Dear editor,

I am running for Supervisor in McMillan seeking the opportunity to make a difference. I feel the McMillan Town Board needs to be refreshed with rational people that realize where the dollars actually come from and how to wisely spend them. This will be my first run for any political office. I am a lifelong resident of the Central Wisconsin area. I was born in Marshfield and spent my childhood on a family farm in Clark County.

Having a background in small business, and then being employed for many years in State of Wisconsin service, I believe I can bring a fresh but experienced viewpoint to the Town of McMillan. I want to help manage McMillan’s budget in a manner that provides necessary and required services to taxpayers at the lowest cost. These necessary services include state mandated fire protection, EMS, and road maintenance.

Do any of you that attended the tax levy meetings remember the Board’s talking point: “we won’t be able to maintain roads or provide emergency services if the levy is cut”? In one of the worst series of snow events in many years over the last few weeks how many of you didn’t have your road snowplowed? How many of you haven’t received emergency services when requested? I venture to say none of you had that problem. So it’s obvious the talking points were meaningless. A common practice of today’s politicians. I believe our township can do better.

Being from a background where at one point in my life I issued payroll checks and paid bills with money that my personal business revenues had to cover, I do understand how to be frugal and efficient. I do not believe single source spending\contract awards accomplishes that. In my opinion a competitive bidding or multiple quotes process is necessary for most purchasing and contract awards. There is a distinct difference between the wants and actual needs in any budget. Like any household or business with limited income, government also has to understand that fact. If elected my focus will be on the “needs” to provide the necessary and required services to all taxpayers in the Township.

Finally, I strongly believe in total transparency and accountability to the taxpayers. I do not believe in suppression of taxpayer input at Town meetings or at any other time. I don’t have all the answers and feel viewpoints from McMillan residents with diverse backgrounds can only enhance the Township management process. I will be open to all opinions if elected.

Please carefully evaluate the truths and untruths you are reading and hearing. Attend the March 26 Meet and Greet at the Marshfield Public Library (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.) if you have questions. Then be sure to make an informed vote for the candidates of your choice on April 2.

Thank you,

Mike Joyce

McMillan, WI