LETTER: Quality of the candidate, not party loyalty, is what counts

To Ozaukee Press:

We obviously live in a very politically divisive time. This creates a tendency to lose objectivity. People dig in or double down to protect the political party they most often represent. I’d argue that the 6th Congressional District in Wisconsin has done that aggressively, voting for the Republican candidate in every election since 1964. That’s 30 straight times. Has one party’s candidate always been the best option for our district or have a lot of people just been “checking a box?”

This is the right time to look at the congressional race between Brad Smith and incumbent Glenn Grothman objectively based on key issues and candidate qualities. Data center expansions is one of those issues, and Grothman voted for a 10-year ban on states engaging in approval and sighting decisions. He doubled down on that by voting for the SPEED Act, which could fast track power line and other approvals for data centers. Is that the best thing for Wisconsin or is Grothman also just “checking a box” that’s expected of him?

Voting for the best candidate sets aside the exhausting pettiness and retribution that has plagued national politics for the last 10 years. Although that time reference aligns with the start of the first Trump term, the Biden Administration continued a trend, arguably pushing too far for a majority of Americans on border security, student loan forgiveness and other issues. Thus, continuing the cycle of pettiness and handing Trump a second opportunity to lower the bar more than most of us ever thought imaginable.

Elections and leadership will continue to cycle, and when they do again, we need measured pragmatists like Brad Smith with the emotional maturity to do the right thing for his Wisconsin constituents. We need politicians who look at our issues, not party affiliation. Over six terms, Grothman has proved himself incapable of doing that. Brad Smith deserves a chance.

And we deserve more positive and productive representation.

Paul Schueller

Port Washington