Door County Board of Supervisors Candidate Profiles
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Why Does My Vote Matter?
“Everything you think the state does, the county actually executes.” – Door County Administrator Mike Serpe
County of Door
Bob Ryan
Population: 27,771 residents in 14 towns, four villages, and one city
County Seat: Sturgeon Bay
2010 Budget: $66 million
Representatives: 21 Supervisors elected every two years.
Pay: $150 for each Door County Board meeting (monthly); $25 per hour for committee meetings attended (cap 8 hours per meeting).
Meets: Fourth Tuesday of each month at 9 am at the Door County Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay
Coming Agenda: annual budget, possible new site for Senior Center, county bike plan
DISTRICT 3
Bob Ryan
145 Clar-lin Road
Clay Banks
920.746.0549
Age: 56
Richard Virlee
Family: Wife Sue, no children
Education: BS Math, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL
Occupation: Painting Contractor
Previous Elected Office: Eight years on town board (1995 – 2003), six years on County Board (2002 – 2008)
Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: Co-facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Program; Sturgeon Bay Breakfast Rotary; Sustain Door; Henry S. Baird Masonic Lodge; Board of Directors for Friends of the Door County Parks; Ahnapee River Watershed Alliance
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
My involvement with many aspects of Door County governance has given me a good view of what a county board member needs to do to best represent his or her constituents. The best source of information on many of the decisions that the board makes comes from the meetings of the oversight committees. A supervisor needs to talk to members of any committee about any major decisions that might come before the full board. A supervisor should be as available as possible to those he represents. If elected, I will attend every town board meeting possible in my district.
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
There are many people in our country who believe there is too much government, even at the local level. Some of the county supervisors said there should be significant cuts. This usually comes up during the annual budget meeting and seems to be done to pander to their constituents or attack departments they have a personal problem with. We should always be looking for ways to save tax dollars. I feel that county government is currently pretty efficient. Costs have been cut in every annual budget that I’ve known of since 2000. If any significant cuts are desired, we would have to redefine the mission of what our county government should handle. Several surveys of our residents have not shown a need to redefine our mission.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
Water quality protection. The geology of our area makes our ground water very vulnerable to our activities on the surface. There are many groups in the county that keep us aware of this. All decisions the board makes should consider their impacts on our ground and surface waters.
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representatives to focus more on?
Energy conservation. The growing need for additional electricity will affect us with the upgrades in our switching and transmission systems. The county board needs to look for ways to reduce its energy needs to eliminate what seems to be an annual increase in energy consumption.
Patrick Olson
Gary Bogenschutz
6285 Salona Road
Sturgeon Bay
Age: 57
Family: Wife Diane
Education: Southern Door High School (1971); self-employed farmer. I retired from dairy farming in 2003 and now run a small beef herd; I also cash crop 800 acres.
Previous Elected Office: Clay Banks Town Supervisor (2007 – present); Door County Board of Supervisors (2008 – present)
Relevant Experience/ Civic Involvement: First president of Southern Door FFA Alumni; Door County Farm Bureau Board of Directors; Umpire for Old Timers Softball League in Forestville for 15 years; Clay Banks Planning Commission member; helped start the Door County Meat Animal Sale.
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
Only active farmer sitting on the county board, I will not be pressured by special interest groups.
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
Yes, in the Planning and Zoning Department and the Soil and Water Conservation Department. I believe we need new leadership in these two departments.
Kari Anderson
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
Keep taxes low. No more fee increases.
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representatives to focus more on?
Making government smaller.
DISTRICT 15
Kevin Wilke
Did not respond to our questionnaire.
Richard “Biz” Virlee
3959 Glidden Drive
Sturgeon Bay
Age: 67
Family: Wife Sharon of 42 years, two adult children and five grandchildren
Education: Sturgeon Bay High School; attended UW-Oshkosh; graduated from various schools in the United States Navy and while working for the Door County Sheriff’s Department
Occupation: Retired after 30 years with the Door County Sheriff’s Department
Previous Elected Office: Five terms on Door County Board of Supervisors
Relevant Experience/ Civic Involvement: Ten years on Door County Board of Supervisors
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
I am retired. I have the interest and time to work on all issues, so I can make sensible decisions. I want to keep all services on an even keel, so we must be careful how and where we spend your tax dollar. My experience as supervisor has taught me that you don’t always prevail on issues because you are one vote of the 21 supervisors. People pay taxes, expecting services for their tax dollars. Services enhance quality of life. I believe it is vital to meet the needs of our constituents in the most fiscally responsible manner.
