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Sturgeon Bay Mayor, Council Candidates Give Their Priorities

For anyone who has been paying attention, the Sturgeon Bay elections are a reflection of citizen activism that began in November 2014 with the city’s revelation of a private developer’s plans to build a hotel as part of the Westside Waterfront Redevelopment project. Suddenly, city council meetings became standing room only events, with citizens charging that elected officials were not listening to their voices.

On April 5, Sturgeon Bay voters will have the opportunity to either place their faith in in the current government by voting for the incumbent mayor and two incumbent aldermen, or they could choose challengers who were driven to run for office by what they believe is a lack of transparency and communication in city government.

We posed questions to the Sturgeon Bay candidates that we hope will help in making that decision.

STURGEON BAY MAYOR

Laurel Brooks

brooks

Legal assistant and office manager; nine-year member of the Sturgeon Bay Plan Commission

Q:  If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A:  “We Love This Town” by Tarl Knight.

Q:  Beyond the statutory duties of the mayor, what do you believe are the responsibilities of the city’s top elected official?

A:  The Mayor sets the agenda. The agenda should place the city’s needs, and the use of taxpayer money front and center. The Mayor should establish practical ways for elected officials, staff and citizens to communicate regularly and easily. The Mayor should avail herself of the “bird’s eye view” accessible from her position of the city departments, nonprofits, and resources and make those observations available to department heads and to the public. Those regular reports can facilitate the joint and concerted efforts of the departments and provide easily accessible information to citizens who want to participate in the process.

Q:  What would represent a successful term in office for you? 

A: Distrust and dissatisfaction are a drag on progress. If the rift between City Hall and the community is healed, that will be evident and we will be a happier city. A happier city will have freed up its hearts, minds and energies to look around with clear eyes and evaluate what its goals are and how to achieve them. That will constitute success for everyone. But that is not all we want to do, and we won’t stop there. I believe the community frustration that surrounded the Bay Ship street vacation would have been less acrimonious if the underlying rift between the council and the community had not been simmering. With the healing of that rift, I believe we will see an easier and increasingly respectful relationship between Bay Ship and the surrounding neighborhood, and Bay Ship management has given us reason to expect that. We will begin to explore, actively and visibly, new approaches to business development within the city and to attract new entrepreneurial ventures from outside our borders. That undertaking is itself a kind of success, but achieving results from that process will be a great satisfaction to all of us. Infill building and development, a step in the direction of affordable housing, and creation of a business advisory group are all necessary supports for the “idea factory” that is Sturgeon Bay. We don’t lack imagination. What we lack is structural support to give viable ideas a chance to grow up and help create our future. We have always been builders and workers and we know how to do this.

Thad Birmingham (incumbent)

Thad

Mayor since April 2010, president of Birmingham Builders, Inc.

Q:  If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones

Q:  Beyond the statutory duties of the mayor, what do you believe are the responsibilities of the city’s top elected official?

A: To enrich the lives of its citizens. Increase job opportunities, help create affordable housing, support its businesses both retail and manufacturing, improve infrastructure to facilitate growth, and remain positive. These are just a few.

Q:  What would represent a successful term in office for you?

A: Success can be measured in many ways. One way would be the satisfaction its residents get by living in their city. Jobs, opportunity, choices, and the belief that things can be even better are what I hope for in the future. Satisfied and happy residents will be the results if I continue to be successful.

DISTRICT 2 CITY COUNCIL

Ron Vandertie (incumbent)

Ron Vandertie

Served as alderman for 14 years, retired firefighter

Q: If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A: I don’t have a theme song, but if I did it would be titled, “Communication.”

Q: The long-simmering controversy about waterfront development plans have called into question the city’s vision for its own future. What do you see for the city’s future?

A: My vision would be for a sustained and solid economy, because with that, everything runs smoothly. Taxes get paid so that city government works well for citizens, parks get used and our nonprofit organizations get the funding they need to provide the necessary services to the community. A vision doesn’t entirely have to be something we don’t already have. What we have is an excellent and wonderful community. My vision is that it will stay that way for a long time to come.

Q: What strengths will you bring to the common council and management of the city?

