UW-Oshkosh's Dr. Mike Ford, Director of the Whitburn Center of Governance and Policy Research, joins to break down everything "city administrator," ahead of next month's council vote on creating the position.

Ford explains why La Crosse is currently in the minority among Wisconsin cities of its size and addresses the growing "nationalization" of local politics.

We dive into where Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey and the city council are at in the process of making a decision, plus some of the lead up to getting here.

We also look at the true cost of a $250,000 salary, and why Ford warns against "reinventing the wheel" when it comes to the city’s charter ordinance.

Last week, Washington-Spivey said he hopes next month's vote on creating the city admin position fails, so La Crosse can do more study on crafting the position — the ordinance the city is putting forward is over a decade old.

Additionally, Ford explains how professional leadership can actually increase democratic accountability rather than dilute it.

UW-Oshkosh's Dr. Mike Ford, Director of the Whitburn Center of Governance and Policy Research, joins to break down everything "city administrator," ahead of next month's council vote on creating the position.
Ford explains why La Crosse is currently in the minority among Wisconsin cities of its size and addresses the growing "nationalization" of local politics.
We dive into where Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey and the city council are at in the process of making a decision, plus some of the lead up to getting here.
We also look at the true cost of a $250,000 salary, and why Ford warns against "reinventing the wheel" when it comes to the city&rsquo;s charter ordinance.
Last week, Washington-Spivey said he hopes next month's vote on <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/15/la-crosse-mayor-on-why-he-wants-current-city-administrator-plan-to-fail-plus-his-thoughts-on-new-downtown-plan-ice-situation/">creating the city admin position fails</a>, so La Crosse can do more study on crafting the position &mdash; the ordinance the city is putting forward is over a decade old.
Additionally, Ford explains how professional leadership can actually increase democratic accountability rather than dilute it.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

We ask expert Mike Ford: Does La Crosse need a City Administrator or is it just more expensive bureaucracy?

Elderly care bills package

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio on the Legislature’s earliest adjournment in history, his priorities in this last month of work for 2026, the state’s $4 billion surplus, and a package of bills on elderly care he hopes will pass.

We began the show with Republicans, who control the Legislature, hoping to be done legislating for 2026 on Feb. 19 — which Doyle points out is the earliest it’s ever been done. Doyle also lists the priorities he feels need to be done this year, but won’t happen in less than a month’s time. One that may though, is an $800 million budget funding gap created when the Trump administration changed the rules six months after the budget was signed.

We also discussed WISEye — Wisconsin’s version of C-Span — no longer recording meetings, plus how Republicans are banning the public from recording meetings as well. There was also talk about what to do with the $4 billion budget surplus, and how the Legislature could negotiate to change the public school funding model, after Gov. Tony Evers 400-year veto from two budgets ago.

Lastly, Doyle broke down a package of bills from his work as the Vice-Chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Elder Services. Those bills included helping paramedics programs, guardrails on fraud and simplifying Medicaid applications.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio on the Legislature&rsquo;s earliest adjournment in history, his priorities in this last month of work for 2026, the state&rsquo;s $4 billion surplus, and a package of bills on elderly care he hopes will pass.
We began the show with Republicans, who control the Legislature, hoping to be done legislating for 2026 on Feb. 19 &mdash; which Doyle points out is the earliest it&rsquo;s ever been done. Doyle also lists the priorities he feels need to be done this year, but won&rsquo;t happen in less than a month&rsquo;s time. One that may though, is an <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/20/doyle-800m-hospital-funding-gap-looms-as-legislature-set-to-wrap-up-2026-on-feb-19/">$800 million budget funding gap</a> created when the Trump administration changed the rules six months after the budget was signed.
We also discussed WISEye &mdash; Wisconsin&rsquo;s version of C-Span &mdash; no longer recording meetings, plus how Republicans are banning the public from recording meetings as well. There was also talk about what to do with the $4 billion budget surplus, and how the Legislature could negotiate to change the public school funding model, after Gov. Tony Evers 400-year veto from two budgets ago.
Lastly, Doyle broke down a package of bills from his work as the Vice-Chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Elder Services. Those bills included helping paramedics programs, guardrails on fraud and simplifying Medicaid applications.