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places?
Cuts must be annualized on a department by department basis. Funding from federal and state governments is changing annually. This is why local government must work to spend our tax dollars in the most cost effective manner. In the past couple years the county board has made cuts. Proof of this is on your last tax bill. Because of cuts the county tax levy came in with more than a two percent drop. Having said that, the county board must continue to look at all departments to do the jobs with less money. I believe we are doing that as every committee of every department is doing this annualizing for the 2011 budget now.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
Last year the County of Door conducted a survey to ask taxpayers what their priorities are. At the top of the list was water quality, maintaining roads and bridges, countywide ambulance service, responding to public safety concerns and prosecuting criminal cases. The board made a list of strategic priorities and I quote: “Promote a diverse and growing economy producing high quality jobs. Exercise sound financial management and build the county’s fiscal strength while minimizing the property tax burden. Protect Door County’s natural resources, especially water quality. Plan and manage land use to promote responsible development and preserve our natural and aesthetic strengths. Respond effectively to issues in Door County arising as our population ages and manages difficult economic times.”
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representatives to focus more on?
Most supervisors sit on four committees. There are about 25 in total. I do read the minutes of all committees, and I don’t think there are many stones left unturned. One issue has stood out for many years – mandates. In 1987, the study done by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau on community aids showed Wisconsin paying about three-quarters of mandates and local taxpayers paying one quarter. In 2004, the study showed about one third of mandates paid by Wisconsin and two thirds paid by local taxpayers. Today the numbers are worse and the burden put on local taxpayers is too great. State aid is at an all-time low, and we must work with our local officials in Madison to give us more help. I will do my share to help this situation.
DISTRICT 16
Dale A Wiegand
5340 West Townline Road
Sturgeon Bay
Age: 54
Family: Wife Deborah of 32 years, one teenage daughter
Education: Sturgeon Bay High School (1973); United States Navy serving in the Submarine Service for six years; presently taking many courses pertaining to the Fire Service and Emergency Medical Responder field and have many certificates from those courses.
Occupation: HVAC salesman for Wulf Brothers, Inc. and a Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Responder for Egg Harbor Fire Department.
Previous elected office: Egg Harbor Town Supervisor and Chairman; County Board Supervisor for Town of Egg Harbor, District 16.
Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: My experience comes from past office in the Town of Egg Harbor and as a past county board supervisor. As a member of the county board I served on the Board of Health, Airport and Parks, Ad Hoc Building for the Justice Center, and Finance committees; chaired the Law Enforcement Committee. Lieutenant and Emergency Medical Responder for the Egg Harbor Fire Department.
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
I would like Door County government to stay on task to keeping our citizens healthy, safe, and to have a good quality of life. My concern for our environment and our fragile geography in Door County will motivate me to make the proper decisions addressing the management of our resources to promote a safe environment to live and play in. I believe in a fair and strong law enforcement presence along with keeping our roads safe and well maintained. To maintain a good quality of life I would encourage job growth along with the right type of jobs to be pursued with the help of the county board by properly disbursing funds already set aside for that purpose.
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
There have been many cuts in the county government in the past and there could be more. This past year other counties have gone as far as not offering snowplowing to townships. I will have to study those counties to see how it worked, if safety was ever compromised, and if there was a savings for all parties involved. I would pressure the state to not pass any more unfunded mandates. These mandates can be very expensive and lack reasoning for their existence.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
The top priority for the next term is to keep trying to lower taxes without jeopardizing our health, safety, and welfare. The board will also have to voice concerns to state lawmakers for lower taxes and to allow growth of business by having fair taxes with incentives for growth.
Gary Bogenschutz
4736 Rainbow Ridge Court
Egg Harbor
920.839.5553
Age: 47
Family: married, two children.
