Letter to the editor

Petition signing on campus aims for justice

A large colorful circular arrived in my mailbox the other day from the Friends of State Senator Sheila Harsdorf telling that special interests from New York and Washington, D.C., are flooding into Wisconsin to conduct a recall campaign against her.  I busted out laughing when I saw it,  but then I got to thinking how sad it was.  If I were Sheila Harsdorf, I’d want my friends to know the facts and have them tell the truth.

I’m one of those folks who is volunteering with the Sheila Harsdorf Recall Committee. I’ve met lots of very nice people who are also volunteering their time and energy in this effort.  We’re all volunteers.  None of us are paid.  I’ve been a resident of Wisconsin since 1977 and I’ve not met a single non-resident helping out with the recall effort.  In fact, all of those who are legally signing recall petitions are residents of Wisconsin. We check to make sure.

We represent various age groups and a variety of professions.  Some, like me, are retired.  Most of us are inclined to vote the Democratic ticket but there are some recall volunteers who have voted Republican in the past.  One recall volunteer told me he considers Senator Harsdorf one of his friends and has always voted for her but believes she’s stepped over the line when she voted in favor of Governor Walker’s plan to sabotage public employee unions.

Some of us are out collecting signatures.  Others of us are working in the office to make sure that those who sign the petitions are legal residents and eligible voters.  We are exercising a legal right afforded us in the Wisconsin State Consititution.  We’re not bad people representing special interests.  We love Wisconsin and we want justice and prosperity for all, not just the few.

Harlen Menk
Ellsworth, WI