By Kris Leonhardt
Editor-in-chief
GREEN BAY – Three candidates will vie for the mayor’s seat on the Algoma City Council.
That field will be narrowed down to two during the Feb. 20 primary, before heading to the April 2 spring election.
Algoma City Council mayor candidates are:
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
I’m a lifelong resident of Algoma, born in May 1980. I hold a bachelor of arts in humanistic studies from UW-Green Bay and an associate of applied science in sustainable food and ag from NWTC. I’ve served as the alder in District 3 here in Algoma since April 2020. I’m running at the same time for both mayor and alder. If you are a resident of the 3rd district in Algoma, you may vote for me in both contests. If I were to win both, I would choose to be mayor.
Over the last four years I’ve gained a lot of insight into the working process of the city. In that time I’ve become more familiar with procedures, have chaired committees and run meetings, learning along the way from a whole host of people with varying experience and expertise. It’s a continuous learning process and I believe I’m well suited to the work. I enjoy the preparation and do my best to bring as informed of a perspective as I am able to. My intention is always to do what I think is best for the city but if I fall short, I’ll own it. I have displayed a steady temperament as alder and believe it will transition well into being mayor.
What developments would you like to see the city make over the upcoming term?
Our city has exemplary employees across the board; administrative staff, police, parks and public works, utility, library, fire and rescue, et al. They have been instrumental in maintaining the favorable course the city has taken. This past budget season most of the departments saw very little in increases requested while facing 30% increases in cost. They are mindful of the financial tightrope that a small city with limited revenue sometimes has to walk. I commend and thank them for their diligence and look forward to seeing that continue.
For many years the city and utility have partnered to do four blocks of complete road reconstruction. This too has become more expensive but I believe it’s imperative to continue to pursue this consistent path. I understand that there are many roads in questionable condition but patching, filling or resurfacing is a short term solution which should be pursued when we have extra money to do it, but should not be the intentional path we take. While the facade may look good, what is beneath eventually will need to be dealt with, ideally not in a catastrophic situation.
Fiscal responsibility isn’t about not spending money, it’s about using the money appropriately and finding the best value, while continuing to provide the necessary services for our citizens. We cannot forgo our long term needs to try to look good in the short term. That is not responsible and doesn’t necessarily translate into a net savings, often involving spending even more money later.
I appreciate the approach our Chief of Police has taken in steering his department and interacting with the city and its residents. The community policing style has been well received and I believe makes for a better quality of life in our small city.
We’re seeing a good amount of new house construction in the city and we hope that continues. We also should be seeing the start of the Community Development Block Grant Fifth Street apartment project this spring/summer, which will bring in additional housing. My hope is to continue to pursue opportunities to bring more housing developments, single family homes and otherwise, into the city. If given the opportunity as mayor, I hope to work with the administrator to pursue additional grants and see about attracting developers to come help us grow the city.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process?
I say it often, good information is easy. All of the city meetings adhere to the open meetings requirements. They’re posted online, at city hall and in the Green Bay Press Gazette. I’ve spent the last few years interacting with community member through online forums. In doing so, I am always hoping to bring the best information I have available. I have encouraged participation and I plan to continue this path.
I understand there are impediments for some folks as far as accessing online resources. I encourage them to reach out to the mayor, their alders or the city staff, any of which would be more than inclined to help them get to the information they’re seeking.
I’m open to ideas and hoping for them. I am eager to connect, communicate and elevate the understanding of the way local government works. The key to success in a small city is to have a lot of people spending a little bit of their time on something they’re passionate about that will collectively benefit the whole. This can be done, and often is most effective, while working outside of the parameters of the city government itself. I look forward to having conversations with you all.
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
My education info: graduated from Algoma High School; medical assistant degree from NWTC; bachelor of science in business administration/managerial accounting from UW-Green Bay; masters in business administration with emphasis in marketing from UW-Oshkosh.
Political and organizational information: Past alderperson in Algoma; past and current mayor of Algoma; Kewaunee County Board supervisor; president of Violence Invention Project - board member for more than 20 years; Lake Shore Cap vice president - board member for many years; past board member to Wisconsin State Main Street Board in Madison; past board member to Bay Lake Regional Planning; current chairman of Kewaunee County Human Services.
Work history: Admission clerk at Algoma Hospital; First Aid Department at Bay Shipbuilding; CPA since mid 1980s; taught some classes in accounting, ceramics and stained glass for NWTC; taught classes for Sage/Peachtree Software throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan; operated software support phone line and in person for Sage/Peachtree Software; operated a CPA practice in Algoma after leaving a larger CPA firm.
What developments would you like to see the city make over the upcoming term?
Housing for families, beach and water issues and property in Algoma that needs repair or removal.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process?
I welcome phone calls to my mayor phone or my personal phone. I do answer emails and text regarding issues or questions. Since I am retired, I can usually meet with people at City Hall or my house. I would like to change our meetings to allow public comment regarding issues on the agenda.
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
I am 62 years old. A licensed contractor for eight years self-employed, 30 years of contracting and full time employment before that (worked full time, contracting weekends and evenings). I have held many supervisory and manager titles and have been responsible for someone or something for the majority of my work background.
I am a former alder person of Algoma who believes we could do a better job for our citizens in Algoma.
What developments would you like to see the city make over the upcoming term?
I want to see the city grow but the whole city not just the tourism, I believe the community is also important and that we need to look harder at how to make this better and affordable so that our aging community can feel like the commitment they have made to get us here is appreciated and to be attractive to the young families starting out that would see this and want to be a part of the community that we have enjoyed for all these years. To see small business or any business prosper and want to be here, all while realizing that tourism can and will be an important factor in this growth. To work with those businesses not just from a sales perspective but also from an employment perspective so that new family could now depend on this for their livelihood, which now could benefit our businesses, our schools, our community and our city.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process?
This will be one of my goals: to include the people of Algoma in Algoma’s future. There are avenues open to today but the people who use them feel (slighted or pushed aside) after using them. There is so much that goes into the decision-making process that sometimes one person’s opinion gets smothered and so leaves them feeling like it was not important.
I want to try to open more doors for those opinions where their thoughts can be part of a conversation and not just a declaration. Where after that conversation maybe we all learn something or at least we can gather more facts and ideas that lead us to the benefits and/or consequences of our ideas. This may be as simple as a designated time to come and visit the mayor with your thoughts, ideas, complaints and one could only hope your praise.
Nobody is perfect. So one could conclude nobody is imperfect. Whether you agree or disagree with the people who work for the city, they work very hard to do the jobs they do letting them know when you feel they are on the right path could be the catalyst that makes that action explode.
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