District 9 Deserves the Full Context on Maqsood Khan’s Leadership Claims
Supervisor Patti Logsdon, who has represented Franklin, Hales Corners, Greenfield, and parts of Milwaukee since 2018, and a challenger, Dr. Maqsood Khan, currently serving as Treasurer of the Franklin Public School Board. As this race unfolds, voters deserve more than campaign messaging and candidate profiles—they deserve a clear understanding of each candidate’s record, governance style, and the real-world impact of their leadership claims. This article is offered to provide that broader context, particularly as it relates to claims made by Dr. Khan about fiscal responsibility, school district outcomes, and public accountability.
Two recent investigations by Franklin Community News (FCN) provide important additional context for District 9 residents:
The Real Story: How Maqsood Khan Turned Educators’ Work Into His Campaign Narrative
https://www.fcnewswi.com/2025/12/the-real-story-how-maqsood-khan-turned.htmlThe PattiLogsdon.com Scandal Exposes a Coordinated Political Machine
https://www.fcnewswi.com/2025/12/the-pattilogsdoncom-scandal-exposes.html
This response is offered respectfully and with District 9 voters in mind.
What Engagement Actually Looks Like in District 9 Schools
Teachers, aides, specialists, and building administrators are the ones doing this work. When engagement improves, it is because educators and staff have earned it, often quietly and without recognition.
Any campaign narrative that claims ownership of these outcomes should be evaluated carefully—especially by families who see this work up close.
County Taxes and “Bang for the Buck” in District 9
Dr. Khan has suggested that residents on the western side of Milwaukee County do not get sufficient value for the county taxes they pay. This concern resonates with many District 9 homeowners, particularly in Franklin and Hales Corners.
District 9 voters deserve honest conversations about county finances—not oversimplified comparisons.
School District Finances: Credit Ratings, Debt, and Shared Responsibility
Dr. Khan highlights debt reduction and credit rating improvements in the Franklin School District. These outcomes are real, but they are not the result of one individual’s actions.
As FCN reporting documents, these improvements reflect years of planning, professional financial management by district staff, favorable market conditions, and decisions made across multiple school boards. Presenting them as personal accomplishments risks overstating individual influence and understating the collaborative nature of public governance.
District 9 voters should expect accuracy when claims of fiscal leadership are made.
The 2023 Levy Reduction: What District 9 Voters Should Know
Dr. Khan also highlights his role in introducing an amendment in 2023 that reduced a proposed school tax levy increase from 13.2 percent to 5 percent. In isolation, this sounds like a significant taxpayer win. In practice, levy decisions are far more complex.
School tax levies are shaped by state funding formulas, referendum outcomes, inflation, contractual obligations, staffing needs, and deferred maintenance. Reducing a proposed levy increase does not automatically eliminate costs; in many cases, it shifts costs forward, delays necessary investments, or increases pressure on staffing and services.
FCN reporting emphasizes that fiscal responsibility is not defined solely by lowering a percentage, but by whether long-term needs are responsibly addressed without creating hidden future costs. Voters deserve to understand those trade-offs.
Fiscal Responsibility Includes Legal Costs to District 9 Taxpayers
A central theme of Dr. Khan’s campaign is fiscal responsibility. However, FCN reporting also documents that Franklin taxpayers have incurred costs associated with litigation involving Dr. Khan during his tenure as School Board Treasurer.
When a sitting school board officer engages in litigation related to board governance, the resulting legal fees, insurance impacts, and administrative burdens ultimately fall on taxpayers. Regardless of the merits of any individual dispute, these costs are a legitimate factor when evaluating claims of cost-saving leadership.
Fiscal stewardship must account for all taxpayer impacts—not just those highlighted in campaign messaging.
Engagement Claims and the Actual Data
The Wisconsin Muslim Journal article references Dr. Khan’s statements about student and employee engagement improvements. FCN’s investigation does not dispute that educators and staff in Franklin have worked hard to support students. What it documents—using data Dr. Khan himself publicly shared—is that the highest student engagement score occurred before the period he now characterizes as occurring “under my leadership.”
Subsequent scores reflect normal fluctuation rather than record-setting improvement. FCN further notes that engagement outcomes are driven primarily by teachers, support staff, principals, and district administrators, not by the school board treasurer. Accurately recognizing who performs this work is a matter of professional respect, not politics.
