By Dr. Richard A. Busalacchi Franklin Community News Franklin’s political landscape is changing — and the numbers explain why. Over the past several years, the city has seen significant growth in its Muslim population. That growth has not been quiet. It has translated into visible civic engagement: attendance at council meetings, participation in development debates, organized voter outreach, and increasing political literacy through groups such as the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance (WMCA). Approximately 6% of Franklin’s voters — roughly 2,100 individuals — identify as Muslim . In a municipality where recent elections have been decided by margins smaller than that number, this demographic shift is not merely cultural. It is political. This article does not suggest coercion, manipulation, or secret agreements. There is no public evidence of quid-pro-quo arrangements or discriminatory conduct. What the evidence does show is this: When electoral margins tighten, organized constituen...