Shortly after the primary election the Eye on Oshkosh website (registration required) featured a thread alerting readers to a complaint that teacher's union (WEAC) members had possibly made illegal phone endorsements.
Dan Rylance just forwarded me some information he read in WEAC materials: "Nothing that occurred was illegal and DA Lennon closed the case. Furthermore, Lennon stated that we do not need a disclaimer if we are calling WEAC members."
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14 comments:
In my original "Lennon Clears WEAC" post I indicated that the complaint against WEAC was filed by School Board incumbents Dan Becker and Ben Schneider. In fact I am not sure if they filed the complaint and do not have the time to contact Lennon's office to find out. Does anyone know who filed the complaint?
I wonder why some WEAC members were called and some were not. Schneider got the phone call from OEA and his wife is a member of WEAC through Neenah school district. Becker's wife is a member of WEAC through Omro SD and she was not called. Several other WEAC members I know in Oshkosh were not called. Even if the call was within bounds, why did Herrick deny knowing anything, he is the president of OEA. He should know what his group is doing. And it seems suspicious that his voice was on the recording, but he didn't know anything about it. I wonder if Lennon is considering his own election in his decision.
I'm guessing Becker's wife wasn't called because she just recently got the job in Omro so she probably wasn't on the members list used. I'm sure others didn't get called either because they are new to WEAC, don't vote often enough to get a call or they were mistakenly left off the list.
Isn't it interesting that the OEA oopsed and it was a simple oversight and that some were called and not others. I do believe Mrs. Becker has been a teacher longer than a year. I know they have lived in Oshkosh for many years.
Hey, Tony. I recommend asking Schneider to play the recording for you. If what OEA says is true and what I have heard about the recording from OSH and those who have heard the recording, someone is lying. This isn't a simple misunderstanding. I heard the message left on an answering machine directly addressed a non-WEAC member by name. Like I said, if that is true, OEA has some explaining to do and the excuse Herrick gives of "not knowing anything about it" ain't goin' to cut it.
If it addressed someone by name, it does not need a disclaimer because it is not a recording. Only recorded messages to non-members that cost more than $15 need a disclaimer.
Money is not a factor
What does that mean --- money is not a factor?
There is nothing in the law that says they have to call EVERY member, perhaps they only called members that voted in the last 3 Feb. primaries, who knows, doesn't matter the fact is members can call members recording or not, without a disclaimer... it is that simple.
I find it quite funny that the two school board members who complain the loudest about teacher benefits paid for by the taxpayer are themselves covered by taxpayer paid for teachers benefits, ironic isn't it?
They also happen to be the two wasting taxpayer money (district lawerys in these cases)on a personal vendetta against Len Herricks (in this case) and Don Sween (in another).
I don't think Mr. Becker used the district's lawyer in the WEAC case but he did use the DA's time and he is also paid by the taxpayers.
I agree they wasted the district's money by running up legal fees re: Mr. Sween's conflict when the issue had already been addressed, twice.
So how would you feel if OEA had broken the law, and I am not saying they didn't? Would Becker and Schneider have been wasting tax dollars? Isn't it everyone's right to file a complaint if they believe there was wrong-doing? Isn't that part of Lennon's job?
Not when the reason for the complaints have more to to with petty politics and personal vendettas than they do with the legitimate concerns over policies of the OASD and Board.
It is hypocritical for these two to claim they ONLY act in the best interest of the taxpayer and then file (and refile, both with no results) a complaint simply to marginalize another member of the board who they know votes opposite of them. It's Tom DeLay-type vendetta politics at their best.
Totally agree with you Anonymous 8:49am.
They have no power otherwise because they refuse to work with others so they resort to petty politics, run up legal fees, check out our board's reputation out there in the fox valley and you will find we are a laughing stock due to those two.And in the end what do they accomplish? NOTHING.
Since Mr. Becker and Mr. Schneider are only 2 members on a 7 member board and are so out of step as you seem to suggest they cannot be a ruling majority. So if theboard is a laughing stock throughout the area it probably has more to do with much more than just these 2. Why don't you take a hard look at how this board performs as a complete unit versus other boards. Then you'll see why the board has the reputation it does.
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