Letters To The Editor

Dr. James Fitzpatrick, Fort Atkinson
Why is our district and virtually every other district in the state of Wisconsin constantly coming back to their communities seeking referendum support? Well, the answer is pretty simple: Wisconsin public school funding had not kept up with the rate of inflation.

John Callan, Fort Atkinson
Both questions led former lives as proposed legislation vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers. Now, the state Senate, lacking a supermajority to override the veto, is again attempting an end-run around both the legislative process and the separation of powers by enshrining failed legislation into the state constitution, where it would be immune to gubernatorial veto.

Rodger Thomann, Fort Atkinson
The stronger the community and the more growth, the more valuable our homes become and the more people who will share in the funding of our schools and other local services and quality of life amenities. Without strong public schools the reverse may happen.

Commentary submitted to Fort Atkinson Online by School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Eduction President Kory Knickrehm.

Steve Tesmer, Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin is a classic “purple state,” split nearly 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans. In statewide elections, sometimes Republicans win and sometimes Democrats win, but for more than a decade, Republicans have held strong control of both houses of the state legislature, thanks to the gerrymandered district lines they drew in 2011.

Leslie LaMuro, Fort Atkinson
The April 4, 2023 election in Wisconsin is critical to democracy, don’t sit this one out. Each community has important local school boards or city officials on the ballot; however the vitally important statewide election is for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Vicki Wright, Fort Atkinson
Gerrymandering is when a political group changes a voting district to hurt another group or work to their advantage.  Wisconsin is known for some of the most gerrymandered state legislative maps in the country.  All of us have the right to have fair voting maps which are not based on maneuvering lines to a political party’s advantage.

Jim Marousis, Fort Atkinson
The April 4 election for Wisconsin Supreme Court presents a clear choice.  Judge Janet Protasiewicz has stated that she favors Fair Maps and voting rights.  Wisconsin Republicans have used gerrymandered districts and voter suppression to retain power in state politics since 2010.  They have failed to deliver for the state’s residents.

Diane King, Fort Atkinson
As I watch another cycle of bitter partisan commercials, this time for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, I wonder if we are really as divided as a state and a nation as we are led to believe. Are our neighbors, the casual acquaintances we meet at the grocery store or local restaurant really our enemies…

Steve Bower, Lake Mills
Shortly after the U.S. Supreme overturned the guaranteed constitutional right to abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision last summer, Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin were swift to take up the war on women by restoring the state’s near-total abortion ban from 1849.