MONROE - Voters in Ward 6 will be at the polls Feb. 15 to cast votes in a primary to pare down the number of candidates who want to be their city council alderman.

Sara E. Conway, Darlene Kennison, and David C. Riese, M.D. have thrown their names into the hat for the position that has been held by Keith Ingwell for the past 17 years. Ingwell stepped down Jan. 4 to pursue personal retirement plans.

The common council voted Jan. 18 not to have Mayor Bill Ross appoint a person to fill the seat, but did vote for the candidates to have a run-off. The top two vote-getters will proceed to the April 5 general election.

Experience and age vary greatly among the candidates, but their differences narrow when they pinpoint the most important issues facing the city of Monroe and its future.

Conway, at age 33, is the youngest of the candidates and sees her lack of experience in city government as a benefit.

"I have no pre-determined notions of what it should be," she said. "I am coming in with an open mind. I think I will bring a new, fresh look at issues in Monroe."

Conway said her success as a deputy and jailer at the Green County Sheriff's Department - training new employees and meeting a variety of people - is an indication of how she approaches problems.

"(It) has taught me to treat everybody with respect. I pride myself in being able to talk to people and keep a level head, and make good decisions. I based my decision on numerous things - listening to my neighbors and others within my community expressing their views, and thinking to myself that I have the opportunity to voice these concerns and make a difference."

Kennison, 51, is a business owner, and said she has the ability to understand and communicate complex issues facing the community.

"My experience in implementing economic growth programs and community services for the City of Janesville Community Development Department, my business skills in human resources and finances, and my community involvement in volunteer capacities provide me the qualifications necessary to serve as alderperson," she said.

Riese, 70, is a retired anesthesiologist, who also has served on several boards and commissions involved in the city's historic business district. Both experiences qualify him for the position, he said.

"My professional training taught me to gather and analyze the facts before making a decision. " he said. "My leadership qualities are exhibited by the past presidency of the 8,000-member Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association, and past presidency of the Wisconsin Society of Anesthesiologists. I was twice elected president of the St. Clare Hospital Medical Staff and also served as secretary of the Green County Medical Society."

The top current issues facing the City of Monroe, as identified by the candidates, include the budget, senior housing; and the growth of housing, business and industry.

Kennison said municipal budgets are challenged by reductions in shared state revenue and continually increasing health and pension costs.

"The council must rework the city's budgetary and union negotiation processes to reduce spending," she said. "During the budget process, we need to make sure every department function is reviewed and every expenditure is approved, instead of only increasing spending. The union negotiation process must be changed to protect the taxpayers while meeting the needs of Monroe's most valuable asset - its employees."

Riese also advocated careful budgeting, so that the process is fair to city employees and property owners.

"It must also provide the city with adequate funds to allow the necessary services and functions, as well as help promote growth both downtown and citywide," he added. "Growth of housing, business and industry throughout the city must each be evaluated for its own merits and follow guidelines established by the city."

The recent proposal of a downtown senior housing development by an independent developer was a community concern identified by Conway and Kennison.

"I have heard and read good concerns in reference to this issue," Conway said. "I would have gone throughout the neighborhood that is affected by this project and listened to the people. Getting out and talking to the people on major issues will inform them and you. I would also like to see a preliminary list of applicants that would apply to live there, to see if it would be utilized."

Kennison said the development touches on multiple problems facing the city.

"This viable development will provide private housing options to our increasing senior population; generate tax revenues for the failing TIF 7; and is an example of a successful economic development partnership between private development and government," she said. "It is also an excellent example of how the political process between citizens and government could be improved upon through the effective use of communication and distribution of relevant information."

In a vision of the immediate future, all three candidates say they want Monroe to become a better place in which to live.

Conway and Riese are targeting business and job growth through government and organizations' input.

"I see an active, thriving community," Riese said, "driven by the city council, Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, working together to produce a community that is fun and safe to live in, a community that attracts industry and business, a community that is known for its retail diversity and friendliness, and a community that is known for providing exceptional education and health care."

"I want Monroe to be the city that people want to come to live," Conway said. "We need businesses to come to Monroe, to develop jobs for our neighbors, family and friends. We have to keep our tourism high -- that creates money for our area businesses. We need to keep people coming back to Monroe. It is the people in the city that make the city what it is."

Kennison is seeking some government reforms to increase available information to citizen and elected officials, which she said allow everyone to make better-informed decisions.

"All parties involved in the process of governing have a right to question the decisions made on their behalf," she said, "and to expect determinations to be made following set standards. An example is Human Resource standards, which, when followed correctly, establish fair, consistent and safe labor practices, while maximizing the return on the tax dollars invested in employee salaries and benefits. Following set standards will also provide much needed improvement to the morale of the city's workforce. The manner in which we govern guarantees financial security and reduces potential liability."