Chisago County Commissioner Rick Greene

Chisago County Commissioner Rick Greene
Common Sense Leadership
Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

The Tea Party Movement is about Common Sense. Since few people will knowingly vote for a candidate lacking common sense, it can be said that we are all “Tea Partyists.” We all want, and profit from good government. It’s just common sense.

In Chisago County, we are fortunate to have Rick Greene’s courage, common sense and country wisdom working for us on the County Board of Commissioners. In the depths of the current recession, Rick reduced government spending to bring about the first ever zero percent property tax increase in memorable history for the taxpayers of Chisago County.

When former Commissioner Lynn Schultz and the Prison Industrial Complex tried to saddle us with a lavish, overbuilt and unwarranted 40 million dollar jail, Rick’s country wisdom was immortalized by the following simple and eloquent statement. “The walls will crumble before it (the jail) will ever be filled.”

In retaliation, “Good Old Boy” Commissioners Robinson, Schultz and Gustafson cut all highway funding to Rick’s District. Many of us would have “caved” to the Prison Industrial Complex, watching our constituents endure hazardous road conditions while Commissioner Robinson was paving roads to his favorite bars and pubs with District Two Highway Dollars.

Rick stayed his ground and along with fellow Commissioner Montzka “held the fort” until the cavalry, in the form of newly elected Commissioners Lora Walker and George McMahon, arrived. The proposed jail was voted down, an unbiased County Highway Engineer was chosen and the new board set about to correct the wrongs perpetuated by Lynn Schultz and the Prison Industrial Complex against the citizens of District Two.

Fairness is common sense. This new board is about fairness. There is no desire to retaliate against the citizens of Mike Robinson’s District by denying county highway dollars. However, the “neglected” District Two roads need repair, now.

As the “Good Old Boys” have spent our highway funds for years to come, bonding is a necessity. Commissioner Robinson’s roads were bonded. Former Commissioner Schultz readily bonded roads for her district when she was in power.

Now, it seems Rick Greene’s opponent in the Chisago County District Two Commissioners race, Katherine Johnson, says we should not bond District Two roads, which means the citizens of District Two should continue to “suck hind teat” until all of Robinson and Schultz’s bonds are repaid.

Coming from Katherine Johnson, comments like these are not totally unexpected.

Katherine Johnson is a pawn of Mike Robinson, Lynn Schultz and the Prison Industrial Complex.
Robinson is an intimidating man. There is no way Katherine Johnson has the fortitude to stand down Commissioner Mike Robinson. If Robinson wants District Two Road funds, Katherine will be obliged to hand them over.

For Commissioner Robinson and former Commissioner Schultz, it’s not about public service; it’s about regaining lost power. With County Attorney Janet Reiter firmly under their control and a Katherine Johnson victory over Commissioner Greene coupled with an unlikely but possible win by Karl Schreck in the Sheriff’s race, Lynn Schultz could return the Good Old Boys to complete dominance in 2012.

As “Tea Partyists of Common Sense,” we must maintain vigilance, we must be involved, and we must determine and support the candidates of integrity and common sense.

The records of both candidates are clear. Rick Greene has proven his ability to lead, while Katherine Johnson clearly “sucks hind teat” in the arena of common sense.