Baileys Harbor Town Supervisor Candidates

Don Sitte

Age: 66

Family: Wife Jayne (41 years), 2 children, 3 grandsons

Education: Gibraltar High School Graduate (class ’62)

Occupation: Semi-retired, Assistant Harbor Master

Previous Elected Office: Town Chairman, Supervisor, Door County Board Supervisor

Relevant Experience/ Civic Involvement: Door County Board of Adjustment (9 years), Door County Veterans Service Commission

Why are you the best choice for town chair?

At this time, there is a perception of conflicts of interest in our Town Government. I will remove this perception.

Are there services that the town provides that should be cut or scaled back to save money? Are there services the town should take on?

None

What other issue or issues are a high priority for the town in the term ahead?

Working with our businesses to keep and create more jobs.

What is the number one thing the council can do to make the town a better place to live?

I would listen closely to “constructive criticism” and move forward. I also will say this: Over the years, all Baileys Harbor Town Boards have tried to make this town a better place to live. Whether you agree or disagree, I commend them for succeeding.

Jim Parent

Age: 48

Family: Wife Pam Lent

Education: Gibraltar High School; University of Wisconsin –Madison (BS in Journalism – 1986)

Occupation: Real Estate Developer, Excavation Contractor

Previous Elected Office: Baileys Harbor Town Chairman (2005 – Present); Baileys Harbor Town Board Supervisor (1999 – 2005)

Relevant experience/ Civic Involvement: Budget Management and Marketing Executive for Fortune 100 Company; Management – Family Excavation and Development Company; Baileys Harbor Planning Committee; Baileys Harbor Lions Club; Church Council

Why are you the best choice for town chairman?

I have a very broad base of experience in communications, construction, road and infrastructure improvements, budget management, and employee relations. I’ve been able to take lessons learned from all aspects of my education and business experience and use them in some form to become a better town representative. My 12 years of continuous involvement with the Town Board has allowed me to understand the history of the issues that will continue to be the most important to the town in the coming years.

Are there services that the town provides that should be cut or scaled back to save money? Are there services the town should take on?

In recent years we have been able to provide a pretty good balance of services for the taxpayers without adding unnecessary costs to the tax levy. We’ve been able to save in advance for infrastructure and road projects so they don’t create a lot of borrowing when we’re ready to perform road work, or buy a new fire truck, etc. We’ve yet to see the full ramifications of the Governor’s Budget Repair Bill and the new budget for the next biennium. Given the amount of direct aid that we get from the state and county, I don’t think that we’ll be forced to pull back on services. For example, if the state subsidies for our recycling program disappear in the new budget, I would assume that we will continue to provide recycling services and absorb the cost of the lost subsidy. I’m sure that a program such as that one would be a popular one to try and keep. I don’t anticipate any cutbacks on maintenance services, or anything else at this point, although until we see the final version of the new bills, we won’t know for sure. I can’t think of any services that we would consider adding at this point in time.

What other issue or issues are a high priority for the town in the term ahead?

We are currently planning the construction of a new maintenance building beginning this spring. Our maintenance department is currently sharing space in our fire station and things are getting a bit crowded. We felt it would be much less of a financial commitment to build a new maintenance building and let the fire department utilize the entire fire station building, rather than the other way around. We’re also still considering a landscaping / water quality improvement project at Anclam Park, and the revisions to our Smart Growth / comprehensive plan should be finished in May.

What is the number one thing the council can do to make the town a better place to live?

I think the most important contribution that the Board can make to the town is to continue to be responsible with the taxpayer’s money. Our actions can control about 20 percent of the property tax bill that the taxpayer receives. We’ve been very responsible with these dollars over the years. On average, our expenditures and tax levy have remained flat or have decreased over the last five years or more. If there have been overall property tax increases it’s usually due to increases in areas that we do not control (i.e. NWTC, County, State, Gibraltar School District). We’ve not gone into debt to fund major projects, and we’ve not taken on major projects that would be considered unnecessary. Our financial auditors continue to be pleasantly surprised at the financial strength of our town in a time when so many others are struggling to make ends meet. We need to continue to manage the difficult balance between the protection and promotion of our natural resources, and the encouragement and attraction of new business to our town.