Wisconsin
La Crosse doesn’t need more public comment on city administrator — the last election was them speaking out
Does La Crosse need more public comment before hiring a city administrator?
For seven months, a study group made up of city council members has been studying the idea of hiring an administrator.
Yesterday, that group said it needs more time to get public comment.
Didn’t we just do that? Did the public not speak?
We had eight city council members on the ballot. And, if I’m not mistaken, all of them are pro-city administrator, and it wasn’t a secret — if you read their answers to our questionnaire.
We also had a mayoral race, where this position was definitely on the ballot.
In two debates, Shaundel Washington-Spivey made it very clear, with a majority of answers he had to questions, that a city administrator would be a benefit for La Crosse.
And his opponent, Chris Kahlow, stayed on the fence in regards to the position.
Then the public spoke — they elected a mayor, who was so openly pro city administrator, it shouldn’t be ignored.
So, with that, plus eight council members, it’s very clear the public spoke during the election.
La Crosse had a 60.5% turnout this past April. Last mayoral election, turnout was 28.2%.
So the public has spoken. City administrator it is.
As I see it, I’m Rick Solem
Roy
April 30, 2025 at 8:29 am
Back up a bit, Rick.
The renewed discussion about changing to an Administrator form of city government started last year when your friend, former Mayor Mitch Reynolds, suggested it.
He did this prior to his announcement that he would not try for re-election.
The idea was bantered about a bit, endlessly on your talk show, before the Council formed the study group. They then hired a Madison consultant to guide them. The group, with an election right in the middle of it, came up empty.
I would take your headline:
“la Crosse doesn’t need more public input on City Administrator” and add
“Because it overwhelmingly voted it down in a referendum already”.
If, after being guided by a publicly pro-administrator consultant, and being pressured to go with the administrator, by a new Mayor and the old Mayor, the committee has no opinion,
Take it under advisement, as courts say, and do nothing.
Come On Man
April 30, 2025 at 8:42 am
Sorry Rick, until you move to La Crosse and become a taxpayer, you don’t get a vote.
Kevin
April 30, 2025 at 10:19 am
Sorry Rick – you have no idea if those folks were elected for a pro city administrator stance or not! If you are claiming that, then you must admit that Trump was elected to do what he is doing. He won, that was his platform, so it is acceptable, go ahead and say it!
Most folks don’t know who Spivey is other than he is lacrosses first black openly gay mayor! Your radio station made sure of that!
I wouldn’t want a city administrator without the ability for a voter to remove that person, and the mayor took a fairly big pay cut.
I don’t trust any of the folks that were elected, don’t know them, haven’t seen any output from them, after they have been there for a bit, then let’s discuss the administrator.
Finally, you are not a Lacrosse resident, you don’t pay real estate taxes here, you don’t suffer the consequences of the cities decisions. You don’t get a say! I throw you in the same boat as the college students voting in city elections, temporary residents, ensuring a higher cost of living for all.
Want to have some credibility, by a house here, pay the taxes, pay the user fees – make sure you buy a house next to college rental housing in a residential neighborhood!
GENE
April 30, 2025 at 1:38 pm
What a dumb take. because someone doesn’t live directly somewhere means they can’t have an opinion on the matter? None of us in Wisconsin live close to the border. Does that mean we can’t have an opinion on all the gang members and murderers Biden let in. Just because someone doesn’t pay real estate taxes doesn’t mean they don’t shop or work in the city and contribute in other ways.
City administrator needs at least 5 more years of thought put behind it before action is taken
kevin
May 1, 2025 at 7:59 am
Gene – I will back up, as was said above, Rick can bloviate all he wants on the radio, and he does. He can voice all the opinions he wants, I do, and I take my lumps for it. Don’t want to hear what someone has to say about what you say, quit talking.
Come On Man
May 1, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Opinion yes, saying this should be a done deal no.
Sorry but shopping or working in a community that you don’t live in means you will not suffer any consequences if the administrator does a lousy job.
The border issue is something we all have a stake in. Because we pay taxes for Homeland Security and Medicare / Medicaid, ETC, some states are providing free healthcare with government funds.
So yes, I should have a say about the border if my tax dollars are being spent in a manor I don’t agree with.
Mike Hochertz
May 2, 2025 at 5:38 am
The mayor wants the administrator to do HIS job so he can drive around and “interact” with the community, or so he has stated. Stay in the office and do the hard work Mr Spivey.
This too is another government bloat. As far as the Minnesota resident comments or thoughts, he’s another liberal that thinks a money tree exists somewhere.
It’s amazing that the station allows this but, until the public contacts the corporate headquarters, we will be stuck with this programming.
walden
April 30, 2025 at 1:52 pm
The brief answer to your question is “no.”
As in no-one voted thinking there would be no additional fact finding or discussion of this matter.
Leave it to a liberal to find an angle to short-cut “democracy.” Based on other commenets above please voluntarily deport yourself back to Tampon Tim’s socialist paradise Minnesota.
A full referendum is needed before such a drastic change is made to La Crosse’s governance.
Libertarian Guy
May 10, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Leave it to progressive liberal Rick Solem to know “what is best for us” La Crosse residents when he is not impacted in any way shape, or manner as a resident of Hokah, MN. This is a major change to how La Crosse is governed Rick. With a starting annual cost of up to $257,000.00 in benefits and salary as stated in the 5/8/25 council meeting, plus the cost of support staff salaries and benefits and remodeling to create or rent office space, you are talking real money just to hire someone who will ostensibly control the council members penchant for spending other peoples money. Chill Rick, you do not know what is best for us residents who pay the taxes and the election was not a referendum on a single issue.