7-14-17 fdl republican lawmaker urges county board to reject diversity statement

A Fond du Lac Republican lawmaker  is encouraging the county board to reject a proposed statement of diversity supported by a group of influential business, education and government leaders.  The group recently took out a full page newspaper ad urging the Fond du Lac County board to adopt a resolution that incorporates the spirit of  the statement.  Fond du Lac state representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt spoke out against a similar statement of diversity the county board tabled almost ten years ago, and says his feelings haven’t changed today.  “It makes it appear as though if we don’t do this and we don’t do it now that we’re going to have some sort of blockade that’s going to keep our community from future success,”  Thiesfeldt told WFDL news.  “If diversity is the key to low unemployment and success in a community why do our most diverse communities have the highest unemployment, highest poverty and the highest demands for social services?  We don’t have those problems in Fond du Lac.”   Thiesfeldt describes the statement as social engineering.   “Its just unnecessary and all its going to do is divide the community along familiar, immovable lines,”  Thiesfeldt said.  “There are certain things that are not going to change just because you put this statement forward.  Its not the county board’s role to act in social engineering of society.”   The statement talks about  encouraging all people to live and work in Fond du Lac free from prejudice regardless of their race, ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.  Those who have signed the petition include Mercury Marine president,  John Pfeifer, CD Smith president, Justin Smith, J.F Ahern company vice president, Tony Ahern, Marian University president, Andrew Manion and Ripon College president, Zach Messitte.