Oppose the MPS takeover

Governor Doyle and Mayor Barrett proposed that the School Board of Directors be disbanded in favor of a body appointed by the mayor. I am fighting 100 percent against this antidemocratic measure. To that end, Common Council legislation is being drafted to formalize this opposition.

Any time an elected body is disbanded in favor of an appointed body, the public loses their power and right of the vote. People have fought and lost their lives fighting for their democratic rights. And we are the very fortunate recipients of that patriotic sacrifice.

The argument has been made that the school board is too fractious to get anything done. If that is the argument to disenfranchise voters, then it is a logical extension of that argument to disband Congress. After all, Congress is a partisan body that incessantly bickers, while the school board is not a partisan body. 

One of the key components of a democracy is the integrity of the checks and balances system. Presently, if the superintendent does something that constituents don’t agree with, those constituents can call their school board director to fight for their cause. If the school board is appointed and the superintendent proposes something that runs antithetical to the interests of the public, then the public has no legislative recourse.

Another key benefit of locally elected officials is accessibility and service. If someone has a question or a concern about a school issue, they are much more likely to get a return call and service from a school board director than someone who is appointed to the position. That person who is appointed to the position is beholden to the person who appointed them, not the constituents.

History has shown us that too much power concentrated in the hands of one individual compromises the checks and balances that we have in place.

In short, as alderman I respect the public’s right to vote for their elected representatives and I will fight to preserve their rights and interests.

Tony Zielinski is the city of Milwaukee’s alderman for the 14th District, which includes Bay View. He can be reached at tzieli@milwaukee.gov or (414) 286-3769.

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