Wisconsin Rep. Steve Doyle on priorities, as Legislature wraps up for the year on Feb. 19

La Crosse mayor vs city council

Is Mayor Pete a presidential candidate?

High profile figures headed to La Crosse

WI GOP banning recording public meetings

No tax on tips in WI

When is it OK NOT to tip?

60-minute mandatory recess in school

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio talking the big names headed to La Crosse as campaign season begins, when is it OK not to tip, the La Crosse mayor trying to sway the council on the city administrator plan, and what Wisconsin's state Legislature is attempting to cram into the two months it's going to work this year.

We began the show with comments made this week on WIZM by La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey that he wants the city administrator plan to fail in next month's council vote. We discussed the sway a mayor has over council opinion's and how a La Crosse Chamber event highlighted how different cities need different kinds of administrators.

After that, we hit on Pete Buttigieg holding a town hall in La Crosse, getting an update from WIZM's Kevin Millard at the event. Then we debated whether this is a "shadow campaign" for a 2028 presidential run, and how La Crosse will likely be a landing spot for the biggest names leading into the 2026 midterms.

The second half of the show focused on the Wisconsin state Legislature, which has effectively banned recording its public meetings — unless you're media — even as it rushes to pass bills in less than two months. Earlier this week on WIZM, state Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) said Republicans, who control the Legislature, want to be done for the year by February.

One of the bills we discussed was to eliminate tax on tips, which led to a conversation about "tip fatigue." Chergosky cited Dave Ramsey's rules for tipping, and we debated when you should and shouldn't tip.

The last thing we talked about was another bill in Wisconsin that would mandate 60 minutes of recess for grades K-6 — a big jump from the current 30-minute standard.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio talking the big names headed to La Crosse as campaign season begins, when is it OK not to tip, the La Crosse mayor trying to sway the council on the city administrator plan, and what Wisconsin's state Legislature is attempting to cram into the two months it's going to work this year.
We began the show with comments made <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/15/la-crosse-mayor-on-why-he-wants-current-city-administrator-plan-to-fail-plus-his-thoughts-on-new-downtown-plan-ice-situation/">this week on WIZM</a> by La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey that he wants the city administrator plan to fail in next month's council vote. We discussed the sway a mayor has over council opinion's and how a La Crosse Chamber event highlighted how different cities need different kinds of administrators.
After that, we hit on Pete Buttigieg holding a town hall in La Crosse, getting an update from WIZM's Kevin Millard at the event. Then we debated whether this is a "shadow campaign" for a 2028 presidential run, and how La Crosse will likely be a landing spot for the biggest names leading into the 2026 midterms.
The second half of the show focused on the Wisconsin state Legislature, which has effectively banned recording its public meetings &mdash; unless you're media &mdash; even as it rushes to pass bills in less than two months. <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/14/rep-jill-billings-on-getting-water-contamination-alert-bill-passed-in-legislature-which-wraps-up-for-year-in-february/">Earlier this week on WIZM</a>, state Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) said Republicans, who control the Legislature, want to be done for the year by February.
One of the bills we discussed was to eliminate tax on tips, which led to a conversation about "tip fatigue." Chergosky cited Dave Ramsey's rules for tipping, and we debated when you should and shouldn't tip.
The last thing we talked about was another bill in Wisconsin that would mandate 60 minutes of recess for grades K-6 &mdash; a big jump from the current 30-minute standard.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky on when it's OK not to tip, biggest names headed to La Crosse — with Pete Buttigieg in town — and a mayor's sway over city council

Dr. Carolyn Colleen joins to discuss Viterbo's 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration coming up Monday. Not only do we dive into the event, highlighted by keynote speaker Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, and events running from morning until night, but Colleen also discusses the happenings on Tuesday, when 1,000 seventh graders descend on the university to learn. The conversation explores how these events aim to inspire the next generation through the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Dr. Carolyn Colleen joins to discuss Viterbo's 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration coming up Monday. Not only do we dive into the event, highlighted by keynote speaker Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, and events running from morning until night, but Colleen also discusses the happenings on Tuesday, when 1,000 seventh graders descend on the university to learn. The conversation explores how these events aim to inspire the next generation through the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

We ask expert Mike Ford: Does La Crosse need a City Administrator or is it just more expensive bureaucracy?

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

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