Letter: County Exec candidate boasts nonpartisan stance

To the Editor-

When I submitted my nomination papers to run for county executive, I had to submit them as nonpartisan.

Why does Portage County designate the county executive position as nonpartisan? So that the county executive will fairly represent all the people in Portage County regardless of their political viewpoint and not be biased or partisan toward any particular political group. Being nonpartisan is a requirement of the position, and all candidates for county executive had to sign their name attesting they would fill the requirements of the position as nonpartisan.

We are entering into a contract with the county, and the county is allowing us to run for the office of county executive as long as we agreed to run as nonpartisan and submitted the required number of signatures. The county wants a county executive that is not biased toward any group, political party, organization, or individual including themselves.

The nonpartisan nomination form I submitted, at the onset of the campaign, is a contract with the citizens of Portage County declaring that I will justly represent all people in the county; and that I will work with whomever the people elect to our Town Boards, to our county offices, and to our School Board, and I will encourage unity as we pull together to serve the people of Portage County.

The citizens of Portage County are not electing a county executive to represent special interest groups or career politicians from the state or from other counties. I have chosen to not take any endorsements from any political party, person, or organization because it violates my nomination contract with Portage County—and you, the citizens of Portage County.

Certain organizations, individuals, and parties have chosen to support me because they believe I will be a man of my word and will fulfill the contract that I signed. They did this of their own volition and they are free to make that choice.

I am here to represent all of Portage County as a whole. As others running for office in our county continue to align with only certain party candidates and with individuals who are in the political party they believe in; it could easily result in some people in the county being left out.

We, as a nation, as a state, and as a county, have been in a deep political divide for some time now, but my objective is to move our county away from the political party blame game of the past; and move on to what lies ahead with the hope that each resident in Portage County would take responsibility in some way to help further enhance the quality of life in our communities, establishing our county as one of the best places in Wisconsin to live.

I am humbled and greatly appreciative to all who have passed out literature, put up signs, and have spoken on my behalf. I have put my signature, which represents my word, on the line that attests; as county executive, I will work with all our elected officials and listen to all individuals equally and without bias or prejudice, and I intend to do that to the best of my ability.

John Pavelski
Candidate for Portage County Executive

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