COULD NEW-LOOK COUNTY BOARD ROLL BACK RECENT CHANGES?
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 -- 12:04 PM
Now that there's been a big change on the Clark County Board, could another administrative reorganization be in store?For years, the board has been divided between?for lack of a better term--progressive and conservative members.
Tuesday's elections were marked by some big losses for the conservative element on the Board, including Bill Elmhorst, Bob Rogstad and Rodger Ashbeck.
Seeing the board seats are non-partisan, it's difficult to determine exactly where each candidate falls, but by our count, nine or ten of the twelve contested races were won by the more progressive candidate.
"Our group is unofficial, but it's one that's not telling (candidates) how to think, but just telling them to think for themselves and think for their constituents," says Owen Mayor Tim Swiggum, who was part of an informal group that supported a change on the County Board.
The more conservative element of the board was able to push a number of changes in the past few years, including an administrative reorganization, which eliminated the Department of Administration headed by Barb Petkovsek.
Swiggum, who's followed the board for years, said the government operated more efficiently before. He hopes the new board would try to bring Petkovsek back.
"I think so. She did more good than she did bad and their excuse that we were going to save money? I don't think they could prove that they saved any money by letting her go," Swiggum says. "They've hired two or three people to take her place, they took a lot of time getting organized and maybe they have got organized and maybe they haven't."
Petkovsek is currently employed as the Adams County Administrative Coordinator and Director of Finance. She told Central Wisconsin Broadcasting News Wednesday that she would listen if the county wanted to talk.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.