In order to adequately fund the city’s operations we must have new economic development.

It seems like we’ve been hearing forever about developing the Mobil Oil site, the former Holiday Inn site, and other properties in La Crosse. Someone needs to be made responsible for progress on those projects and held accountable to timetables.

La Crosse has on average 43 percent higher property taxes than surrounding communities, in addition to cumbersome fees for making basic home improvements. This is a big reason why many people are choosing to buy homes outside the City of La Crosse.

The city has turned to new fees as a way to fund our government. The problem with these fees, like $50 for replacing a window, is it discourages people from improving their homes.

We need to continue to be fiscally conservative and hold the line on taxes and new spending.

Drugs are the main cause behind a rising tide of criminal activity in the La Crosse area.

I fully support Chief Tischer’s plan to create a specially trained street crime unit. The proposal, which Tischer said would be intended to ‘go get the worst of the worst,’ will call for adding six officers to the current force of 93 in the 2014 budget.

Most people are probably aware of the rise in drug-related deaths in our city last year, but they may not be aware of the hundreds of lives saved by local paramedics from drug overdoses. This is a problem that demands serious action.

Cities of comparable size have a police force of between 99 and 103, according to Tischer.

I would also work with area legislators Rep. Billings, Rep. Doyle and Sen. Shilling on changes to state law to help law enforcement agencies pursue criminals across local jurisdictions. Such an agreement already exists with La Crescent, Minn.

In my previous entry on this subject, I shared my pre-primary letter to Reince Priebus. It appears that what I warned about came to pass. In a close election the antics of Reince (with help from candidate Romney) came to bite the party in the butt, just as I warned. But let me detail some of my objections to Reince Priebus, and why I think he should not be re-elected as RNC Chair. Priebus did nothing to ensure that the primary process would be fair, did nothing to pressure debate hosts to treat all candidates equally. My use of the word "Politburo" in the letter seems particularly prescient, given that the Republican National Committee unseated duly elected state delegates, replacing them with Romney supporters, gave themselves the power to overrule states in their selection of national delegates, and gave themselves the power to change the rules at any time for any reason. Priebus did nothing to prevent this.

Liberals are using the airwaves to continue their assault against the integrity of our voting system and trying to kill the voter I.D. law. Apparently it isn't enough that their liberal judges in Madison are blocking the law because I recently heard one liberal commentator demand that conservatives who approve of voter I.D. prove that fraud was being committed. This was his way of belittling the efforts of conservatives who continue the fight to implement the law that was duly passed and signed by representatives of the people.

Here's a little story that you can tell your liberal friends to help them understand the conservative point of view on this important issue.

I see I am not the only one trying to dissect the problem with the GOP, and why the Republican candidate could not defeat the worst president this country has ever had. In order to lay the groundwork for the rest of what I will have to say, let me share the letter I wrote to RNC Chair, Reince Priebus almost a year ago:

Dear Sir;

First, kudos for your actions to derail the Trump sponsored debate. Mr. Trump is a media clown who would have put on a demeaning spectacle not worthy of the highest office in the land.