Franklin - Bought and Paid for by ROC Ventures, Steve Taylor, and Mike Zimmerman

On Thursday, February 1st, County Supervisor Steve Taylor and Executive Director of the ROC Foundation, who is running unopposed for the 17th Milwaukee County Supervisory District, had a "Re-election Fundraiser" at Swaggers at Root River on Rawson Avenue in Franklin.  Taylor's district serves the eastern half of Franklin and all of Oak Creek.  Taylor posted some pictures of the attendees at the event.  Attendance at the re-election fundraiser appeared to look very sparse, with the caption "For the Greater Good".

Those elected officials in attendance were Franklin Alderperson Michelle Eichmann, Steve Taylor, John Nelson Mayor of Franklin, Milwaukee County Board Chair Nicholson, Milwaukee County Supervisor Liz Summer, Milwaukee County Clerk Christiansen, Supervisor Shawn Rolland, former Milwaukee County Supervisor Theo Lipscomb and Attorney Georgia Konstanktakis who is running for Franklin Municipal Judge.  Based on Taylers Facebook post there were very few constituents in attendance, possibly 2 or 3.

Many of us remember that old saying "you are known by the company you keep" and "birds of a feather, flock together".  

Let's start with the man of the hour Steve Taylor. As a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Taylor as saying on the first omission of his Economic Interest Disclosure "I am not sure why I mistakenly omitted where I work, and I am not making any excuses for doing so",  when he only omitted the ROC Foundation.  However, upon the second contact from the Journal Sentinel reporter, Taylor failed to disclose not once but twice, on his Statement of Economic Interest (three submissions since he has been re elected) that he has had "a significant fiduciary relationship, organization associated with, and the offices and directorships held" with the following:

• Executive Director ROC Foundation
• Relationship working with ROC Ventures
• Owner of Steve Taylor Consulting, LLC
• Participant of the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce
• Ex-Officio Board Member of Engage Franklin

Based upon a review of the 2023 Tax Returns of the not for profit 501(c)(3) ROC Foundation that Taylor runs as Executive Director, the following were identified:

• Posted -24,000 net loss for 2023
• Major golf tournament grosses $45,376, spends -$45,377, and nets $-1 (No revenue from golf tournament donated to charity as stated to sponsors and participants)
• Tayler earned $75,047 in Salary and Fringe Benefits
• Organization did not provide Donations or Grants - organizations "earned" $38,000
• Professional Fees and Independent Contractors Expense" of  $32,786. 
• Open records form City of Franklin identified majority of work Taylor is doing is ROC Governmental Relations/Operations - not related to mission of Foundation.
• Taylor and Zimmerman are using Foundation as a "Trojan Horse".
• Taylor was "rewarded" with Executive Director position for shepherding thru sale of Crystal Ridge to Zimmerman while on the County Board and rezoning Crystal Ridge as well as approving a $ 5 Million TID District Financing for Development of Ballpark Commons while serving on the Franklin Common Council.

It has also been reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the former Franklin Mayor filed an ethics complaint accusing Taylor of "Log Rolling" or "Pay for Play".  Lets not forget the famous "secret" meeting at the ROC with Mayor Nelson, Mike Zimmerman and Franklin Director of Administration Kelly Hersh that was widely reported where Taylor:

• Called fellow County Supervisors "Crazy" and "Desperate Woman"
• Called concerned neighbors "Idiots" and "f*ckers" 
• Called a concerned resident a "super creep" and a "grinch"

Taylor was the Chair of the Campaign to elect John Nelson and was very heavily involved in running the campaign, very active on social media promoting candidate Nelson, and involved in the community in fundraising events, meetings and activities to elect candidate Nelson.  There is a definite conflict of interest as Taylor is a part-time Milwaukee County Supervisor and a Full Time employee as ROC Foundation Executive Director and his efforts to place a “ROC friendly” mayor in Franklin. Financial gain for ROC CEO Mike Zimmerman and to Steve Taylor.

Then there is Franklin Alderperson Eichmann.  It was reported by This Just In From Franklin that an ethics complaint was filed on February 1st with the City of Franklin and Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel alleging that Michelle Eichmann who represents the 2nd Aldermanic District, was interfering, had a conflict of interest, and overstepped her authority with a city quote process in an effort to have a bid for carpeting awarded to her employer, Stu's Flooring. 

