COMMUNITY POWER STUDY

Dr. James Simmons, UW Oshkosh

 

General Questionnaire: Community Leadership

1) There are many organizations in Oshkosh.

a. In your opinion, which are the six most influential organizations in this city?

  1. Chamber of Commerce
  2. Oshkosh Foundation
  3. University
  4. City Council
  5. Northwestern
  6. Rotary

b. In your opinion, who is the most influential person in each of the organizations you have just named?

  1. John Casper
  2. Eileen Connelly-Keesler
  3. John Kerrigan
  4. Jon Del Antonia
  5. Stuart Rieckman
  6. Sue Panek

2) Who are the five people in the city of Oshkosh you believe to be most influential? That is, who can make a project go or if opposed, stop it?

  1. John Casper
  2. Jackson Kinney
  3. Jon Del Antonia
  4. Ted Leyhe
  5. John Kerrigan
  6. Dick Wollangk
  7. Melanie Bloechl
  8. Gary Yakes
  9. Eileen Connelly-Keesler
  10. Bob Bahn
  11. Steve Hintz
  12. Kevin McGee
  13. Doug Pearson
  14. Carl Stapel
  15. Four way tie

3) To what extent do the following statements reflect your views?

(1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree)

a. The local media (the daily newspaper, TV and radio stations) play a strong determining role in the community affairs of Oshkosh.

(3.62)

b. The decisions made by our municipal government are a product of active citizen participation and the widespread involvement of many social groups.

(2.53)

c. Business people have far greater influence over civic affairs in contrast to other public figures (professionals, labor leaders, government officials, etc).

(3.48)

d. I am generally satisfied with the way our local government officials make decisions and resolve the most critical issues in Oshkosh.

(2.43)

e. There are informal groups or "closed" organizations (non public) that tend to shape public debate over issues and determine the fate of city projects.

(3.32)

f. Most decisions made concerning important community issues are brought to the attention of the public by a few individuals or civic groups.

(3.72)

4) Comments: General lack or poor leadership, Nothing important gets done, single-interests groups and issues dominate, old establishment in decline, general dissatisfaction

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Influentials- Reputational Perspective

 

  • John Casper- Chamber (38)
  • Jackson Kinney- City Planner (22)
  • Jon Del Antonia- City Council, exec (22)
  • Ted Leyhe- Park Plaza, Miles Kimball (20)
  • John Kerrigan- U Chancellor (17)
  • Dick Wollangk- City Manager (17)
  • Melanie Bloechl- City Council, sales (16)
  • Gary Yakes- Attorney (16)
  • Eilene Connely-Keesler- Foundation (14)
  • Doug Pearson- Chamco (12)
  • Robert Bahn- CEO Truck (12)
  • Steve Hintz- City Council, U prof (12)
  • Kevin McGee- City Council, U prof (12)
  • Carl Stapel- Rotary, Kitz&File (10)
  • John Ruppenthal- Chamco pres. (9)
  • Doug Hyde- Oshkosh B'Gosh (9)
  • John Vette- Chair United Way (9)
  • Bob Fick- retired WPS Manager (9)
  • William Castle- Printing business (7)
  • LuAnn Bird- School Board (7)
  • Stan Leedle- OCDC, Central State Bank (6)
  • Mike Dempsy- Lawyer (6)
  • Ben Ganther- Developer (5)
  • Allison Zierdt- Chamber VP, attorney (5)
  • Fred Leach- Corporate exec. (5)
  • Neill Goltz- EAA, NICE (5)
  • Lynn Webster- Chamber, YMCA (5)
  • Paul Poboreszney- EAA founder (5)
  • Paul Esslinger- City C (5)
  • Matt OMalley- City C (5)
  • Mark Harris- City C (5)
  • Sheldon Lasky- Pres. O Foundation (4)
  • David Vierthaler- Curwood (4)
  • Mike Muoio- Miles Kimball Co. (4)
  • Stu Rieckman- newspaper editor (4)
  • Shirley Mattox- NICE (4)
  • Susan Kepplinger-City Planner (4)
  • Jane Van de Hey- County Exec (4)
  • Dennis Schwab- landlord (4)
  • Bob Pung- retired VP Wis Natl Life (4)
  • Jim Simmons-U prof (4)
  • Thomas Belter- Associated bank (3)
  • Joe Maehl- County Board Chair (3)
  • George Buckley- Mercury Marine Exec (3)
  • Paul Hollowell- Truck exec.(3)
  • Sam Russo- Convention Bureau (3)
  • Gary Wagner- Bank One (3)
  • Joe Paulus- DA (3)
  • Mike Wachtel (3)
  • Tim Dempsey- attrny (3)
  • William Witlock- Firstar prs (3)
  • Greg Underheim- Legislator (3)
  • John Bermingham- Attorney (3)
  • Carol Buetner Roessler- Legis (3)
  • Dean Arganbright (3)
  • Jim Fitzhenry- news editor (3)
  • Dave Patek- Public Works (3)
  • Bruce Yakely- Leach exec (3)
  • John Mark- Developer (3)
  • Sue Panek- D Rotary, U Way (3)
  • Carla Craig- Citizens Credit (2)
  • Jack Klein- Downtown Assoc. (2)
  • Charles Hyde- B'Gosh exec (2)
  • Warren Kraft- City Attorney (3)
  • Fred Brightvill- Truck VP (2)
  • Sue Werblow- School Board (2)
  • Don Wyman- Union hall (2)
  • Mike Stratz- school board (2)
  • Paul Sundquist- Sundquist (2)
  • Karen Bowen- School bd, Univ (2)
  • Rob Kleman (2)
  • Fran Weaver- Visitors Bureau (2)

