Michael Orth - 15th District Alderman - Kenosha

Common Sense

2008-04-22T13:37:00.002-05:00

Last night was the first City Council meeting for the newly elected aldermen, including myself. Most of the agenda consisted of routine approvals of regular business items. Then we got to agenda item 14 and 15. Item 14 was to grant a class B beer and wine license toe The Coffee Pot on 7th Avenue, which was granted. Item 15 was to allow them to extend the use of that liquor license to the outdoor dining area that was already approved. The recommendation from the committee was to deny the outdoor use of the just approved beer and wine license. It makes no sense to approve of a business plan to expand their operations, and then vote to limit their ability to be successful. I proposed we vote against denial and the move to approve the outdoor extension. The Council has the right to approve the outdoor use even though it technically is in conflict with an overly general ordinance. Alderman Misner and Downing agreed to have the item referred back to committee to rework the ordinance in order for the Coffee Pot to move forward with their plans. I was happy to have helped a local business expand their operations to better serve the people and patrons of Kenosha. I look forward to continuing to interject common sense solutions into Council decision making.

Oath of Office and Committee Assignments

2008-04-06T22:13:00.003-05:00

On April 15th at 7:30pm there will be a City Council meeting at which the new Mayor Keith Bosman and the Aldermen will be sworn in and assume their duties of their elected offices. Following the administering of the oath of office aldermen will be assigned to committees and then vote on committee chairpersons and President of the City Council. All are welcome to attend the meeting.

Victory Party Photo

2008-04-02T19:03:00.000-05:00

From left to right: 13th district Alderman Ray Misner, 15th district Alderman-elect Michael Orth, 4th district Alderman G. John Ruffolo, Mayor-elect Keith Bosman, 8th district Alderwoman Katherine Marks, 14th district Alderman-elect Daniel Prozanski, 10th district Alderman-elect Anthony Kennedy, and 1st district Alderman Eric Haugaard.

Victory!

2008-04-02T07:03:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU!

The vote total as reported on the Kenosha County website was

Michael Orth 809 66%

Frank Pacetti 408 33%

Over the next weeks www.michaelorth.com will be converted into a webpage to help me stay in touch with you, the citizens of the 15th district. I look forward to representing you as your voice on city council. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me.

Kenosha News Excerpt

2008-04-02T07:02:00.001-05:00

15th District

A City Council veteran was defeated handily in the 15th District.

Michael Orth, also a Tremper government teacher, defeated nine-term Alderman Frank Pacetti, 809 votes to 408, according to unofficial totals.

Pacetti, the longtime chairman of the council's Finance Committee, said he was not sorry about his loss. He noted that he did not campaign actively this year.

"The voters have decided they want a change," Pacetti said. "That's great. It's probably time for the torch to pass."

Orth said he believes the district's residents were looking for an alderman who would better represent their community.

"Frank was a great asset to the city, but the people in the neighborhood wanted somebody who's going to work specifically for them," Orth said.

Polls Open from 7am to 8pm

2008-04-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

All residents of the 15th district vote at

Forest Park School, 6810 45th Avenue.

Confused Logic

2008-03-28T00:09:00.004-05:00

The Kenosha News, beyond all logic, has decided to endorse my opponent. But thanks to their confused editorial board I would like to share with you their wisdom.

In the 3/27/08 edition they endorsed my opponent with the following,

"For 18 years, Frank Pacetti has been a leader on the council and generally been a voice of reason and common sense. He is opposed this election by Michael Orth, a first-time candidate, who contends that the incumbent is not responsive to residents.

At times it might be fair to say that Pacetti's speaking style is less than diplomatic or even blunt, but we generally find it refreshingly clear, and we believe that the City Council needs his experience and leadership. We recommend a vote for Pacetti."

I have never challenged Mr. Pacetti's experience, but rather his lack of responsiveness to the districts needs. In my statement published in the 3/25/08 Kenosha News it was reported that,

"Since the April 2006 election our alderman has missed 40 percent of city council meetings."

Now today, 3/28/08 the Kenosha News in its endorsements for County Board the editors supported Mark Modory stating,

"When the Kenosha News checked attendance records for county supervisors last year, we found most members of the County Board had very good records. There were two exceptions. One was a member who had surgery and had been recovering in a nursing home. The other was 10th District Supervisor David Arrington, who missed 10 of 30 County Board meetings and 10 of 37 committee meetings in the 14-month period examined. At one point, the Board took the unusual step of having the minutes show one of his absences as unexcused, an effort that carried no penalty but expressed supervisors' frustration with their colleague's frequent absences. We share their opinion."

