Ask Mr. Answer Person about the Winneshiek County Mayors Coalition support of the Menards project

Posted: Fri, Sep 28, 2018 1:20 PM

(Ellen e-mails: "Dear Mr. Answer Person, I will get right to my question which regards a group (Winneshiek County Coalition of Mayors) in support of Menards and its proposed location. It seems odd to me that mayors are getting involved in stating their position on this issue, as I would expect them to lead and remain unbiased. Furthermore, this group has called themselves a "coalition" (I guess three individuals counts as a coalition). It's interesting that mayors of other villages in Winneshiek County have not weighed in on this issue; I respect that they are not taking a political stand on this issue so that they can remain unbiased. Perhaps you can enlighten me on the "political correctness" of such a move."):

Mr. Answer Person says: "One correction to your e-mail: our story about the Winneshiek County Coalition of Mayors' support of the Menards project noted that a copy of the letter they sent is on file at Decorah City Hall. That letter names all eight mayors in Winneshiek County--the mayors of Calmar, Castalia, Decorah, Fort Atkinson, Jackson Junction, Ossian, Ridgeway and Spillville, so we're not sure which mayors 'have not weighed in on this issue.'

As for the 'political correctness' of their action, that's something to determined by their constituents. It's not unusual for a mayor to take a stand on an issue but, of course, not all their constituents will always agree with that stand."