 

  • Peter Mosling (2)
  • Lee Bettes (2)
  • Jeff Thorkildsen (2)
  • Ron Heilman (2)
  • Fr. Dan Felton (2)
  • John Bergstrom- Auto dealer (2)
  • Bill Bracken (2)
  • Ross Wansdchneider (2)
  • Kevin Doyle (2)
  • Pat Guarino (2)- Boys & Girls 2
  • Howard Hoppe- Race bus owner
  • Tom Shepek- Developer
  • Tom Brinkman- landlord
  • Stan Kline- Chamber, Board
  • Gene Goodson- form Truck CEO
  • Jim Ruthenbach- bank
  • Dorothy Swartz- Co Superviser
  • Beth Wyman- B'Gosh
  • Jack Steinhilber- lawyer, ex County Exec, DA
  • Carol Schiessl- CJ Trophies
  • Dennis Elmore- Johnson Food
  • Jay Supple- resturant owner
  • Kathy Zimmerman- FVTC head
  • David Schultz- VP Meyer & Sons
  • Dennis Noone- ex Banker
  • Father Carr- Priest, Real estate
  • Dick Allen- Banker
  • Bill Frueh- ex City Manager
  • Ralph Gunderson
  • Phyllis Leach- wife exec
  • David Erickson- Police Chief
  • John Karpinski
  • Ron Lampe- lawyer
  • Dr. Kenneth Viste
  • Terry Laib- Hist Pres
  • Ron Heilman- School Super
  • Bruce Bartel- Printing business
  • Pat Basler
  • Phil Martini- CEO CR. Meyer
  • Fintan Flanagan
  • Steve Di Renzo- Business owner
  • Jim Mather- retired Mayor dir
  • Karen Fredrick- Auto shop
  • Duncan Henderson- Airport Mgr
  • David Geurden- flower shop
  • Mark Huddleston- City Transit
  • Barbara Hirschfeld- Paine Art
  • Heidi Strand- Grand Opera
  • Mkt Robin Jennings- Coca-cola exec
  • Larry Spanbauer- ex councilor
  • City C laborDavid Kersztyn- business
  • John Kunzl
  • Julie Koeppler- gallery owner
  • Steve Mugerauer- Competition Pr
  • Karen Kryzaniak- Safety council
  • Steve Mosling
  • Robert Kujawa- store owner
  • John Mugerauer
  • James Larson- Architect
  • Wyman Family (all)
  • Vicki Lord-Larson- U. Provost
  • James Reiter- Roxi owner
  • George Shaffer
  • John Skotzke- Developer
  • Mike Castle- Printing business
  • Robert Hawley- Judge
  • Kevin Nolan- Affinity Health
  • Ada Thimke- resturant owner
  • Rick Vanderloop- Pick N Save Manager
  • Edward Williams- lawyer, Leadership Osh
  • Jeff Robl
  • Tom Stephany- City Parks Dir
  • Tom Probinsky

 

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Civic Organizations

  • Chamber of Commerce (66)
  • Oshkosh Foundation (32)
  • University of Wisconsin-O (22)
  • Oshkosh Common Council (20)
  • Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (16)
  • Rotary (14) (DT 9 and SW 5)
  • City Hall Departments (13)
  • School Board (12)
  • OCDC (11)
  • Downtown Association (10)
  • County Board (10)
  • Planning Commission (9)
  • EAA (7)
  • Bemis (5)
  • YMCA (5)
  • Republican Party (5)
  • Alberta Kimball Foundation (5)
  • Churches (4)
  • NICE (4)
  • NE Realtors (4)
  • Visitors Bureau (3)

 

