October 26, 2026 – Watertown Daily Times Online
Last week crews contracted by WE Energies were in our rural area checking out which electrical transmission poles may need to be replaced.
I chatted with workers from Casper WY, Cheboygan MI and an immigrant from Kenya. And they all agreed – Wisconsin is a special place.
To maintain our green Midwestern jewel we need our leaders to protect our abundant natural resources, and to empower our families with access to affordable healthcare, childcare and housing and maybe most important, vigorously supported public schools.
In our current situation, when we assess the work of our elected leaders, we expect to be able to meet with them and ask questions and hear their ideas and solutions going forward. Do they deserve to continue to represent us?
Incumbents in our Assembly and Senate districts know Watertown is the largest city and an important regional hub. Both serve on Education Subcommittees with Senator John Jagler the chairman. And we all know education is a hot-button issue in our fair city.
First a referendum was held, and passed, with school building losses and budget cuts still looming. Secondly, we have an “active” school board pushing into areas they normally would trust to our professional staff.
Where does our chairman stand on these issues? Does he support reworking the school funding formula with the potential impact on local property taxes? Is he concerned about schools closing like nearby Hustisford?
And I know school boards are local bodies, but they traditionally follow state guidelines on procedures and resources. The board is getting entangled in private entities that have interests that are partisan or skewed to a right-wing ideology.
Jagler’s website lists things he has been involved in – the latest entry is 2023! He was scheduled to finally appear in a Q&A with his constituents on Oct 29th but has since backed out. He was invited recently to an AAUW event in Watertown, a mile from his house, but was no-RSVP, no-show. His opponent, teacher Sasha RIPLEY showed up from 90 minutes away and met with voters and answered questions.
There is still time. If you know him, encourage him to show up Thursday, or at a minimum, respond to the written questions being funneled through the Watertown Daily Times by this weekend as folks prepare to vote whether he deserves another term.
Benjamin Adams,
Watertown
