CRG & NBCRG
“Statement from New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government” (NBCRG July 4 blog post on NOW), starts off with a load of gibberish (computer symbols/code) that Ralph Heun calls a “defect of Jsonline”.
Then the blog mentions a letter published in NOW (July 3 issue) from a woman supporting the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Muskego.
Ralph Heun's next paragraph conveys that he wishes “to clarify a comment about Citizens for Responsible Government and Muskego First." Which comment? His blog doesn’t say. How are blog readers supposed to know what he is talking about?
Heun goes on to assert that his group New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) is NOT Citizens for Responsible Government and is not affiliated “in any way” with the CRG Network.
Confused? That's understandable. The groups' names are awfully similar.
Maybe this will help “clarify” things a bit:
Re: Citizens for Responsible Government/CRG Network----
The Nov 28, 2005 Journal Sentinel describes CRG as a populist movement born of the 2002 Milwaukee County pension scandal recalls.
That edition also states: “Since its start, CRG spawned or adopted 15 affiliates statewide and has brought to full stops the political careers of Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament, six Milwaukee County supervisors, aldermen in Wauwatosa and Franklin, and now Nowak.” (Pewaukee Mayor Jeff Nowak)
“The group also claims credit for killing the PabstCity project, a Waukesha school referendum and forcing state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) to quit as Senate assistant majority leader.”
According to the CRG Network Website, they (& CRG Milwaukee, previously) have filed only one recall in their history--the recall of Tom Ament. And the site says: “Since that initial event in 2002, CRG Network has been primarily engaged in educating grassroots groups in how to deal with unresponsive government agencies and officials. Every recall and action since then has been accomplished by other groups and affiliates who have come to CRG Network for educational assistance.”
Their Website speaks of holding government accountable and refers to CRG Network as 3 distinct organizations: a PAC; a 501 (c) non-profit, tax-exempt corporation/foundation; and a lobby/advocacy group
Re: New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG)---According to their Web site, NBCRG was formed in 2002; functions as a political action committee; and has recruited and supported candidates every year since its inception.
NBCRG endorsed/supported several of our New Berlin aldermen, including Dave Ament, a relative of Tom Ament. All of our current New Berlin School Board members were endorsed/supported by NBCRG.
In other words, NBCRG-supported officials have majority control of the New Berlin Common Council and School Board. Think Ralph Heun and his NBCRG group want that status quo disrupted with recalls? Hardly.
What about Muskego’s recall movement?
Ralph Heun’s NBCRG blog claims “NBCRG does not interfere with proceedings in our neighboring communities and would expect the same treatment from them about New Berlin issues.” Ironically, Heun follows that statement by expressing negative comments about recalls and then telling blog readers, “We encourage voters in the City of Muskego consider the consequence of this possible recall action before initiating it.”