Education: Gibraltar High School
Occupation: municipal equipment sales
Previous Elected Office: Egg Harbor Village Trustee (1995 – 2005, President 2001 – 2005); Door County Board of Supervisors District 16 (2008 – 2010)
Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: 28 years on Egg Harbor Fire Department; 12 years on Village of Egg Harbor Plan Commission; Door Central Snowgoers member; Past member of Egg Harbor Men’s Club
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
I am open minded and have 12 years of local government experience.
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
No.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
My first priority is to keep current staffing, increase efficiency.
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representatives to focus more on?
Consolidation of services, county, towns, villages and schools.
DISTRICT 17
Alvin Birnschein
6103 County T
Sturgeon Bay
Age: 69
Family: One son, one daughter, wife deceased
Education: Sevastopol High School; University of Wisconsin Farm Short Course (1959)
Occupation: Retired from Door County Sheriff’s Department; Owner/operator of Birnschein Trenching, LLC.
Previous Elected Office: Jacksonport Town Supervisor (1975 – 1983); Jacksonport Town Chairman (1983 –1989, 2003 – 2005)
Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: Chairman of Stella Maris Finance Council (2009)
1.What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
Past involvement in town government (see above).
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
No.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
Don’t know of any at present.
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representative to focus more on?
Wind power should be looked at really closely as a source of electric power.
Kari Anderson
6844 County A
Egg Harbor
920.823.2078
Age: 53
Family: Married for 29 years, two adult sons, one spoiled rotten Springer Spaniel
Education: Monona Grove High School, Monona, WI; Associate Degree in Commercial Art from Madison Area Technical College
Occupation: Watercolor Artist
Previous Elected Office: Door County Board Supervisor, District 17 (2002 – 2008)
Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: Appointed to Door County Board of Adjustment (1996 – 2002); in 2008 I was appointed to serve on that same board as an alternate member. Jacksonport Land Use Committee Chair (present); I have also worked with the elementary art students at Sevastopol School for the past 20 years; two terms as President of Door County Library System; Chair of Door County Emergency Services Committee (two terms); Chair for the Community Outreach Program/Long-Term Support Committee; Resource Planning Committee (three terms); Property Committee (three terms); Jacksonport Little League assistant coach (1993 – 1995); Jacksonport Advancement Corporation Maifest organizer
1. What perspective and skills do you bring to Door County governance?
I would like to think that I have good listening skills and a lot of common sense. I am a team player when it comes to committees and decisions. My schedule as an artist is very flexible, which allows me to plan time around meetings both day and night. I also think that we need to see more women interested in government. Women are natural multi-taskers and, as the saying goes, we aren’t afraid to ask for directions!
2. Do you believe there are significant cuts that can be made to county government, and if so, in what places? Please be specific.
Most people I know have become accustomed to the county’s services. They like having a 911 system that works 24-7, 365 days a year. They like having a county fair; they like having the branch library system. Those are not mandatory services; but, they are here, and most people I know would be quite upset if they were cut. One cost-saving measure might be selling the old highway shop in Sturgeon Bay. It is currently being leased out; but the buildings are deteriorating, and I don’t think we should spend more tax dollars maintaining them. A four-day work week for some departments could be a possibility to explore.
For people who ignore the permit process in the Planning Department or other departments, perhaps after-the-fact permits should be more costly. Currently, the after-the fact permits for the Planning Department are simply double what a regular permit is. That encourages a catch-me-if-you-can attitude for some people.
3. What is the top priority for county government in the next term?
Teamwork is a priority, partnering with other counties, towns and villages for greater efficiency in communications and emergency management.
My goal would be to maintain the programs that we currently have and develop strategies that will help create jobs for the private sector, not more jobs for government.
4. What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you would encourage representatives to focus more on?
I would like to see a stronger focus on partnerships with our citizens. For example, some of those programs are first responders, EMTs, fire fighting, water rescue, library assistant volunteers, working with the Red Cross in emergencies, fighting invasive species and water quality issues. We are facing hard times in Door County and across our country. Local government needs to be the leader in many areas, but we need our citizens, our constituents, and our neighbors to help make Door County a safe, beautiful, and prosperous place to live. One specific place that could do a lot more of this type of training and coordinating is the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC). Considering the amount of money that we pay to our schools and to NWTC, we deserve more opportunities, especially for our youth.