005
Party Chair Wineke chooses Figurehead over Workhorse
TAYLOR THE WRONG CHOICE AT THE WRONG TIME
In a gushing press release, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Joe Wineke lauded State Senator Lena Taylor as his appointment as 1st Vice Chair. Wineke couldn’t have made a more worthless appointment.
Nowhere in the press release was there any mention of what Taylor plans to do. Nowhere was there even a quote from the Senator. What party building techniques does she plan to undertake? What is her vision for the position? Does she even have a vision?
As his Party’s Chairman, Wineke has a responsibility to get off his hands and get things done. To do so, he needs an effective hands-on team. Taylor is not hands-on.
In the past, Watchdog Milwaukee has requested, multiple times we add, for Senator Taylor to return phone calls. She has simply chosen not to. Her staff has delivered these messages to her. She has ignored them. If the Senator cannot find five minutes of time in her busy schedule to return a call to Watchdog Milwaukee, how will she have time to act as 1st Vice Chair of the party?
Wineke squandered an opportunity for leadership. If in appointing Taylor, Wineke wanted to show diversity, he succeeded, but there are many qualified and able people of color who can work to grow the party. There was no need to select a person who has already risen to power or for that matter someone who puts her own interests first. Lena is all about Lena.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin press release highlighted some of Taylor’s accomplishments including her position on the Joint Finance committee. These accomplishments are laudable, but if the Senator does not have five minutes in her schedule to return phone calls, any hope for a leader who can help to grow the party and one day capture the majority in either the Assembly or the Senate should be abandoned.
Jim McGuigan
Jim McGuigan, Watchdogging Wisconsin
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I’m not in Lena’s district, so I’ve never had the opportunity to try to get her to respond to phone calls — but many many many legislators don’t return calls to bloggers, or non-constituents, for that matter. I’ve found Ms. Taylor to be knowledgeable and responsive in person.
Is that the only factor you’re using to declare her not hands-on and appointment “worthless?” If so, that’s being mighty self-important. If not, I’d like to hear more. Like I said, I’ve never called her.
1. The only thing Lena cares about is Lena.
2. Have you ever asked her for help Stacie? I am guessing no. Being personable is one thing, but actually helping someone in a timely manner is another.
3. How does this appointment help the party? Not that the position matters anyway.
I’ve also found her to be knowledgeable and responsive in person. Is there something else going on here?
Politicians have different styles regarding media, and that might be part of what’s going on here. Gwen Moore was very responsive while in the State Senate. I’ve also found Spencer Coggs, Alberta Darling and Jon Erpenbach to be responsive, and Peggy Rosenzweig was when she was in office.
Tim Carpenter, on the other hand, has not been responsive to WatchdogMilwaukee, but he also knew we wanted to talk about his support for the GOP’s sham Voter ID legislation. He has responded to his constituents on that issue, though his rationale for supporting Voter ID still makes as much sense as the “solution in search of a problem” ID requirement.
Gary George was always very difficult to get ahold of, which should surprise no one. I don’t think Lena is looking to emulate Gary.
Lena’s right on the issues and is a great voice for Milwaukee in the state Senate. To effectively lead the Democratic Party in an urban progressive direction (we hope that’s what Wineke had in mind when he appointed her, though we’re not holding our breath), her office should take an example from her predecessor, Gwen Moore. Pesky watchdog reporters aren’t so bad, really, and sometimes we’re even helpful.