The Kenosha News correctly states that it is unacceptable for a County Board Supervisor to miss 33% of the scheduled meetings, yet they endorsed Frank Pacetti who missed 40% of City Council meetings since the last election in 2006. That is confused logic!

Here is a detailed accounting of Alderman Pacetti's attendance:

April 17, 2006 Present
May 01, 2006 Present
May 15, 2006 Present
June 05, 2006 Present
June 19, 2006 ABSENT
July 05, 2006 Present
July 17, 2006 Present
August 07, 2006 ABSENT
August 21, 2006 ABSENT
September 06, 2006 ABSENT
September 18, 2006 ABSENT
October 02, 2006 Present
October 16, 2006 Present
November 06, 2006 ABSENT
November 20, 2006 Present
November 28, 2006 Present
November 29, 2006 ABSENT
December 04, 2006 ABSENT
December 18, 2006 Present
January 03, 2007 Present
January 17, 2007 Present
February 05, 2007 ABSENT
February 21, 2007 ABSENT
March 05, 2007 ABSENT
March 19, 2007 Present
April 02, 2007 Present
April 16, 2007 Present
May 07, 2007 Present
May 21, 2007 Present
June 04, 2007 ABSENT
June 18, 2007 Present
July 02, 2007 ABSENT
July 16, 2007 ABSENT
August 06, 2007 ABSENT
August 20, 2007 Present
September 05, 2007 Present
September 17, 2007 Present
October 01, 2007 ABSENT
October 15, 2007 Present
November 05, 2007 ABSENT
November 19, 2007 ABSENT
December 03, 2007 Present
December 04, 2007 Present
December 05, 2007 Present
December 17, 2007 Present
January 23, 2008 ABSENT
February 04, 2008 Present
February 20, 2008 Present
March 03, 2008 Present
March 17, 2008 ABSENT

Meetings Missed: 20
Total Meetings: 50
Total Missed: 40%

You Deserve Better Representation!

Other inconsistencies in their endorsements:

The Kenosha News endorsed Keith Rosenberg “because of his early commitment to the race and because of his enthusiastic knock-on-every door campaigning.“ While Frank Pacetti turned in his nomination signatures at the last moment and has done absolutely NO campaigning in the 15th district whatsoever.

The Kenosha News endorsed Kathy Carpenter because Kurt Sinclair, “is less engaged with the district than in the past.” I have yet to meet a citizen in the 15th district who is satisfied with Alderman Pacetti’s “engagement”. He has missed 40% of City Council meetings since the last election, and the most frequent complaint I hear is that constituents have not had simple phone calls or emails returned.

And finally it strikes me as odd that the editors, who never speak directly with the candidates, are the ones doing the endorsements. This seems to give a ridiculous advantage to the incumbents. Note that of the 10 contested races with an incumbent running the Kenosha News endorsed 9 of 10 current aldermen!

Voice of the People

2008-03-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

My wife wrote a letter to the Kenosha News VOP. She wouldn't let me see it until it was published. It ran in the Thursday 3/27/08 edition of the Kenosha News.

Orth is ready to lead in 15th District

I grew up in Kenosha. I love this city. I think it’s a great place to raise a family, with a beautiful lakefront, great schools, and quality city services. However, I don’t think I understood truly what the responsibilities of an alderman were until I returned to Kenosha with my family and bought a house, becoming a part of a neighborhood and community.

Council members advocate for district residents, to be sure, but they also have full control over the city’s agenda. Because there is no mayoral veto power, unlike for governors and the president, aldermen have the power to steer Kenosha in the direction they feel is best, both on behalf of their district and the city in general. This election is vital to Kenosha’s future.

In my district, Michael Orth will provide caring, knowledgeable leadership. He hears and understands the concerns of our district’s residents. It takes immense dedication and research, though, to make informed decisions for Kenosha. I am probably the best one to tell you how deep and broad his knowledge goes, because I’m his wife. Michael has always been involved in politics, reading about events and issues from city to world, but I was most enamored with how he also breathes in the world around him. He remembers events from when he was just a little kid, like Teddy Kennedy challenging Carter in 1980. The hours of reading and research, his life experiences, have developed his best quality. Every decision he makes is quality, practical, rational, informed.

Vote for Michael on April 1. He will listen. He will understand. He will serve.

Jammie Orth

Final Push!

