April 1, 2014 election picks: Ponto, Mellone, Liotta, Kratoska, Vrana? Brunner?

Here are my spring election picks for Mayor, District 7 Alderman, and Elmbrook School Board with links to more in-depth postings, articles, websites and endorsements. (There are other races on my ballot, but they are uncontested.)  You may look up ward and preview your sample ballot at myvote.wi.gov  and find your Brookfield voting location here. Remember, the polls are open from 7am to 8pm. 

Mayor of Brookfield: Steve Ponto
It may feel like a moment of deja vu in Brookfield, but Steve Ponto and Jeff Speaker are again both on our April 2014 ballot. This time the tables are turned, however, with Ponto being the incumbent and Speaker the challenger.  Is Steve as conservative as I am? No, but I do believe he is the better choice. He brings an air of professionalism to the office, which is a welcome change from the Jeff Speaker aw shucks days of the past.
Ponto for Mayor
Ponto's campaign funding three times that of Speaker 

Alderman 7th District: Lisa Mellone
Lisa Mellone is a treasure. She has the perfect mix of brains, professionalism, grace, work ethic, and energy to do a top-notch job representing her district. Add Lisa's B.A. in Business Administration - Finance and post graduate Paralegal certificate and it is easy to see why she has a skill-set few possess. Her approach with development is particularly admirable. She meets with the neighborhoods and developers many times and manages to balance the wants and needs of each. This was not only true of the recent Underwood Crossing project (Target and Trader Joe's) but also the Moorland McDonald's, and Brookfield Marketplace (Pick 'n Save). 

Read through her endorsements from residents in our district and you will know why Lisa Mellone is the only choice. Here is mine: "Lisa Mellone has definitely raised the bar on what constituents expect from an alderman in District 7. She is dedicated to helping residents when they have  problems and to working with neighborhoods and developers to ensure optimal outcomes on new projects. Lisa works tirelessly for us all, and I am grateful she is willing to serve another term."
Better Brookfield: Lisa Mellone for Alderman 
7th District Aldermanic race: What a candidate doesn't say or do speaks volumes 
Come back, Lisa Mellone, District 7 needs you! 

Elmbrook School Board 
Elmbrook School Board election 2014: Liotta, Kratoska, and both Area I candidates-all against Common Core
Elmbrook candidates weigh 4K, Common Core programs 
Elmbrook candidates discuss board member roles, block scheduling at forum 
Common Core emerges as potent election issue for fed-up parents

Area III: Jeffrey Liotta
I really appreciate Jeff Liotta's strong opposition to Common Core, and I agree completely that teaching to the test is one outcome of adopting the standard. Standards do drive curriculum!  Jeff Liotta is a former Elmbrook graduate and School Board member, who served in the 1980s.
Elect Jeffrey J. Liotta Flyer
Endorsement letter for Jeffrey Liotta for Area III School Board 

At-Large: Write-in Jim Kratoska
Jim Kratoska states on his website, "We all have a stake in moderating or eliminating the effect of Common Core (CC) in the Elmbrook system. CC is as much about ideology as it is about education. Many of us have suffered through a variety of educational fads.  My first was ‘new math’, which like CC, taught an ambiguous, convoluted approach that could never be used on a tax form or purchase order; just like the cubes, squares, lines and dots of CC Math..." Please take the time to read through his webpage on Perspective on Education. Be sure to scroll down the entire page to the section of Here's why I am asking for your vote. It contains information on how Common Core standards are already being implemented in Elmbrook (without holding hearings.)

Jim has a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Physics, MS in Business Administration, MA in Philosophy, and has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the Electrical Engineering and Business Schools at UW-M. 

Jim Kratoska is a registered write-in candidate, which means in the uncontested Area I (correction) At-large race on your ballot, you must connect the arrow next to the write-in line and print in "Jim Kratoska" (Write his name down and take it to the polls or remember this acrostic one clever supporter sent me to help voters spell Kratoska: Kindly Remind All Taxpayers Of Spelling Kratoska At-Large 
Jim Kratoska Website  
Jim Kratoska Endorsement Letter 
Kratoska to run as write-in for Elmbrook at-large seat

Area I:  This still is a difficult choice for me. Young Zackary Vrana is running against incumbent Richard Brunner (senior citizen). Both are opposed to Common Core--Vrana adamantly so, which I like; Brunner it seems in general principle. But Vrana is also emphatically for 4K; Brunner again supports 4K in general principle. Vrana would offer a unique perspective on the board, in that he graduated from Brookfield East in 2012 and will graduate from Marquette in 2015.

Hope this was of some help to you. If I learn anything new, I will try to post it Monday night. 
   
Links: Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Jay Weber, Vicki McKenna, WisPolitics Quorum Call, Wisconsin Reporter, CNS News, Mark Levin, Breitbart BigGovernment, The Heritage Foundation, VoteWatchWI, The Way <><