Email: jeff.rumage@patch.com
Phone: 414.248.3117
Hometown: Beloit, WI
Bio: Jeff Rumage has always had a passion for writing, learning about others and understanding the community around him.
Those three things drove Jeff to walk into The Daily Cardinal, one of UW-Madison's student newspapers, where he covered city, state and campus news stories.
After graduating from UW-Madison, Jeff took a job with a weekly newspaper in Oconomowoc, where he immersed himself in the community over the course of three years- writing about everything from farmers markets to murder trials.
When he learned about Patch's vision for community journalism, he felt compelled to be a part of it.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
Some might say that a UW-Madison graduate with degrees in Political Science and Communications is inherently liberal, but I have always thought partisanship takes the intellect out of politics. I genuinely believe there are multiple sides to most issues, and I became a journalist to give a voice to all sides of the discussion. I do, of course, vote in every election, but my choice is shaped more by each candidate's background, openness and capacity for logic than their ability to rile a crowd and make their opponent look bad.
Religion
Religion is a personal matter, and I believe everyone should have the right to exercise and express their beliefs in an open environment.
Local Hot-Button Issue
Education is a major topic of interest in the North Shore - and rightfully so. I recognize that many families moved to the North Shore to ensure a strong education for their child, so I aim to highlight school happenings and share student success stories.
Also, many beautiful North Shore homes have incurred substantial property damage due to repeat flood events. I will provide updates on what is being done to remedy village sewer issues.
I do believe residents have a right to know where their tax dollars are spent. I pledge to provide accurate, comprehensive information about public affairs, and I will find answers to any issues brought to my attention.
Election ballot machines were unable to read the first round of faulty ballots, so poll workers will have to transfer all of the information on those ballots to other ballots that can be processed through the machines.
The husband's arm was bleeding from the knife wound, but his wife, who was intoxicated, said she didn't mean to 'prick' her husband during the domestic altercation last week.
The 14- to 16-year-old boy threatened a woman and her father with what is believed to be a gun after they caught him going through one of their cars parked in the driveway.
Thirty-nine local middle school students competed in the tournament, which attracted 1,350 middle school students from 84 Wisconsin schools.
If you won't be in town for Tuesday's election, you need to request an absentee ballot by Thursday or vote in-person by Friday.
First- through fifth-grade students at Richards School are using bottle caps to make large artistic displays of nature this week.
The tropical-themed Mequon restaurant received the most votes in our Patch readers poll, with COA at Bayshore coming in a close second place.
The North Shore Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, Holy Family fish fry and an art crawl at Whitefish Bay High School are just a few of the events on tap this week in Whitefish Bay.
The hair salon chain will fill the old Nevaeh Medispa building, which has been vacant since late 2010.
With cooperation between Whitefish Bay's government, garden club and civic foundation, the village is now one of 50 Wisconsin communities that will be recognized for their conservation efforts.
The flurry of ads and campaign appearances are just beginning here as GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's wife appears at Miss Katie's Diner in Milwaukee with state Sen. Alberta Darling.
Wilson, who has one more year to shine with the Knights, will be the first Dominican grad in recent history to stay in Milwaukee and play for the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Patch is looking for the best margaritas in the area — whether they be frozen, salty or sweet. So tell us your go-to spot for a margarita, and we'll open the contest to voting next week.
After an evening of Irish food and dancing, the George Washington 1776 Lodge honored two Whitefish Bay Middle School students for their achievements, and gave each student $500 to donate to their charity of choice.
Advocates For Education will host a meet-and-greet event with candidates for the uncontested School Board race Monday at the Whitefish Bay Women's Club.
The latest reports from the Whitefish Bay Police Department.
Whitefish Bay school officials say they feel "vindicated" by news of Stifel Nicolaus' large legal settlement, and thank the community for its patience over the last four years.
Whitefish Bay girls will not return to the state basketball tournament this year after a loss in Saturday's sectional championship game.
Whitefish Bay Library will host Patch's free media workshop, and on Wednesday night, it will host a lecture by William Shakespeare (not really).
With a win over Colfax Thursday night, the Knights now face off against an undefeated Cuba City team for the D4 state title.
