Journal Times Friday Finishers -- It's August, and McReynolds has already gone negative

By Dustin Block

Friday, August 11, 2006 4:06 PM CDT

Thumbs down to Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds for already going negative in his state Senate campaign against state Rep. John Lehman, D-Racine. McReynolds recently distributed a flier saying Lehman opposed repealing the state's gas tax, even though Lehman voted twice to do just that. McReynolds also said Lehman opposed a tax freeze, even though Lehman backed Gov. Jim Doyle's tax-freeze plan, and opposed repealing taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors, even though Lehman supported such a measure. To support his claims as to what Lehman opposes, McReynolds cites Lehman's vote against Assembly Bill 100, which is the Assembly's massive budget bill. Lehman said he voted against the 1,132-page bill, which covered myriad issues, because it stripped funding for schools.

Such tactics from the McReynolds campaign are all the more unfortunate because they're coming in August - three months before the Nov. 7 election. It looks like local voters are going to have a long few months trying to figure out what's true and false before casting their ballots. There are enough real differences between McReynolds and Lehman without one of the candidates misrepresenting the other's position.

Thumbs up to local authorities for making what appears to be progress in local murder cases. Three men were charged in the past week for unresolved murders, including two from last summer. While there have been no convictions, it's good to see authorities not giving up on the cases.

Thumbs down to the Racine Unified School District for backing out of its plans to remove all soda from its machines in its middle and high schools by Sept. 1. Yes, there are financial implications, but it's no secret that soda and its empty calories are one of the leading factors in childhood obesity. Simply removing soda from vending machines would be a big step toward improving teen health in our community.

Thumbs up to Main Gallery. The nonprofit arts program, which hires young adults to work as artists during the summer, concluded this year's session with its annual Chair-i-ties auction on Aug. 5. What's notable is the program was able to continue despite losing $30,000 in community block grant funding in 2005. A nearly $19,000 grant from the Racine Community Foundation, along with smaller donations and awards, kept Main Gallery going. We're looking forward to seeing it back in 2007.

Thumbs down to whoever is responsible for delaying the state's reconstruction of Sixth Street (Highway 20) through Downtown Racine. Let's just get it over with so local businesses can look more than a year or two ahead.

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