2008-03-26T10:38:00.001-05:00

This will be an intense week! On Tuesday the Kenosha News featured the race for the 15th district. Today we begin our final lit drop (doorhanger.pdf). If you can assist with the lit drop stop by my house anytime. I'll provide you with a map and door hangers. This weekend ads will run in the Kenosha News. Here is a preview. And most importantly make sure to vote on Tuesday, April 1st. If you are going to vote alone, take your neighbor with you!

Kenosha News VOP

2008-03-26T10:20:00.002-05:00

This morning I awoke to a VOP letter written by a former student of mine. Certainly it is inspired by comedien Stephen Colbert and includes several allusions to stories I tell as a teacher of world history. Jordan was recently featured in the Kenosha News for his eloquence and broad vocabulary, and this VOP article shows his verbal acumen. Jordan is also a resident of the 15th district. The following is taken from the Wednesday 3/26/08 print edition of the Kenosha News:

Orth is the right choice for 15th District

Fellow residents of Kenosha’s 15th Aldermanic District, alias The Fightin’ Fifteenth!:

Your voice has been strangely muted in the City Council, but through no fault of your own. The incumbent alderman, however honorable his intentions, has neglected to attend 40 percent of Common Council meetings. If he were O’Hare International Airport for a day, he would have canceled over 1,000 flights — which is obnoxious, even by ORD standards.

Our beaming, fresh alternative is Mr. Michael Orth, a veritable polymath concerning local and world history — he knows more about the Hapsburgs than Count Otto II himself — and with his extensive historical knowledge, he is the candidate who will sidestep the past’s pitfalls and who will lead Kenosha into a sunnier future (him and Al Gore, both).

Mr. Orth is a reliable promoter and practitioner of self-accountability, which encompasses both knowledge and attendance. He is the kind of person who understands our city, who believes in Positive Progress, who actually will respond to inquiry (ask about his collective farm potato, or his views on municipal services, whichever you prefer), and who does not run red lights from the left-turn lane. Since he is a teacher, he cannot afford to make questionable campaign donations, even if he wanted to.

As a taxpayer, a teacher, and a parent, he understands the role of the local government, the value of education to our community, and the necessity of a steaming mug of hot cocoa after a day of sledding. And as an alderman, Mr. Michael Orth would serve our district proudly and honorably. To all residents of the Fightin’ Fifteenth: Vote Michael Orth April 1.

Jordan Hildebrandt

Kenosha News Article

2008-03-25T10:09:00.004-05:00

Excerpt from Kenosha News (link to full article)

15th District

Incumbent Frank Pacetti is being challenged by Michael Orth in the 15th District.

Orth, who is running for office for the first time, said residents aren’t satisfied with Pacetti’s representation for the district or his contact with them. “They feel they’ve lost the voice in city government,” he said.

He said Pacetti has missed a number of council meetings since the last election. “His experience is not experience we can count on,” said Orth, a government and history teacher at Tremper High School.

Orth said aging streets and sewers are major concerns of district residents. With a new high school on the horizon, managing development along 60th Street — the north border of the district — will increase in importance for student safety, he said.

Pacetti, who’s campaigning for his 10th term, disagreed with Orth, saying his experience is valuable in helping to run the city. He said he wanted to provide continuity during significant turnover at city hall, including having a new mayor and at least five freshmen council members.

He said the city and county need to work together to save money, including possible consolidation of both governments’ parks, public works and law enforcement departments.

“There’s nothing off the table,” he said. “Nobody wants fewer services, but nobody wants to pay for all of them. People ask, how do you get more for less? This is the answer.”

Pacetti, JHT Holdings executive vice president, said consolidations might lead to loss of some jobs.

New Experience, My Commitment

2008-03-18T21:45:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was the last City Council meeting before the April 1st election. Once again Alderman Pacetti was not in attendance. He missed his 20th meeting since being elected to represent the 15th district in 2006. His continued failure to represent the district at Council meetings is unacceptable. He has missed 40% of the scheduled meetingsin the past 2 years! In an interview with the Kenosha News today I was told by a reporter that Alderman Pacetti is touting his experience. Experience only matters if it involves meeting the needs of your constituents. Over and over, as I have walked the 15th district since November I have heard from neighbors and new friends that they are disappointed in the representation they receive.

I offer a new experience and a commitment to be responsive to the needs of fellow citizens, replying to emails and phone calls in a timely manner. Service is the experience residents of the 15th district deserve, and it is what I will provide.

Yard Signs are now available

2008-03-12T17:01:00.003-05:00

Send me an email or give me a call and let me know your address if you would like a yard sign. I will be putting them up this weekend throughout the district. If you have a neighbor or friend who might also like a yard sign please let me know. The election is less than 3 weeks away!

