From Monday, December 1 to Tuesday, January 6, Altoona residents who wish to file nomination papers for municipal positions in the city of Altoona may do so at Altoona City Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; nomination papers are available there and on the city’s website, http://www.ci.altoona.wi.us.
   The following positions are up for re-election:

• In District 4, (Wards 8 and 9): An Alderperson, for the term of two years, for the seat held by Ray Henning.
• In District 5, (Wards 10 and 11): An Alderperson, for the term of two years, for the seat held by Brendan Pratt.
• In District 6, (Wards 12 and 13): An Alderperson, for the term of two years, for the seat held by  Colleen Weber.

   Questions about these municipal positions can be answered by calling (715) 839-6090.  
   One seat on the Altoona School District Board of Education is available for the April 7 spring election. Candidates for this three-year term must file nomination papers no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. Paperwork is available in the district office from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Questions about this school board position can be answered by calling (715) 839-6032.

   Considering the intense efforts by national and local candidates to get voters’ attention, election day turnout in Altoona and the Town of Washington remained stable for the presidential election this year; some numbers even decreased.

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Local election results:

• President:
  Votes for Barack Obama: Altoona 2,066; Town of Washington 2,164
  Votes for John McCain: Altoona 1,365; Town of Washington 2,009
• Congressional District 3:
  Votes for Ron Kind: Altoona 3,904;  Town of Washington 2,379
  Votes for Paul Stark: Altoona 1,094; Town of Washington 1,704
  Votes for Kevin Barrett: Altoona 71; Town of Washington 65
• Assembly District 93:
  Votes for Jeff Smith: Altoona (Wards 1-7, 9-11) 1,570; Town of Washington (Wards 1-8, 10-12) 1,724
  Votes for Darcy Fields: Altoona (Wards 1-7, 9-11) 1,016; Town of Washington (Wards 1-8, 10-12) 1,639
• Assembly District 68:
  Votes for Kristen Dexter: Altoona (Wards 8, 12, 13) 408; Town of Washington (Wards 9, 13) 330
  Votes for Terry Moulton: Altoona (Wards 8, 12, 13) 369; Town of Washington (Wards 9, 13) 449

   On Tuesday, October 7, an Associated Press article detailed the seizure of several fraudulent voter registration forms from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) Las Vegas, Nev., headquarters; among them were the names of the entire Dallas Cowboys starting lineup. On Thursday, October 23, the Associated Press reported that nearly 1,100 absentee ballots for Racine, Wisc., had gone missing. With so many reports like these circulating the news recently, it must be asked: How secure is the city of Altoona’s voting process?

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1. What do you see as Congress’ role regarding foreign policy?
   When it comes to foreign policy, I believe that both Congress and the White House would be served well if we all remembered the roles that our founding fathers carved out for us in the Constitution. Although the President has the authority to respond to foreign events, negotiate treaties, and send U.S. troops into action, Congress is charged with appropriating funds to carry out foreign aid, advising the executive branch, and consenting to certain activities, such as the decision to enter into new treaties. The framers, therefore, were clear in wanting a system of shared responsibility over foreign policy. When the two branches of government do not collaborate and work together, I believe our foreign policy suffers. 

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1. What do you see as Congress’ role regarding foreign policy?
   In 1991, the U.S. removed Iraq from Kuwait. Saddam Hussein agreed to U.N. resolutions to end hostilities against Iraq. Hussein stopped U.N. inspectors in searching for weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Hussein threw the inspectors out of Iraq during the Clinton presidency.

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1. What do you see as Congress’ role regarding foreign policy?
   Congress, not the executive branch, should take the lead role in foreign policy, especially in matters of war and peace. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the duty of deciding when and if the nation must go to war. Yet since World War II, the president has repeatedly committed U.S. troops and covert operatives to battle without a declaration of war from Congress, resulting in more than five million innocent people being murdered by U.S. troops and CIA agents all over the world in illegal, undeclared wars. The result is that the whole world hates us, especially since the 9/11 inside job and the Nazi-style wars of aggression it unleashed. Congress needs to take back its power over war and peace, and impose peace on the out-of-control executive branch and the international bankers who are the real power behind the throne. Since this cannot happen while the Zionist lobby owns Congress, we need to arrest all of the key Zionist lobby operatives as undeclared agents of a foreign power, so that Congress can go back to representing the American people rather than the extremist fringe in Israel. For a detailed explanation of why the Israeli lobby is a criminal enterprise, read Grant Smith’s book, “Foreign Agents.”

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   On Tuesday, November 4, voters will be asked to vote  “yes” or “no” on the following health care referendum:
   “Shall the next state legislature enact health care reform legislation by December 31, 2009, that guarantees every Wisconsin resident affordable health care coverage as good as what is provided to state legislators?”

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1. In your own words, please summarize the duties this position entails. My office is responsible for prosecuting any criminal offenses or individuals for committing criminal offenses that take place in Eau Claire County – reviewing referrals from numerous law enforcement agencies to determine whether charges should be issued and if so, following up with that with the prosecution. We also handle a smaller number of traffic matters and juvenile cases.

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1. In your own words, please summarize the duties this position entails.
   Election administration. No one votes with the county clerk but the clerk has a vital role in the preparation of ballots, public notices, and supplies. We also maintain voter registration for relying municipalities under the Statewide Voter Registration System. We do the programming for the election tabulation equipment, tabulate and report election results on election night, and conduct the Board of Canvas and recounts.
   Services to the county board include taking minutes, publishing proceedings, and maintaining board records. I ensure compliance with the open meetings law, verify attendance records, and maintain the standing committees records.
   We issue marriage licenses and compile indexes. We do the process of tax deed, which means searching titles to property that is delinquent in property taxes going back two warranty deeds or 30 years. We also notify the owner and party taking the property and then selling at a public sale.

2. What qualifies you to do this job?
   The position of county clerk is a partisan, elected position with a term of four years. My work history has been a combination of accounting and supervisory positions at Wisconsin Beef Industries and Uniroyal-Goodrich Tire Company. I started at the county in 1993 as the deputy county clerk, then ran and was elected for the position when the previous clerk retired in 2001.

3. What do you consider to be the primary challenges facing your office?
   My challenges are no different than most businesses – more work with fewer employees while maintaining a zero increase in our budget.