Editorial: Willmar leadership hurts city
October 11, 2012 at 8:49 pm in West Central Tribune
The dysfunction of the Willmar City Council and Mayor Frank Yanish is continuing and is a problem for this community. Continue Reading
Editorial: Willmar leadership hurts city
22 Comments
Wow, who wrote this hit-piece?
If it’s a Tribune piece, I think the readers deserve to know the author.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Mr. Plowman: The editorials are opinion of the West Central Tribune’s management team. Our names – Publisher Steve Ammermann and Editor Kelly Boldan – are printed every day on the opinion page header.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I appreciate that info. I didn’t see it printed anywhere on the web version and it important for readers to know the difference between “news” and “opinion”.
So if so many are in favor of the continuing saga, that is our city leadership, might we see a rebuttal story by the mayor and or member/members that have been mentioned but haven’t had their say? It would seem only fair. There are always two sides to a story…
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Mr. Plowman: We already have and will continue to space for response – on both sides of this issue. See Sept. 24 Letter: Do not micromanage Willmar http://bit.ly/QWoBSS and Sept. 29 Letter: The council’s achievements http://bit.ly/TI703e You can view various links to other articles and letters on today’s editorial as well. You and others are welcome to write responses as you see appropriate. Please forward them to: letters@wctrib.com.
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Andrew: This editorial was not a story. It is an opinion piece as in an editorial in a newspaper or other periodical presenting the opinion of the publisher and the editor.
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Andrew,
I believe you may not understand the difference between a new story and an editorial. Here is the definition:
editorial n.
1. An article in a publication expressing the opinion of its editors or publishers.
2. A commentary on television or radio expressing the opinion of the station or network.
Editorials, commentary and letters to the editor all have a specific opinion. Our are always clearly marked as such.
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Andy, I don’t see this as a “right” or “left” issue. It appears to be about leadership and getting things accomplished for the good of the community.
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Mike- you are correct, this editorial is not a big “right” or “left” issue. I have to remind myself editorials are opinions of the West Central Tribune’s management team as Kelly noted above. Hopefully this will eventually help the leadership of Willmar and ultimately get things accomplished for the good of the community as you stated. I predict this editorial will get some heated responses in the ‘Opinion’ section in the near future. We will see.
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Today’s Tribune editorial hits the nail on the head. Willmar residents can recall the productive and common sense leadership provided by city leaders in the past. Prior mayors with names such as Hoglund and Reynolds led with an eye on the future and a willingness to rise above personal feelings and petty bickering. They spurred the growth and burnished the reputation of the city while the current cabal seems only interested in throwing their weight around.
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Today’s headline should read West Central Tribune finally exposes the truth! BAM! I personally am looking for more stories like this, becuase Willmar is stuck in stone ages! Micro Management runs wild with the City Council and Mayor. This town is not progressive at all, we should consider ourselves fortunate we have what we have. The Willmar 10 owns most of the prime retail property and are holding it hostage for insane amounts which keep business out of town. Some members of the City Council think they sit at they right hand of the father and their opinon is the only one that matters. My god if we have to talk about spending one dime more all hell breaks loose. The miniscule city sales tax is one tax that in the end provided more value than even I could imagine. I never stopped me from coming to Willmar to buy something and even though I don’t live in the City anymore my parents do so, and I still own a home there.I am quite familer with what is going within City government. I wish Mr. Lawton and Mr. Bjur good success in their bids. I even heard in the rumor mill the RC is thinking about running for mayor. WOW that would set Willmar back to the 1950′s oh wait that is what he would want.
Keep up the good reporting WC Tribune, and I cannot wait for the dislikes from this conservative audience.
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Michael S- There is absolutely nothing wrong with “WCtrib exposing the truth”. Approach it as a story and report the news rather than take a side. This story is NOT going away and this Editorial will result in multiple responses to the ‘Opinion’ Section which keeps the buzz alive.
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Andy: The West Central Tribune did do a story on this issue first. You can read what Councilman Doug Reese said in our Sept. 14 article: http://bit.ly/Q711Pk
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Thank you Kelly!
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Michael – Did you just write the WCTrib is a CONSERVATIVE audience? You have read these forums before…
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Anyone mentioned in the op/ed has a chance to print their response right here…right now. Wouldn’t it be something if a couple of them came online and discussed this? Kelly is here and apparently willing to join in.
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It would be unique if they did, however remembering West wind, they would not join in on conversation, as one knew he had a conflict of interest, and the puppet then did not have a leader. They stayed in the shadows and thru scare tactics riled up homeowners to do their bidding.
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How many years has Christianson been under the influence that he runs this town? 30? 40? Seriously. Now he’s thinking of replacing his own personal puppet as mayor? Just what we need.
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Jason it goes oh so much deeper than that. During the last election John Sullivan who is the outspoken challenger of the board with the exception of Christianson and his crew, was reporting back to Christianson and his election party in 2010 the results while at at the County Building. Not that this action is wrong, but it shows that there is a small group within Willmar that thinks they can run this city, and it is influencing more than just the meeting of the Council. Take a look at the strong connections with the MUC, explain how Christianson can come to that meeting and claim to be there as a “private citizen” yet be allowed in a closed to the public meeting? Think there is no connection there? Look at the Chair, who hosted the election night party in 2010.
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