To the editor:

I would like to address my “zeal to tarnish the Republican Party and all things conservative,” written by Blake Wolpert, letter to the editor, July 14.

Let’s take a look at some of the Brown County conservative (Republican) party’s greatest hits.

1. The not-to-be-named “construction project” in Mr. Wolpert’s letter, AKA the Brown County government-owned, taxpayer-backed music center. Is it a conservative value to have a government-owned music center that skyrocketed Brown County into the fourth spot as the most indebted per capita population in the state? How conservative is it to fail to officially budget a single dollar to repay the largest loan this county has ever acquired? Is it conservative (Republican) ideology to give $239,000 of taxpayer funds to this not-to-be-named “construction project” because of failure to mitigate risk?

2. Salt Creek Trail. Is it a conservative value to take property owned by private citizens with eminent domain?

3. The Bean Blossom clear cut. Is it a conservative value to clear cut 13 acres of forest on public lands? Damage was done to the private property below this deforestation with no accountability. Is that a conservative value?

4. Perpetual loans. Spend, spend, spend. Borrow, borrow, borrow. Is this what it means to be fiscally responsible to conservatives? Brown County citizens are in the top 10 in the state for income tax rates. Is having some of the highest taxes in the state a conservative value too? Taxes are increasing every year. Conservatives promise tax increases each year to the voters?

5. Brown County Regional Sewer District. Is it a conservative value to add more government control and spend $220,000 on a project with no oversight? Is this how conservatives manage taxpayer dollars?

6. The GOP “Black Dilemma” post on Facebook. What a gem this one is. “Probably because it was controversial to some people.” “Especially the negative people.” Is it a conservative value to believe that every Black American is “socially incompatible with other races”? Or maybe I just have “my panties in a wad.”

If this is the local conservative party’s idea of conservatism, you can count me out. I believe I am far more conservative than any of this, and I am a Democrat.

Sherrie Mitchell, Brown County