Conservative or Liberal
NBCRG President Ralph Heun and his son Keith are fond of labeling people “conservative” or “liberal”. For example, Ralph Heun has referred to Tom Augustine as “conservative”.
Re: Tom Augustine’s political activities/affiliations/history------
He has served as New Berlin Alderman (District 2) since 2002.
In 1998, Augustine was the Democratic Party’s candidate for State Assembly (District #98) against Republican incumbent Marc Duff (R-New Berlin). Duff won the election. He received more than twice as many votes as Augustine.
Tom Augustine has donated generously to Democratic candidates (according to data from non-partisan watchdog organizations/sites like Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, The Center for Responsive Politics, and opensecrets.org, which track money in politics and/or disclose campaign contribution information). Their data indicates Tom Augustine donated:
- $200 to Jim Doyle (Democrat) in 2006, $100 in 2005, $100 in 2004, $100 in 2002
- $100 to Kathleen Falk (Democrat) more than once
- $100 to Dawn Marie Sass (Democrat)
- $100 to Chad VanDierendonck (Democrat), who ran for State Assembly seat against the incumbent Scott Jensen (Republican).
- Over $400 to Roger Danielson (Democrat), a Waukesha School Board member who ran for state Assembly.
Data indicates Tom Augustine donated $500 in 2004 to Senator Russ Feingold. (Democrat) and publicly endorsed Feingold for re-election. In fact, a 2004 Feingold Senate Committee Press Release specifically mentions: “Alderperson Tom Augustine of the City of New Berlin” in its “City Officials for Russ” endorsement document. See http://www.russfeingold.org/article_text.php?id=135
Is this the record of a “conservative”?
Ralph Heun/ NBCRG’s blog calls Augustine “conservative”. Vern Bentley and New Berlin School Board President Keith Heun have also tried to paint Augustine as “conservative”.
Their notion of a “conservative” politician is someone like Tom Augustine, a politically active Democrat who ran for state office trying to unseat a New Berlin Republican incumbent? An individual who has been a staunch supporter of Democratic candidates, such as Jim Doyle, Russ Feingold, Roger Danielson and has contributed generously to numerous Democratic campaigns? And who has used his position as City alderman to lend support to a Democratic Senator’s campaign????
Well, regardless of whether Augustine is “conservative” or “liberal” (or however Heun/Heun/Bentley try to spin it), he’s a public official and accountable for his actions/record.
