THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL (FIJ) is a news, information and opinion website published daily by two Franklin taxpayers—Basil Ryan and Fred Keller who report and analyze stories of interest on a wide range of topics from politics, including local government We also intend to educate our readers on the founding principles of  America and from time-to-time infuse entertainment (satire) with the issues facing all Americans and our posterity.”— Thomas Jefferson: “Notes on Virginia,” 1781. 

Fred Keller is a 20-year resident of Franklin and also raised his family in Franklin.  He began his career in business travel management in 1979 and eventually spent 16-years as Senior Branch Manager with Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). 

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin; “Well Doctor, what have we got a Republic or a Monarchy?”—“A Republic," replied the Doctor, if you can keep it."

This nation’s Founders recognized that governments depend on imperfect men, and worried about the threat of an all-powerful central government, where the few dictate to the many. THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL believes that government goes to those who show up and stand up.  We intend to hold Franklin's elected representatives, including Franklin School Board members, accountable for their actions or lack thereof on the crucial issues facing our City now and in the future.Our goal is to enlighten, inspire, educate—and at times entertain our fellow Franklinites to become more active and engaged in Franklin government, especially while Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor remains in office.

PROFILE: MAYOR THOMAS TAYLOR

A former Executive Board member of Milwaukee District Council 48, AFSCME that represented approximately 14,000 public employees and served as Vice President and Chief Steward of Local 882, AFSCME.

A devout, unprincipled “Dime Store” politician, self-proclaimed Republican,  a terrible  and ineffective problem solver who seeks the most politically expedient solutions,  a completely self-absorbed phony in his treatment of his fellow humans, a liberal with other people's (taxpayer) money, a skillful manipulator, not a leader.  Term: April 2011 thru April 2014

—Editor, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

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Thank you for your support.

Basil Ryan & Fred Keller