  • United Way (3)
  • Oshkosh Truck (3)
  • Otter St. Fishing Club (3)
  • Oshkosh B' Gosh (3)
  • Boys & Girls Club (2)
  • Leadership Oshkosh (2)
  • Leach Corporation (2)
  • Kiwanis (2)
  • Associated Bank (2)
  • Jay C's (2)
  • DOT (2)
  • City Boards (2)
  • "Establishment" (1)
  • SNC (1)
  • State Government (1)
  • CORD (1)
  • Media (1)
  • Tavern League (1)
  • The Place To Be (1)
  • Affinity health (1)
  • Catholic Schools (1)
  • Federal Government (1)
  • Landlords (1)
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Organization Leaders

  • John Casper (29 )
  • John Kerrigan (15)
  • Eileen Connelly-Keesler (14)
  • Jackson Kinney (12)
  • Carl Stapel (11)
  • Jon Del Antonio (8)
  • Doug Pearson (8)
  • Dick Wollangk (6)
  • John Ruppenthal (5)
  • Tom Poboreszney (5)
  • Ted Leyhe (5)
  • Sue Panek (5)
  • Jeff Thorkildson (4)
  • Rob Kleman (4)
  • Sheldon Lasky (4)
  • Lynn Webster (4)
  • Ron Heilman (4)

 

  • Stu Rieckman (4)
  • Melanie Bloechl (4)
  • Joe Maehl (4)
  • Jackson Kinney (3)
  • Carl Stapel (3)
  • Mike Dempsey (3)
  • John Berminghham (3)
  • John Vette (3)
  • Kevin Doyle (2)
  • Bob Bahn (2)
  • Bob Pung (2)
  • Fran Weaver (2)
  • LuAnn Bird (2)
  • Jim Fitzhenry (2)
  • Neil Goltz (2)
  • Jane Van de Hey (2)

26 Others (1)

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Issue #1 - Main Street Development

 

A. Your involvement or role in the issue

  1. none 31.5%
  2. little 14.8
  3. some 42.5
  4. very active 7.4
  5. leading role 1.9

B. Your preferred outcome

  1. strongly opposed 1.9%
  2. oppose 1.9
  3. neutral 9.4
  4. support 37.7
  5. strongly support 47.2

C. Decisive or most important reason for your position?

  1. Support City Action 82.1% Civic pride, vision, image
  2. Oppose Expense 7.8 image, LDR, crime,
  3. Other 10.7 tourism, identity, quality

D. Most important person(s) in shaping the outcome on this issue.

  1. John Casper
  2. Jon Del Antonia
  3. Jackson Kinney
  4. Carl Stapel
  5. Dick Wollangk

E. Most important organization(s) shaping the outcome on this issue

  1. City Council
  2. Chamber of Commerce
  3. Oshkosh Foundation
  4. Downtown Development Assoc.
  5. Mainstreet Merchants

F. Your perception of public support for this proposal :

  1. 10 to 25 support 9.2%
  2. 30 to 40% 11.5
  3. 50 to 50% 21.2
  4. 60 to 75% 42.3
  5. 80 to 90% support 11.5
  6. Don't Know 5.8

G. Do you believe any of the following political cleavages play an important role in the conflict over the issue?

  1. Class (upper vs middle vs lower) 20
  2. Race or Ethnicity (white vs. non-white) 2
  3. Town-Gown (university students/faculty vs. non-UWO citizens) 7
  4. Neighborhood (older vs. newer, south vs. northside, etc) 22
  5. Partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) 2
  6. Ethos (government form- manager vs. mayor) 12
  7. Inner City- Suburban 23
  8. Role of Government (growth, land-use, low taxes, social services) 25
  9. Other: $$, progress, no conflict, inertia, parochialism, gender/age 10

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Issue #2 - Street Widening and Repair

A. Your involvement or role in the issue

  1. none 40.4%
  2. little 30.8
  3. some 19.2
  4. very active 5.8
  5. leading role 1.9

B. Your preferred outcome

  1. strongly opposed 7.5%
  2. oppose 18.1
  3. neutral 39.6
  4. support 32.1
  5. strongly support 3.8

C. Decisive or most important reason for your position?

  1. Neighborhood Quality 8.5%
  2. Relieve Traffic Flow 46.8
  3. Repair Infrastructure 14.9
  4. Promote Progress 19.1
  5. Other (cost, choice) 10.6
  6. widening v. repair
  7. balanced growth
  8. low taxes

D. Most important person(s) in shaping the outcome on this issue.

  1. Dick Wollangk
  2. Jackson Kinney
  3. Kevin McGee
  4. Jon Del Antonia
  5. John Casper & Mark Harris

E. Most important organization(s) shaping the outcome on this issue

  1. City Council
  2. N.I.C.E.
  3. City Planning Dept.
  4. Chamber of Commerce
  5. D O T (state)

F. Your perception of public support for this proposal

  1. 10 to 25 support 4.3% Consensus on repair
  2. 30 to 40% 10.9 Conflict v. widening
  3. 50 to 50% 37.0
  4. 60 to 75% 34.8
  5. 80 to 90% support 13.0