A: I bring experience, open-mindedness, and willingness to listen to the people of Sturgeon Bay. I pride myself on thoroughly reviewing the agenda topics and attending meetings with input I have gathered from residents in my district. I not only attend those committee meetings that I am appointed to by the mayor, but I am also frequently in attendance at those committee meetings which impact my district and our city.

Q: What is the biggest impediment to the city’s progress?

I believe the biggest impediment to our city’s progress is the misinformation and misconceptions that are floated around town that don’t help the process. It’s hurtful to read and hear some of the critical and negative comments that I know just aren’t true and only cause the divide in the community to widen.

Kelly Avenson

kellyavenson

Owner of Avenson Photography

Q:  If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A: At this point, “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera

Q:  The long-simmering controversy about waterfront development plans have called into question the city’s vision for its own future. What do you see for the city’s future?

A: I see a future where citizens and elected officials work together to decide what type of economic development is needed to grow our city. It is OK to say “we want better,” and the public must feel welcome to voice their opinions and share ideas. That is how we make progress. I see the current controversy as a lack of leadership but also an opportunity to work together moving forward.

Q:  What strengths will you bring to the common council and management of the city?

A: As a small business owner, I need to communicate professionally and respond to my customer’s needs on a daily basis. When I make a mistake, I am not too proud to start from scratch and say, “Let’s try this again.” I am committed to increasing civic engagement, which will strengthen the trust between city residents and their elected officials. We need to move forward and I offer the excitement that comes along with a fresh face.

Q:  What is the biggest impediment to the city’s progress?

A: We often place people in groups and expect them to be on one side or the other. This disregard for diversity stifles growth and promotes bickering and name calling. We need leadership at city hall which does not pass judgment on its constituents and affords all voices room at the table. Every day we start anew.

DISTRICT 6 CITY COUNCIL

Stewart Fett (incumbent)

fett

Served on city council six years, production manager Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding

Q:  If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A: “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac

Q: There has been much said at recent city meetings about achieving consensus on issues by holding more meetings to hear the public’s voice. As someone who attends meetings for a living, I have to wonder why we bother with representative government if we don’t believe in the process. If a person is elected to represent a group of people, is that elected official not the collective voice of the constituents? Are more meetings really the answer to better government?

A: The quantity of meetings is not the issue, it is the quality of those meetings. Meetings that are inclusive with civil discussion by all parties will result in the most effective representative government. I enthusiastically support the Civility Program as presented by the League of Women Voters and will encourage the mayor and council to formally adopt it. We must all learn that angry and accusatory comments and responses have no place in civil discussions. Additionally, the city must learn to use tools such as social media as an informational and communications tool.

Q:  Why do you want to hold what can be a thankless public office?

A: Serving as an alderman in the City of Sturgeon Bay has been an honor. Without question, the most enjoyable part of this service has been the opportunity to meet many families and in many instances to help personalize city services to their specific family needs. I am very proud of, and would like to continue, the role that I have played in guiding our full-service local government which has encouraged and supported our industrial and commercial “corporate citizens” to expand in both employment and tax base. Ours is truly a wonderful community in which to live and work, a great place to raise a family. I look forward to continuing to support programs to maintain this quality of life.

Q:  What would you like to see accomplished in your term?

A: We must continue to create and maintain an environment in which businesses can thrive and grow and one which continues to attract new businesses. We must recognize the importance of tourism in the city through increased support of the Sturgeon Bay Visitors Center. It is equally important that we develop and maintain a quality of life that will attract and keep the skilled workforce required. We must continue our capital improvement program for city streets, the expansion of the industrial park and support for the Little Lake Restoration efforts.

Tom Benzshawel

Tom-Benzshawel

Project manager at Procter & Gamble paper mill, former Sturgeon Bay alderman

Q:  If your campaign had a theme song, what would it be?

A: Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop”

Q: There has been much said at recent city meetings about achieving consensus on issues by holding more meetings to hear the public’s voice. As someone who attends meetings for a living, I have to wonder why we bother with representative government if we don’t believe in the process. If a person is elected to represent a group of people, is that elected official not the collective voice of the constituents? Are more meetings really the answer to better government?

A: Providing open discussions on key issues will better inform the public.

Q:  Why do you want to hold what can be a thankless public office?

A: I am thankful to live in Sturgeon Bay and feel a great sense of community as an Alderperson.

Q:  What would you like to see accomplished in your term?

A: Trust in our city government.

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