Position sought: New Glarus Village Trustee
Age: 59
City/town of residence: New Glarus
Family: Husband: Randy, two sons, one daughter
Education: BA in Secondary Education, MA Secondary Education
Occupation: High school teacher
Previous elected positions held: Two terms as village trustee, 10 years Belleville Education Association Treasurer
What are the top issues facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
One of the most difficult facing village trustees today is to deliver a balanced budget that neither decreases vital services nor increases the village portion of one's property tax bill. This will continue to be my primary goal over the next two years. I know our taxpayers are financially burdened and continue to feel the pinch of a weak economy. If we can sustain present levies and still provide core municipal services, the village's other responsibilities to its citizens and businesses will then fall into place without any significant financial encumbrance.
Another challenging issue is the current proposal for a new library. It has been polarizing for our residents from the outset. I am, and have always been, in favor of a new library. However, I support a facility that is affordable to build, operate and maintain. I don't believe the current proposal meets those criteria. I envision a new facility that can help revitalize the downtown and compliment a "kid-friendly" safe zone for our children to grow up in. We're fortunate to have a village center that children can safely navigate to read, attend programs, go swimming, socialize, have a treat, and play. We should do all we can to nurture this vital component of New Glarus life.
I am also concerned that the plan for the new library features duplicate facilities, such as yet another community room. The community room in the proposed library would be slightly smaller than the one in Village Hall, which is already under-utilized. Even our recent school expansion also added a large multi-purpose room which is also available to the public.
This issue of space is only one concern, the other is the powerful digital influence on print and video media today. If we build for the future, what will libraries look like in 20 years. Will people be accessing their materials online? If so, we need to build for this kind of public use. Perhaps space is not the answer, but technology is.
Usage of library materials is changing exponentially. Ipads, Ipods, Nooks, and ever increasing new formats for reading and viewing are exploding on the market. The Library of Congress is putting all of its material online for access. So my thought is: Are we designing to take this into consideration?
Personally, I use libraries a lot but not the physical building. I am accessing most of my material for school: for interactive whiteboard presentation and planning, for student readings, for research.
I am not saying a physical building is not necessary, I just want the community to have made the right decisions not based on the old concept of "library," but of one that will provide access and usage as the world moves from print to digital sources.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
I am concerned that the strength and health of our downtown is less than it could be. In the interest of re-invigorating downtown New Glarus, the village board should work hand-in-hand with our Chamber of Commerce and our Community Development Authority. I need to help with research and provide support to help to attract appropriate development and new business to New Glarus in order to secure the long-term vitality of the downtown. Doing so will benefit us all by expanding our "property tax base" so that our residents' property tax bills remain under control and within reason.
I also support the chamber's important work of growing our identity as "America's Little Switzerland," which has been the bread and butter of this unique community for years. This reputation has served us well before and should continue to do so during these challenging economic times.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I do not feel comfortable answering a question promoting myself as "the best." I am a conscientious trustee who does the homework and thinks comprehensively about all issues. I have never regretted my decisions. I made them after much consideration. During my last 33 years as a resident of this village, I have many acquaintances in the village. Their best interests always drives my decisions.
Age: 59
City/town of residence: New Glarus
Family: Husband: Randy, two sons, one daughter
Education: BA in Secondary Education, MA Secondary Education
Occupation: High school teacher
Previous elected positions held: Two terms as village trustee, 10 years Belleville Education Association Treasurer
What are the top issues facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
One of the most difficult facing village trustees today is to deliver a balanced budget that neither decreases vital services nor increases the village portion of one's property tax bill. This will continue to be my primary goal over the next two years. I know our taxpayers are financially burdened and continue to feel the pinch of a weak economy. If we can sustain present levies and still provide core municipal services, the village's other responsibilities to its citizens and businesses will then fall into place without any significant financial encumbrance.
Another challenging issue is the current proposal for a new library. It has been polarizing for our residents from the outset. I am, and have always been, in favor of a new library. However, I support a facility that is affordable to build, operate and maintain. I don't believe the current proposal meets those criteria. I envision a new facility that can help revitalize the downtown and compliment a "kid-friendly" safe zone for our children to grow up in. We're fortunate to have a village center that children can safely navigate to read, attend programs, go swimming, socialize, have a treat, and play. We should do all we can to nurture this vital component of New Glarus life.
I am also concerned that the plan for the new library features duplicate facilities, such as yet another community room. The community room in the proposed library would be slightly smaller than the one in Village Hall, which is already under-utilized. Even our recent school expansion also added a large multi-purpose room which is also available to the public.
This issue of space is only one concern, the other is the powerful digital influence on print and video media today. If we build for the future, what will libraries look like in 20 years. Will people be accessing their materials online? If so, we need to build for this kind of public use. Perhaps space is not the answer, but technology is.
Usage of library materials is changing exponentially. Ipads, Ipods, Nooks, and ever increasing new formats for reading and viewing are exploding on the market. The Library of Congress is putting all of its material online for access. So my thought is: Are we designing to take this into consideration?
Personally, I use libraries a lot but not the physical building. I am accessing most of my material for school: for interactive whiteboard presentation and planning, for student readings, for research.
I am not saying a physical building is not necessary, I just want the community to have made the right decisions not based on the old concept of "library," but of one that will provide access and usage as the world moves from print to digital sources.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
I am concerned that the strength and health of our downtown is less than it could be. In the interest of re-invigorating downtown New Glarus, the village board should work hand-in-hand with our Chamber of Commerce and our Community Development Authority. I need to help with research and provide support to help to attract appropriate development and new business to New Glarus in order to secure the long-term vitality of the downtown. Doing so will benefit us all by expanding our "property tax base" so that our residents' property tax bills remain under control and within reason.
I also support the chamber's important work of growing our identity as "America's Little Switzerland," which has been the bread and butter of this unique community for years. This reputation has served us well before and should continue to do so during these challenging economic times.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I do not feel comfortable answering a question promoting myself as "the best." I am a conscientious trustee who does the homework and thinks comprehensively about all issues. I have never regretted my decisions. I made them after much consideration. During my last 33 years as a resident of this village, I have many acquaintances in the village. Their best interests always drives my decisions.