Political Endorsements and Independence
Visibility Is Not the Same as Leadership
A review of Dr. Khan’s public Facebook page over the past several months shows a steady stream of well-produced posts documenting attendance at food drives, school events, workshops, and community gatherings. Food collections, listening sessions, planning meetings, and volunteer efforts are all valuable—and the students, staff, and volunteers involved deserve genuine credit for their work.
But District 9 voters are entitled to ask a harder question:
What measurable progress has resulted from Dr. Khan’s leadership over the past three years?
Many of these posts reflect participation, not authorship. They show Dr. Khan present at events largely organized by others—schools, faith communities, nonprofits, and county departments—often accompanied by professional photos and campaign-ready language. What is far less clear is what policy outcomes, structural improvements, or lasting changes followed from this visibility.
Leadership is not simply being present when good things happen.
It is being accountable for what changes afterward.
The Difference Between Doing Good — and Claiming It
There is an old principle in public service:
the most meaningful work is often done quietly, without credit.
True leadership looks like:
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Solving problems before cameras arrive
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Advocating behind closed doors when it matters
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Producing results that don’t need a caption
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Letting others—especially students, staff, and volunteers—own the spotlight
By contrast, when nearly every act of participation is publicly packaged and tied back to campaign messaging, voters are justified in questioning whether the focus is service or self-promotion.
This concern is heightened when the same candidate has:
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Claimed credit for outcomes he did not produce
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Taken control of an opponent’s campaign website
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Aligned with political figures under investigation involving taxpayer dollars
In that context, a pattern emerges: being seen doing good replaces demonstrating sustained, accountable leadership.
A Fair Question for District 9
Dr. Khan has served on the Franklin School Board since 2021. He is now asking District 9 voters to elevate him to county office. That makes the following question reasonable and necessary:
Beyond attending events and amplifying existing efforts, what has Dr. Khan concretely advanced for District 9 over the last three years?
Not promises.
Not intentions.
Not photo documentation.
But actual outcomes:
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Policies enacted
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Problems resolved
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Resources delivered
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Long-term improvements achieved
District 9 residents—many of whom quietly volunteer, donate, mentor, and serve without public recognition—understand that real impact doesn’t need constant narration.
Why This Matters Now
County supervisors are not ceremonial figures. They oversee budgets, influence contracts, shape policy, and safeguard taxpayer dollars. The job requires humility, restraint, and judgment—especially when no one is watching.
If a candidate’s public record emphasizes visibility over outcomes before holding county office, voters should consider what that might look like after gaining greater authority.
District 9 deserves leadership that:
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Does the work even when it’s invisible
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Credits others rather than absorbing credit
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Measures success by outcomes, not applause
Why These Actions Matter — and Why District 9 Voters Should Be Concerned
Leadership claims cannot be evaluated in a vacuum. They must be weighed against documented conduct, political alliances, and patterns of behavior—especially when taxpayer dollars and public trust are involved.
This context matters because patterns visible before someone holds county office rarely disappear after election—they expand.
District 9 voters are not being asked to speculate about guilt. They are being asked to assess judgment, risk, and alignment.
If a candidate is willing to interfere with an opponent’s campaign infrastructure, make leadership claims beyond his authority, and align himself with officials under active investigation involving taxpayer dollars—what safeguards exist once that candidate holds greater power?
County supervisors oversee budgets, contracts, departmental operations, and taxpayer resources. When warning signs appear before election, responsible voters should take them seriously.
This election is not about profession, background, or faith. It is about conduct, accountability, and trust.
District 9 voters deserve leadership that:
Respects democratic norms
Accurately represents its record
Protects taxpayer dollars
Operates independently of politically compromised networks
The record documented by Franklin Community News raises legitimate questions about whether Dr. Maqsood Khan meets that standard.
District 9 deserves leadership that earns trust—not leadership that tests how much can be taken, stretched, or explained away.
This piece reflects the author’s personal opinion and experiences. All statements are presented as commentary protected under the First Amendment. Readers are encouraged to review public records, filings, and documented evidence referenced throughout this article.
Dr. Richard Busalacchi is the Publisher of Franklin Community News, where he focuses on government transparency, community accountability, and local public policy. He believes a community’s strength depends on open dialogue, honest leadership, and the courage to speak the truth—even when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.
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