Candidate Statement

2008-03-11T17:03:00.007-05:00

The Kenosha News sent out a questionnaire to all candidates for office asking for general information, a 150 word statement, and a photograph. They stated in their letter that they will, "print your words as nearly as possible to what you write." This is the statement I submitted:

I believe, like Abraham Lincoln, in “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. As alderman I will serve as the people’s link to city government. Residents of the 15th district have been frustrated by a lack of service: not having phone calls returned, emails going unanswered, and information requests languishing. I believe I can do better. I will represent the 15th district at council meetings, starting with making my attendance a priority. Since the April 2006 election our alderman has missed 40% of city council meetings! Kenosha deserves better.

As a teacher I know the importance of doing one’s homework. I commit to working hard, focusing on issues brought before the city council to solve problems, all while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. Being an alderman is a part-time job; I believe it requires full-time commitment. I ask for your support on April 1st.

Meet & Greet / Fundraiser

2008-03-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Join me on Thursday, March 13, 2008 from 5pm to 7pm at Forever Friends!

Forever Friends
6040 39th Ave
Suite 6
Kenosha, WI 53142

Forever Friends shares it’s parking lot with Paielli’s Bakery.

Pizza and soda will be provided.

Bring your kids and buy a bear while we discuss Kenosha's future together.

Goal met! We reached every house!

2008-03-09T20:32:00.006-05:00

This weekend capped off a week of distributing about 2000 pieces of campaign literature. With the help of many supporters over 1200 pieces of literature were distributed on Saturday alone.

While walking the neighborhood I got a chance to discuss with many of you your concerns. Most often what I heard was that you want to be heard. Too often in the past residents of the 15th district have tried to bring a concern forward to the current alderman only to get no response by phone or email. My committment as alderman is to be your voice. Whether it is an issue that needs to be addressed by the city or a problem with a neighbor I will help you find solutions in a timely manner. When you reach out to me for assistance I will listen and respond.

Kenosha Professional Fire Fighters - IAFF Local 414 Endorsement

2008-03-06T22:10:00.004-06:00

I am proud to accept another endorsement. Tonight the Kenosha Professional Fire Fighters - IAFF Local 414 informed me that they have endorsed my candidacy for alderman in the 15th district. I thank the brave men and women who serve our community as fire fighters and EMTs. For more information about Kenosha's fire fighters check out their webpage www.local414.com.

UAW Southeastern Wisconsin CAP Council Endorsement

2008-03-05T17:27:00.003-06:00

My dad would be so proud! Today I received the endorsement of the UAW Southeastern Wisconsin CAP Council. My dad was an inspector at AMC and a union steward, and today I'm sure he is smiling down on me. I know the value of a union job and union negotiated salary and benefits. Through hard work and a fair union contract my parents were able to raise nine kids. Additionally, as a student in high school I was the recipient of the UAW Local 72 scholarship which helped me pay for my university education. Once again I thank the hard working men and women of the UAW for their support and assistance to me in reaching my goals.

Kenosha Education Association Endorsement

2008-02-26T18:06:00.006-06:00

Today I accepted the endorsement of the Kenosha Education Association! I am delighted to have the official endorsement of my colleagues. As teachers we have a very personal contact with the people of Kenosha and understand the struggles and triumphs of families. As alderman I hope to bring my knowledge of Kenosha's schools to the city so they can continue to work together for the betterment of our larger community. When the city and KUSD work together we all win!

AFL-CIO Endorsement

2008-02-19T19:01:00.000-06:00

As an active member of the Kenosha Education Association and the son of a retired UAW local 72 member I proudly accept the endorsement of the Kenosha AFL-CIO in my race for alderman this spring.

Part-time Job, Full-time Resposibility

2008-02-10T08:52:00.001-06:00

As Alderman I will do my best to be available to you when you call or email me, and further, I make a commitment to return your call or message promptly with the information you require. But even when you do not call I will work for you! Attending common council meetings as your representative is the job of an alderman. Since the April 2006 election for alderman through Feb 4, 2008 the 15th district's voice has been silent for 19 of 47 common council meetings simply because our representative Alderman Frank Pacetti was not in attendance at the meeting. The inability to attend an occassional meeting for personal reasons is certainly understandable, but when an elected official misses 40% of common council meetings he has been hired by the people of our district to attend on our behalf it is unacceptable. We need an a new alderman who puts representing our neighborhood first.

