Kenosha News Excerpt

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.

Confused Logic

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

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!

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

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

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.

Candidate Statement

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.