Senior Viewpoint
Dick Steinberg has resided in the city of Brookfield for 35 years. He served 34 years as municipal judge and has been an attorney for 50 years. He enjoys tennis, golf, biking and creative writing, which includes legal issues, sports, government and people.
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ALDERMEN AS LAWMAKERS
Aldermen are members of a legislative body called the common council which votes on such items as city law, ordinances, rules and regulations. There are penalties for violating the laws created, developed and voted on by the Aldermen.
An Alderman should be held to a higher standard of compliance than a lay person if only because the Alderman was involved in the decision making process.
The election laws, in particular, are those in which the Aldermen have a great impact because it has a direct connection with their being elected.
The City publishes a candidate handbook for candidates for Alderman to follow and spells out the pertinent campaign finance laws.
By following the very law they created the Aldermen show leadership and integrity. By not following those laws the Alderman has the attitude of being above the law.
It is good that these incidents are few and far between but when they do happen it is a very serious matter
Election law violations in themselves violate due process of law because the decisions are not timely, the enforcement procedure is mild, candidates get elected anyway and get away with it and there is a tacit political venue.
President Abraham Lincoln: "all men are created equal".
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