Positive + Progress

2008-01-13T19:55:00.000-06:00

This spring election season we are hearing a lot about direction, whether it should be forward, new or different. I believe we need Positive Progress. Kenosha has changed over the course of my life time, from a factory town, dominated by AMC, to a city without direction, to a city today that is growing, developing and improving. I believe we need to build on the Positive Progress established by Mayor Antaramian, continuing to invest in our community, cleaning up brownfield sites, working cooperatively with state and federal government to secure the grant dollars available to communities like ours, and assisting businesses to bring jobs to our strong, dependable workforce. Kenosha needs leaders who believe in our strong roots and our even stronger future. The Kenosha News reported in it's January 6, 2008 edition,

"Michael Orth, 35, a government and history teacher at Tremper High School, is running against Frank Pacetti in the 15th District.

"I'm aware of how the system works, and I want to be a part of it," Orth said. "I certainly think we're going in the right direction. I just want to give a little more to the community and the neighbors." "

I see Kenosha in a positive light. I hope you do too. As alderman I will offer to my neighbors better access to city government and services, so they too can be part of the positive future of Kenosha.

The entire Kenosha News article can be found online at www.kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2334508

Wisconsin Way Kenosha Forum Excerpt

2008-01-04T23:02:00.000-06:00

On December 4, 2007 The Wisconsin Way held a forum at the Parkway Chateau to solicit comments from the public about how to address the need to control taxes and maintain the level of services throughout Wisconsin. The following is an excerpt from that forum.

Speaker 16:
Michael Orth

I’m a teacher in Kenosha. First, we have to call off the dogs. We have to stop beating each other down. For me, as a teacher, the dogs came out in 1983 with “A Nation at Risk”. They said the schools in America are failing. No they weren’t. The crisis they pretended was there made people scared of what was happening, when they didn’t need to be. Right now we’re terrified about social security. The solution is there; politicians need to find the answer. How is it that in the 1950s, when business taxes were extremely high, we managed to build over half of the schools in the city of Kenosha? Why? There was a shared responsibility there, a community responsibility. Sally Heideman talked about the need for community. That’s right. We need community to be rebuilt. We all had a chuckle about the list of things schools are being asked to do; it’s because the community needs those things to be done. We need those services. The question is what is fairness? Fairness is people getting what they need, not everybody getting the same thing. Poor people need more than the well off. The kid in the inner city needs a lot more than I do or my children will ever need. We need to take care of those kids, because if we don’t, they end up in the prisons. Prisons aren’t on the face a bad thing. People need to be incarcerated who make legal infractions. But that’s not the solution for the future; that’s reactive. We need to get in front of things. We watched a video with Bob Lafayette, a Progressive Republican. Where is that combination today? We need it. We need people to step up. We also need Democrats to move back to the middle. There’s got to be a common ground that we can find. In the old days of campaigns, people got together at the end of the day. When social security was solved temporarily in the 80s, Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill got together to solve that problem. Why can’t we do that today? At the national level, I don’t see it happening, but it has to happen at the local level. If we don’t do it now, where are we going to be 25 or 50 years from now? Another concern is that I continually hear people talk about business models. But a business model in education does not work. We cannot cut our losses. They’re our kids. In business, cutting your losses is the right move to make. When you see that’s not going anywhere, stop investing. We have to keep investing in education. We can’t just pare back; it’s not an option. It’s not an option for the future.

As we go forward looking for solutions, the Wisconsin Way is an awesome thing. It’s an amazing feat that the sponsoring organizations have come together to do this. If the big dogs can call off the dogs, come together to work together, and come up with solutions for the state, we’re all going to be better off. Thank you for doing this and I hope this doesn’t go away. I will be with the Wisconsin Way all the way. We need to get Wisconsin moving forward again. Wisconsin isn’t just a way, it’s a promise. We made a promise to future generations, your grandparents and parents; I made that promise to my kids. We have to keep Wisconsin strong. Bring business and education on board and let’s keep it going.

For more information on The Wisconsin Way check out their web page http://www.wisconsinway.org

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T18:29:00.000-06:00

2008 promises to be a year of change in Kenosha and our country. As we head to the polls this spring we are presented with new choices for a new era in city and national politics. My vision is for a progressive future that invests in our local infrastructure, protects our environment and manages our city's growth for the benefit of both "old" and "new" Kenosha. I look forward to sharing my ideas for Kenosha's future.

Progressive Majority Endorsement

2007-12-16T21:17:00.002-06:00

On Friday I was informed by Progressive Majority that I received their endorsement in my run for Alderman. I am happy to receive the endorsement of a national group that has been instrumental in advancing the ideals of progressive politics. I look forward to adding additional endorsements to my campaign resume in the near future. Stay posted.

http://www.progressivemajority.com/