Brunner threatens resignation, changes his mind
Photo 
George Brunner
JANESVILLE — Janesville council member George Brunner, who told council President Bill Truman after Tuesday’s meeting that he was resigning, has changed his mind.
Brunner said he threatened to resign because he didn’t believe he was being treated fairly by other council members.
Brunner said got upset when two council members made comments about a lengthy speech he gave about keeping the tax rate low.
The council on Tuesday finished its study sessions. Brunner noted, though, that several decisions had raised the tax levy, including a decision to put a police officer position back in the budget beginning in July. He doubted the officer would even be on the street next year, considering the hiring process and training.
But Brunner had not sat in on that part of the discussion when the council met the week before.
He was at the meeting but did not return from a break. Brunner, a former Janesville police chief, returned to the room after the discussion on public safety was finished.
Brunner told a reporter the next day he hadn’t felt well at that meeting. But on Tuesday he also said he felt another council member had aimed a smart remark at him. He said he watched the proceedings from an adjacent break room.
Several council members, though, wondered if Brunner excused himself because of a sharp exchange last year during the public safety discussion that involved Brunner, staff and council member Russ Steeber.
After Brunner’s remarks about the police Tuesday, Truman reminded Brunner that he “choose not to participate” in that discussion. That would have been the time to bring up any discussion, he said.
Steeber made a similar comment.
Truman later said he had been “stewing” about Brunner’s absence during the meeting all week.
Truman said Brunner told him he would “have (Brunner’s) resignation in the morning.”
“I said I’d gladly accept it,” Truman said.
But Brunner, contacted at home later by a reporter, said he had reconsidered.
Oct 22, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Drama Queen. What is the average IQ of these council members anyway?
Oct 22, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
breasonable, my comment wasn't directed towards you.
Oct 22, 2009 at 3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Well said .
Oct 22, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Zoom,
People who take on positions such as this usually have a personal agenda of some sort. However with these positions is a resposability to serve the public and make improvements for the greater public. Not ignore the public and make hardships.
At this time, people of Janesville cannot afford to have council members who don't understand their responsability or don't have the ability to make changes for Janesville's betterment. Janesville cannot afford to remain unchanged and we need people in office that can either make those changes or can utilize information from those that can.
If needed, our council members should be communicating with people who have the know how. They need to look in our colleges and other cities that have been through these hardships.
I am sure the people on our city council mean or dream for the best but dreams only go so far. Its time to focus on what's best for Janesville and the people who love to live here and hope someday it can be as great a city as the people who live within it.
I love Janesville. If what I write can wake someone up to a greater cause, who has the knowledge to make the needed changes and to lead Janesville, then I am doing my responsability as a citizen of this great sleeping city.
Oct 22, 2009 at 2:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Read the comments, and see why few good people bother to run for public office, much less an UNPAID public office. The piling on is a bit much.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Obviously he learned something, perhaps about himself.
He did come back and that's the first step to never leaving again. It's hard to face a pack of wolves when your the dinner and they won't change the menu. Who's for dessert.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
"When you buy a happy meal, you get a prize", a quote from another well admired Ronald.
Perhaps a way to entice companies to come to Janesville. Happy and prize, a good combination.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Sorry, but getting in a snit and running off to pout like a little crybaby is not "getting it right." If his precious little feelings are so prone to being hurt by those other big mean bullies he might just ought to resign and let an adult take over.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Oh, by kids I mean the city council members.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Pete,
You are right.
To put it in metaphorical terms:
If you put kids in charge of a candy store they will not only eat the profits but they won't come to the supper table to eat what they should unless they are forced to.
The problem is waiting to get them to the point of being hungry again and then getting them to understand what they should eat and why.
Perhaps we should send them to the poor neighbors to see what they are eating.
Oct 22, 2009 at 12:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mr.Brunner has it right. I would feel the same way because obviously other city council members feel this is the Janesville of years past and haven't woke up to the fact that Janesville is not the same city nor will it be for some time, if ever.
The only thing that will change this fact is if we can get new companies (plural)to come in who pay their employees a decent wage. Days of GM are, sorry to say, gone and so is the tax base of yesterday.
Think of a mall. You must have the main store to bring people in and the smaller stores profit off the overflow and selling specilaty items. GM was our "lead" or main store.
So the burden must be picked up somewhere
unless the city starts cutting costs and spends more smartly.
The city council should be focusing on developing some type of "carrot" and plan to get companies to move to our city.
Dumping a million plus dollars into an ice rink that will never sell enough tickets,popcorn and pop to support itself is not a good plan to draw industy but is a good plan when times are good, you have money to throw around and you want to make a few people happy. Now is not the time.
The market value of our homes has dropped and more people are not moving out of Janesville because they are trapped by their mortgage. Many can't sell their homes without taking a loss and won't sell unless they have to. Many have had to find jobs in Madison and beyond to bring in close to the money they had once made or just to find jobs.
If anything, our property taxes should be lowered to a more realistic value. Taxes should not be raised.
If anything we need more people thinking like Mr. Brunner.
Oct 22, 2009 at 12:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cry baby?
Oct 22, 2009 at 8:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
We need more people who want to keep taxes low, especially in these lean days.
Oct 22, 2009 at 7:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Reconsider ,and take your law enforcement buddy Steeber with you .
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Get rid of him. Might as well get Bush to run in his spot... worthless!
Oct 21, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
George....there's still time to reconsider...again...hopefully.
Oct 21, 2009 at 9:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Toughnuts Doughnuts.
Oct 21, 2009 at 8:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
He could always work hard to open up a doughnut shop behind the police station , like he had mentioned at a council meeting "The Precinct" .that is if he changes his mind again .
Oct 21, 2009 at 8:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
George, you are neither "Chief" nor Council President. You have no standing and self-righteous whiners have no place in local politics. If you can't play nice, either quit or run for higher political office.
Oct 21, 2009 at 6:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
I believe the council is working through a very tough budget process this year and some irritation, frustration, and even hurt feelings are par for the course. I hope all council members can work through this without allowing personal matters to interfere with their duties.
Oct 21, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Favre?
Oct 21, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
okay truman didnt attend HIS large trash pick up maybe you should resign too!!
Oct 21, 2009 at 5:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thank goodness he reconsidered. He is the only one on the counsil with any sence at all. Thanks for staying George the city needs you.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.