G. Do you believe any of the following political cleavages play an important role in the conflict over the issue?

  1. Class (upper vs middle vs lower) 19
  2. Race or Ethnicity (white vs. non-white) 0
  3. Town-Gown (university students/faculty vs. non-UWO citizens) 4
  4. Neighborhood (older vs. newer, south vs. northside, etc) 36
  5. Partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) 4
  6. Ethos (government form- manager vs. mayor) 15
  7. Inner City- Suburban 16
  8. Role of Government (growth, land-use, low taxes, social services) 25
  9. Other: (cost, no conflict, renters v. non-residents, landlords,
  10. nimby 11

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 Issue #3 - Form of Government

 A. Your involvement or role in the issue :

  1. none 17.5%
  2. little 17.5
  3. some 35.1
  4. very active 26.3
  5. leading role 3.5

B. Your preferred outcome :

  1. strongly opposed 18.5% Wollangk sell-out
  2. oppose 7.4 weak MGR now
  3. neutral 22.2 change from within
  4. support 14.8 poor city council
  5. strongly support 37.0 overreliance on staff

C. Decisive or most important reason for your position?

  1. Council-Manager 52.8% MGR selection process
  2. Mayor-Alderman 26.4 unresponsive leaders
  3. Other (individual) 20.8 person not structure

D. Most important person(s) in shaping the outcome on this issue. :

  1. Jim Simmons
  2. John Casper
  3. Bill Castle
  4. Steve Hintz
  5. Bob Pung & Jon Del Antonia

E. Most important organization(s) shaping the outcome on this issue

  1. Chamber of Commerce
  2. City Council
  3. C.O.R.D.
  4. No Group (C.A.P.)
  5. University & N.I.C.E.

F. Your perception of public support for this proposal

  1. 10 to 25 support 4.5% Don't Know 11.4
  2. 30 to 40% 15.9
  3. 50 to 50% 20.5
  4. 60 to 75% 52.2
  5. 80 to 90% support 6.8

G. Do you believe any of the following political cleavages play an important role in the conflict over the issue?

  1. Class (upper vs middle vs lower) 24
  2. Race or Ethnicity (white vs. non-white) 0
  3. Town-Gown (university students/faculty vs. non-UWO citizens) 19
  4. Neighborhood (older vs. newer, south vs. northside, etc) 23
  5. Partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) 7
  6. Ethos (government form- manager vs. mayor) 38
  7. Inner City- Suburban 10
  8. Role of Government (growth, land-use, low taxes, social services) 20
  9. Other: Egos, new v. old residents, non-residents, politicos 4

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 Issue #4 - Neighborhood Integrity and Downzoning

A. Your involvement or role in the issue

  1. none 48.2%
  2. little 16.1
  3. some 26.8
  4. very active 5.4
  5. leading role 3.6

 B. Your preferred outcome :

  1. strongly opposed 4.0% Don't Know 11.8
  2. oppose 13.7
  3. neutral 23.5
  4. support 29.4
  5. strongly support 19.6

C. Decisive or most important reason for your position? Comment:

  1. Quality of Life 50.0% private decision
  2. Progress 25.0 protection values
  3. Other/Don't Know 26.0
  4. city-wide viewpoint

D. Most important person(s) in shaping the outcome on this issue.

  1. Kevin McGee
  2. Neil Goltz
  3. Jackson Kinney
  4. John Casper
  5. Jon Del Antonia

E. Most important organization(s) shaping the outcome on this issue

  1. N.I.C.E.
  2. City Council
  3. Chamber of Commerce
  4. University
  5. Plan Commission

F. Your perception of public support for this proposal

  1. 10 to 25 support 5.3% Don't Know 10.5
  2. 30 to 40% 13.2
  3. 50 to 50% 39.5
  4. 60 to 75% 23.7
  5. 80 to 90% support 7.9

G. Do you believe any of the following political cleavages play an important role in the conflict over the issue?

  1. Class (upper vs middle vs lower) 16
  2. Race or Ethnicity (white vs. non-white) 4
  3. Town-Gown (university students/faculty vs. non-UWO citizens) 19
  4. Neighborhood (older vs. newer, south vs. northside, etc) 25
  5. Partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) 3
  6. Ethos (government form- manager vs. mayor) 14
  7. Inner City- Suburban 24
  8. Role of Government (growth, land-use, low taxes, social services) 19
  9. Other: Owners v. developers/landlords, absentee residents 6

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Return to Commentary

Jim Simmons, Chair

Political Science Dept.

Univ. of Wisconsin

Oshkosh, WI 54901

(920) 424-7165/233-1936

simmons@vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu