3 Reasons To Vote For / Elect Jamie Phephles To Sauk County Board Of Supervisors (WI)

-Introduction-
Last Saturday, I received an advertisement in the mail, informing-me-that we’ve an election this Tuesday. And not-just an election, but a -competitive- election; in-which two candidates are running-for-one seat: La Valle resident Jamie Phephles is challenging fellow La Valler Pat Rego, for the District 4 seat on the Sauk County Board of Supervisors!
Although Rego is the incumbent, there’s plenty-of-justification to unseat her: Rego rarely reveals her rationale for voting the way-she-does; and when local concerns are brought-to-her — such-as my wish for the LaValle Library Board to maintain its two vacant seats in June 2020, instead-of-eliminate them altogether — Pat’s pert reply is, “Good luck!”[1]
So, why elect Jamie specifically? Herein, I articulate three reasons why-we-should elect Jamie Phephles to Sauk County Board of Supervisors, as the clear choice-to-replace Pat Rego.
-Reason 1: Better Communication-
As mentioned, Jamie Phephles’ campaign informed me directly — via postal-mailed flyer — that he was running for Sauk County Board. And on-his-flyer, Jamie clearly states a website at-which he can be reached: jamiephephles.com
Furthermore, Phephles’ website is an -actual- website, with interactive elements: A chat widget allows voters to leave messages for Jamie; and a countdown timer shows the days, hours, and minutes until election day!
By contrast, Pat Rego has a mere Facebook page; which you can’t-even-see, unless you’re logged-into-Facebook. And Rego hasn’t-mailed-any flyers this year;[2] the absence-of-which implies the arrogant belief that voters will re-elect her, simply-by-being already on the Board.
The most effort Rego has shown in pursuing re-election, was-to-have a few close friends put-out yard signs bearing her name. By comparison, Jamie Phephles has gone all-out to ensure District 4 voters know what he’s about, and to invite civic relationships.
-Reason 2: Better Platform-
Communication helps voters realize who-and-what they’re voting for. But even-the-most concise communication can backfire, if the message-you-convey isn’t what voters want-to-hear. The good news is-that Jamie Phephles’ political platform resonates with voters: He supports Sauk County’s vital service-to-citizens, including road maintenance and provision of human services.[3]
By contrast, Rego’s reticence at outreach is embarrassing. Pat’s content-to-mind her own business, without involving more stakeholders than the bare-minimum she must placate. Whereas, Jamie’s more-inclusive outreach produces a more-accurate representation of voter preferences-on-issues.[4]
-Reason 3: Better Connections-
As a real-estate agent who’s endorsed by the Realtors’ Association of South-Central Wisconsin (RASCW), Jamie Phephles meets many local voters in the-course-of his work. He’s clued-in on the economic challenges facing voters, as-well-as prospective development opportunities.
By contrast, Pat Rego worked in Madison for many years as a nurse; thereby, keeping her away-from constituents in Sauk County for most-of-her day. Her patients were mostly -not- local voters! And-as-mentioned, she isn’t the most-receptive person to speak-with. Therefore, I give-the-edge to Jamie, for his better network of professional contacts.[5]
-Conclusion-
As someone who values constructive civic dialogue, I endorse Jamie Phephles for Sauk County Board this Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
—Footnotes—
[1] Such sentiment should-be-interpreted-as, “I’ll have nothing-to-do-with your unpopular cause.” Don’t expect wishers-of-luck to lift-a-finger to assist your cause; because they-only-support politically expedient causes.
[2] Although Pat Rego handed-out flyers while canvassing door-to-door in early March 2018, she hasn’t so-much-as mailed any flyers for her Spring 2022 election.
[3] Although one-might-ask, “Who -wouldn’t- support those services?” I find-it-interesting, how Pat Rego has been remarkably silent-on-supporting these lifelines that so-many rely-upon. Her non-communicative style implies Rego -doesn’t- want all citizens utilizing the Sauk County services to-which they’re entitled!
[4] From his funding-of-services to his broad outreach to otherwise-uninformed voters, Jamie Phephles’ stances mirror my own platform from-when I ran successfully for Student Senate at UW-Milwaukee in the years 2004 through 2009.
[5] Cultivating a personal connection with many voters -before- the election is critical-to-winning. As my disastrous write-in campaign showed in 2018: Simply being-familiar-with the operations of the political office sought, isn’t enough-to-sway voters from their personal loyalty to other candidates who they-might-know firsthand. And that reflects the tribalism inherent-in popularity contests, whether local-or-otherwise.