There is also County Board President Nicholson.  On her Statement of Economic Interest failed to disclose for her last three submissions, that she received "gifts" of value in the form of tickets to events at the Rock, Milkmen, and Wave from County Supervisor Taylor.  Taylor also failed to disclose on his Statement of Economic Interest that he gave the "gifts" to Nicholson. It is possible the "tickets" and jersey on the picture with #1 below may have been purchased. 

The state statues indicate:

• "A local public official may not accept (and no one may offer or give) anything of value that could reasonably be expected to influence the official's vote, official actions or judgment."
• "A local public official may not accept (and no one may offer or give) anything of value that could reasonably be considered a reward for any official action or inaction."

   

Finally, there is the Candidate for Franklin Municipal Judge, Attorney Georgia Konstanktakis.  Her attendance at Taylor's fundraiser along side Nelson, Eichmann, and Nicholson speaks volumes of values, morals, and ethics of a potential future municipal judge serving in Franklin.

It is interesting to observe that missing in attendance at Taylor's fundraising event were any other Alderpersons from the City of Franklin other than Eichmann, no staff from the City of Franklin, not the Mayor from the City of Oak Creek, no Alderpersons from the City of Oak Creek, no staff from the City of Oak Creek and not the County Executive.

Following are campaign promises from then Candidate Nelson one year ago, on his campaign web page. Nelson promised change for the better, it has become worse.

"Current leadership rarely welcomes new or different ideas. Lots of bright and experienced officials and volunteers have walked away from City Hall as a result. They were exhausted and frustrated."

"Current leadership often has facilitated or promoted obstruction, inefficiency and secrecy. Conflict, tension, ethics complaints and lawsuits have followed."

"I won’t recklessly use my authority to manipulate the system to get my way."

Current Mayor Nelson on his webpage leaves us this message:

 "Thank you for placing your trust and support in me; it is humbling. It is with your help that I am the Mayor of this beautiful city of ours."

 "I am excited to get to work. I promised you a transparent and inclusive city government, and I fully intend to keep this promise. Even though this race is over, I ask you to keep the faith. "

The last year since the April 4, 2023 elections has been anything but transparent and inclusive city government in the City of Franklin.  That is what the Mayor of Franklin had promised.  It has become obvious that the Mayor and Alderperson Eichmann are beholden to Mike Zimmerman and Steve Taylor.  Beholden to their special interests and the ROC before any other Franklin business or citizen concerns.  Missing are any values, morals and ethics.  In a oxymoron on the Milwaukee Milkman Community Partnership web page for nonprofits they refer to ROC as "Return On Community".

Mayor Nelson, you need to save yourself soon and show that you are your own person and you were elected to serve the residents of Franklin and not the special interest of Taylor and Zimmerman.  We all know you owe your election to Taylor, Hersh, Zimmerman and a few others who claim there never was a campaign committee. You believe you need to pay them back.  You will not have time to pay them back if you are recalled in April.  Be the man that you are. Use your law enforcement training and everything you were taught and your life experience on the force and as a human.   Be the leader you were elected to be, not a follower.  Rise to the occasion. Can you do that?  

Save yourself before its too late.  Stop listening to Taylor and Zimmerman.  Listen to the
residents of Franklin and be a Mayor of the people of Franklin.  When you were voted in it was not a referendum to become the City of Franklin, owned and operated by the ROC Ventures, Mike Zimmerman, and Steve Taylor.

Your City of Franklin Government has been bought and paid for by Steve Taylor, Mike Zimmerman, and ROC Ventures.  It is obvious to everyone, except you.  Franklin City Residents have you heard any next steps to reopening and renegotiating the Development Agreement with the ROC to include citizen concerns that the Mayor promised after the secret meeting?

Residents of Franklin and Oak Creek be wise when you vote in February and April.  Be cautious of voting for anyone with even a remote relationship to the individuals mentioned in this article.  Do your research before you vote.  Make your vote count so we do not become the City of Franklin, owned and operated by ROC Ventures.  

Please FOR THE GREATER GOOD.