Oshkosh has two governments.
Oshkosh, Do You Know? A blog to provide public insight into the operations of City, School, and County government—and to root out corruption and misconduct wherever it exists. Oshkosh Has Two Governments—Neither Representing You? Did you know that Oshkosh essentially operates under two governments? One is the elected Common Council , which is supposed to represent the people. The other is the City Manager and their administrative staff , many of whom don’t even live in Oshkosh . Unfortunately, neither seems to have the public’s best interests at heart . In the Manager-Council form of government, the City Manager effectively holds the power, while the elected Council acts more as a rubber stamp. Residents expect council members to advocate for them—but good luck getting a reply to an email or phone call . Most don't respond at all. Power in Name Only Council members often claim they can direct the City Manager and represent the people’s interests. But the re...