7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Terry Rose, Kenosha County Board Chairman and local attorney. As the man overseeing the county board amid County Executive Allan Kehl’s indictment, Rose has faced scrutiny for moving some county positions and he’s never been shy sharing his opinions about the direction he thinks the county should go. This week he answers readers’ questions about some of those changes, his thoughts on Kehl’s legacy and what he’s looking for in the next county executive.

Terry Rose will now take your questions ...

Would you ever consider running for a political office? If so, which one interests you most? I am currently running for re-election to the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors for my 12th term on the Board. My first choice is practicing law and my second interest is politics.

As a defense attorney, what’s your best strategy for arguing for some of the worst offenders? One, every case has a theme or thesis to be argued and emphasized to the jury and, two, cross-examination of the State’s witnesses to demonstrate to the jury their lack of honesty and credibility.

The Pringle Nature Center located in Bristol Woods County Park is owned by Kenosha County and is Kenosha County’s only nature center. What can county government do to ensure adequate funding for future continuous operation of this cultural gem? Pringle Nature Center has been modestly funded over the years. In the 2008 budget, no money was appropriated for Pringle and 2009 is undecided.

State law provides for a county or counties to set up a local air pollution control program that is stricter than DNR requirements. It would be enforced by the county. This could be very appealing to health- and conservation-minded residents. Any chance it could happen here? With current budget restraints, I doubt that the County Board would support enforcement of a local air pollution control program. We would be required to establish a new enforcement agency. If the state and federal governments enforce the law, there there is no necessity for consideration of a local option.

What do you plan to accomplish during the couple of days that you will serve as county executive? I plan to restore confidence in the office of the County Executive which has been greatly eroded, and emphasize the importance of public service.

Do you feel it is appropriate for you to shuffle the deck in county administration – removing Kenn Yance and Carrie Kalberg from their positions – given that you will fill the county executive’s seat for only a few days? The position of office manager and executive assistant are appointees of each County Executive. They serve at the will of the County Executive and the expectation is that they will be replaced when a new County Executive takes office. Kenosha County faced its most serious crisis in executive leadership. Therefore, it was important to fill those positions with the new people and a new direction and a clean sweep.

Fred Patrie, as Public Works Director , will also act as an executive assistant and chief of staff with a very substantive role and issue oriented. Donna Esposito, the new office manager is one of the top employees, in my view, in Kenosha County

How would you describe Allan Kehl’s legacy in county government, notwithstanding his indictment and resignation? The indictment and resignation of Mr. Kehl transcends everything else.

What will you look for in the county executive who will be elected to serve the rest of Kehl’s term? Will you name any names of people you’d support? Honesty, integrity, leadership and an individual who can determine our local priorities. with emphasis on economic development and job creation. As long as I am filling this brief interim County Executive position, I will be neutral.

Is there anything you would do differently? No
Will you collect two salaries, one as county executive and one as county board chairman, while you are the acting county executive? I am not going to accept any salary while working as the County Executive.

Are you considered a Republican or a Democrat, and what are the party affiliations of the people in the positions that you are rotating around? I am a Democrat. I don’t know the party affiliations of either Fred Patrie or Donna Esposito and it wasn’t a factor in their selection by me.

Does the county have any long range plans encouraging the expansion of higher education through Carthage College, UW-Parkside, community colleges and technical schools, especially since the preparation of the 21st century work force is so different because of the recent technological revolution? The County needs to work more closely with Carthage, Parkside and Gateway in the future. One of the major problems of Kenosha is that we are not retaining college educated people who have grown up in Kenosha, attend college and move elsewhere. There are not enough jobs which require a college education in Kenosha. This will be one of the major challenges of 21st century Kenosha.