To the editor:

“We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.” — Abe Martin

I am going to disagree with Abe this time. The best man for Brown County in these challenging times is Ken Birkemeier. He is running for county council, the group that oversees county finances. Now more than ever we need wise oversight: revenues are down, the “rainy day” fund is nearly depleted, roads and bridges need repairs, employee health care costs are soaring, there’s a 30-year mortgage on the shuttered music center and we just bought a $400,000 office building with no stated purpose.

Ken is a 40-year resident, a retired banker who has been and is active in the community. Ken has supported youth sports at parks and recs for decades. He serves as a mentor in Leadership Brown County helping residents, new and old, get connected with Brown County and its nonprofits. He has served on and chaired the Brown County Community Foundation’s Finance Committee. He understands the community. He will make a difference.

Ken is the right person at the right time. Ken has:

• a banker’s prudence,
• a leader’s vision,
• a grandfather’s wisdom.

Here are a couple other Abe Martin quotes that, 100 years later, still fit:

“Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.”

“The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”

Vote for Ken Birkemeier for county council.

Michael Fulton, Lanam Ridge