Gibraltar Town Supervisor

Brian Hackbarth

3840 Peninsula Players Road, Fish Creek

Age: 32

Family: Single

Education: Waldorf College, Forest City, IA, Associate of Arts Degree (1999)

Occupation: General Manager of Summertime Restaurant, LLC.

Previous Elected Office: none

Relevant Experience/ Civic involvement: Chairman of the Gibraltar Parks and Lands Committee (June 2009 – present); Parks & Lands Committee (June 2007 – May 2009); Gibraltar Plan Commissioner (November 2009 – present); alternate for Board of Review in Gibraltar (July 2007 – present); Fish Creek Civic Association board (2002 – 2004), served as president, secretary and board member at large; chaired 2004 Fish Creek Winter Games; chair and founder of Fish Creek Fireworks in 2004 and co-chair from 2005 – 2009.

What perspective and skills do you bring to the board?

I have been attending town board meetings since 1998, and since 2004 I attend an average 10 of the 12 monthly meetings held each year. My attendance of monthly meetings, along with serving on a committee and a commission for the town, has provided me with extensive knowledge of the governance of the Town of Gibraltar.

I have a strong track record of making things happen. I am good at bringing people and ideas together to achieve positive results.

What inspired you to seek public office?

Some people in town have been asking me to run for town board supervisor for the past two years. Many of whom have lived here their whole lives, including some who are very involved with the town. I know that I have much more to offer.

What is the top priority for town government in the next term?

Establishing sound long-term fiscal policies. The time has come for major changes to our financial management of taxpayer dollars. We cannot continue to spend more than we take in. We need to have capital improvement funds – individuals and businesses have savings accounts, so should the town. Currently we have to borrow money for things other towns pay cash for. Most importantly, in order to maintain our AAA credit rating we must increase our cash on hand, which is currently insufficient. Given the opportunity to serve, I can help to change this.

What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you believe deserves more focus?

The need to foster a climate that promotes a healthy business community, promotes development and re-development. We must be a family-friendly modern community, with a desire to attract young families to move here and stay here. And yes, all this can be done without loosing the charm and the history Gibraltar residents and visitors have come to cherish so.

Connie Judd

Connie Judd did not wish to fill out our questionnaire but said that she is in the race “to see a change. I would love to see a change in town.”

Brian Merkel (Incumbent)

9242 Gibraltar Bluff Road, Fish Creek

Age: 41

Family: Wife Melissa; son Nathan

Occupation: Owner of Nor Door Sport and Cyclery

Previous Elected Office: Gibraltar Town Board Supervisor (2001 – present)

Relevant Experience/ Civic Involvement: Vice chair, Fish Creek Harbor Commission; past-president, Door County Trails Association; past member of Northern Door Volleyball Association Board; treasurer of Door County Silent Sports Association; head of Gibraltar Bike Committee; Door County Visitor Bureau Board of Directors; past treasurer Door Central Snowgoers; Gibraltar Town Supervisor

What perspective and skills do you bring to the board?

A young person’s energy and drive to see the town retain its character and charm during challenging financial times. Being a business owner, I know the responsible steps to be taken to maintain and continue healthy growth in our community.

What inspired you to seek public office?

When I first became interested, there was little involvement and input from the younger generation residing in Gibraltar.

What is the top priority for town government in the next term?

To try to improve the financial status of our town while having controlled taxes without the loss of services to maintain and improve the style of life that we have grown accustomed to.

What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you believe deserves more focus?

Long-term financial and infrastructure responsibilities.

Myrvin Somerhalder (Incumbent)

9633 Cty A, Fish Creek

[email protected]

Age: 69

Family: Wife Holly; two adult children; three grandchildren

Education: Three and a half years of college; I enjoyed learning, but life got in the way and I was unable to finish

Occupation: Crew chief for a registered land surveyor

Previous Elected Office: Gibraltar Town Board for several years

Relevant Experience/ Civic Involvement: Ephraim/Gibraltar Airport Commission; Gibraltar Fire Chief (12 years)

What perspective and skills do you bring to the board?

As fire chief I had worked with the town board and other fire departments in the area. While being on the town board, you learn to work with various commissions, committees, and organizations along with other local boards. To be able to add constructive input, you have to feel comfortable at meetings and be able to give relevant information on issues. A town board is where community issues should be handled and decided. As a town board member you need to do research on the issues and seek input from all sides.

What inspired you to seek public office?

Local government basically has an organized structure to it. Wisconsin Towns Association has guidelines for conducting meetings. I felt by being involved with the guidelines and agenda format was an organized process of addressing community issues and being involved in addressing some of the problems that come up at times. My parents and grandparents had always been involved with rural community organizations, so it did not feel uncomfortable to be involved with local government or the issues that come up regarding the community. I particularly appreciate the open meeting format where an agenda item is discussed and a board member can ask a question of someone sitting in the audience that may have pertinent information on an issue.

What is the top priority for town government in the next term?

In Gibraltar the biggest challenge is dealing with sustaining economic growth for the next several years. One way to address the challenge is through planning. We have to plan on keeping up our roads, parks, dock, airport and historic areas because this contributes to bringing tourism to the township. During the “development boom times,” local help couldn’t keep up with the demand from restaurants, motels, construction, and service people needed. Now that the development boom has slowed, there should be more opportunity for local summer help in businesses. With our new bike plan, we should be able to draw more tourists. Hopefully we will become a bike friendly township.

The one thing that seems to be occurring now is instead of property being assessed at 92 percent of estimated market value, we are climbing up to 95 percent of property value that lengthens the time before town reassessment. This is occurring due to the lowering of fair market value for certain property.

What issue does not get enough attention from local government that you believe deserves more focus?

Local government needs to focus more on the needs of tourism as well as local residents. There is a balance. The town’s new bike plan is to promote tourism, but the trails created should be multi-use ones where both local people and tourists can use them for different activities. There needs to be parking near the village, but for multiple purposes and for tourists, employees and locals. This may be a difficult challenge, but local government has to keep focused on the issue. It is the balance of what a community can afford, and what is needed to promote business that creates employment for local residents. It has been hard for young families to stay in Gibraltar because of high property values. The ones that do stay usually obtain property from family or relatives. Staying here can be hard with high property taxes and limited employment.