I’ve spent a little time on this blog detailing the financial travails of State Rep. Scott Newcomer, including the suit filed against Newcomer by American Express, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the financial shenanigans of State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, who was sued last year by a friend for failing to repay a $4,000 personal loan. Sen. Erpenbach didn’t disclose the suit on state ethics statements because it was below the state threshold. In addition to the suit filed by Sen. Erpenbach’s friend, he was also sued by Madison Gas & Electric for failing to keep up on his bills.
While I can certainly empathize with folks having financial difficulties, the problem I have with folks like Scott Newcomer and Jon Erpenbach is that they were elected in large part because voters trusted their ability to exercise good judgment in Madison, and if they can’t make good decisions in their own personal lives, how can they be counted on to make good decisions in their roles as legislators?
If you had read the entire article by jsonline’s Dan Bice, you would have seen that Jon did take responsibility, and resolved all the issues listed. Responsible grown-ups find ways to deal with adversity. I guess politicians are supposed to be perfect, that’s why we elect them, or so authoritarian conservative would have us believe. But oddly, like all humans, personal issues create situations that look bad on the surface but are not and really none of our business.
And that’s what I took away from Bice’s column. He could have set up the personal financial trouble Jon went through in a less sensational way, but basically cleared him of wrong doing later in the piece.
John, I read the entire article, and I suppose I was remiss for failing to mention that Sen. Erpenbach took responsibility.
I don’t believe elected officials are supposed to be perfect – after all, no one is – but how about resolving things before they end up in court? Court proceedings for failure to pay bills/pay back loans is often the very last of a long line of attempts to get things resolved, which makes me question the judgment of those involved.
Zack I read somewere that feingold was broke. in the senate for 15 years he should be doing good.Sounds like some bad decisions were made. Two divorce and broke. I can see alot of mud in his future
Ray
Clearly you need to upgrade your reading!
If you recall, Feingold owes his Election to the Slinging of MUD!
He’s A lock for Reelection!
Go tell your friends you read that somewhere!
I suppose dragging a politicians personal life, even if it’s lacking in sensational details, is fine for candidates with no moral or ethical compass, but that’s setting the bar a little low.
If you’re suggesting Erpenbach’s divorce and monetary situation is somehow relevant to his state senate duties, explain how.
Money owed is a dicy personal issue as well. It gets complicated when you’re dealing with two conflicting versions of the story, which again, is none of our business. It has nothing to do with his public duties or his job performance. Yet the comments here seem to suggest otherwise.
Kids like to play in the dirt, grown-ups should know better. If Jon has done something truly questionable in office, then call him on it, otherwise stop playing in the dirt.
Point taken, John.