MONROE - Larry Christopher III announced Monday he is running as a write-in candidate for Ward 3 alderman, challenging incumbent Michael Boyce in the April 3 election.
"I'm excited," he said. "A lot of people encouraged me to run, knowing I was interested, so they played to my interests."
With just one week left until the election, Christopher is knocking on doors, asking people who support him to remember to write "the third," or III, after his name, to distinguish him from his father, who also lives in the city.
Christopher decided Saturday to run after considering his political aspirations and a desire to see the city council "get along and cooperate to get stuff done.
"I want to do a good job representing the constituents of my ward," he said, "and a better job of collaborating with them on new ideas."
Christopher works as a sales associate at Radio Shack and U.S. Cellular in Monroe, is studying finance at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County and volunteers at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. He has lived only three years in Monroe, having moved from Georgia. He has dealt with the perception that he is still an outsider in the community, running too soon for local office.
"Sometimes it takes ideas from outside" to get a city moving, he said.
Christopher said he thinks his opponent "can be polarizing," and he is advocating for a collaborative method of governing.
"It's OK to see where you stand as being correct, but it's not (OK) to press others to move to the same position," he said.
"No one person has all the right answers," he added. "I think a group of people working together can come up with the best ideas to go with."
At age 25, Christopher said he believes he is ready to take on the responsibilities of an alderman and hopes his leadership will encourage other young people to become active participants in government.
"Especially the younger population," Christopher said. "I believe, as a general rule, they don't pay attention to stuff going on around them."
Christopher said he may be unusual for his age group, but he has been paying attention to what is going on in the city. He said he reads the news and keeps an eye on the workings of his mother, Pam Christopher, director of the Chamber of Commerce. The city contracts for its economic development services through the Chamber.
"I see how the city works with the county and the Chamber to get things done," he said.
Christopher said although he would abstain from any vote that would directly involve his mother's position with the city, encouraging businesses to move into the city should be a main role of city government.
One of the primary issues the city faces right now is the privatization of trash pickup, which he is against. Getting rid of a city service may lower taxes, but other effects must also be looked at, he said.
"We'd have to explore options for city employees (who pick up trash) to do other things," he said, "and for the use of the county transfer station."
Christopher comes down in favor of zero-based budgeting.
"There are areas that could be scrutinized more," he said, "to see if we could save money on any one item. Every little bit helps."
Christopher said Monroe could lower taxes by bringing in new businesses, building new homes and "encouraging children who grew up here to come back here."
For more industries to view Monroe as a place to be, Christopher said the city can get serious about offering tax incentives, including property, which is happening in other cities winning those industries.
"I'm not opposed to any industries (coming into Monroe)," he said. "We have a workforce that is educated and highly skilled, and our cost of living is lower than in other cities."
Christopher said he is "aware Monroe has a big drug issue" because he has seen people dealing and doing drugs as he drives through the city. The parking ramp is a favorite place for these activities, he said. Christopher would like to see drug education classes reach down into the early middle school grades, before children "try experimenting."
Education about drugs needs to start in the home, Christopher said, "but educating kids is not enough, you have to show them what that can lead to."
Boyce is also appearing on the ballot for mayor, challenging incumbent Bill Ross for that position. If Boyce wins both races, he can only serve in one position.
"I'm excited," he said. "A lot of people encouraged me to run, knowing I was interested, so they played to my interests."
With just one week left until the election, Christopher is knocking on doors, asking people who support him to remember to write "the third," or III, after his name, to distinguish him from his father, who also lives in the city.
Christopher decided Saturday to run after considering his political aspirations and a desire to see the city council "get along and cooperate to get stuff done.
"I want to do a good job representing the constituents of my ward," he said, "and a better job of collaborating with them on new ideas."
Christopher works as a sales associate at Radio Shack and U.S. Cellular in Monroe, is studying finance at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County and volunteers at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. He has lived only three years in Monroe, having moved from Georgia. He has dealt with the perception that he is still an outsider in the community, running too soon for local office.
"Sometimes it takes ideas from outside" to get a city moving, he said.
Christopher said he thinks his opponent "can be polarizing," and he is advocating for a collaborative method of governing.
"It's OK to see where you stand as being correct, but it's not (OK) to press others to move to the same position," he said.
"No one person has all the right answers," he added. "I think a group of people working together can come up with the best ideas to go with."
At age 25, Christopher said he believes he is ready to take on the responsibilities of an alderman and hopes his leadership will encourage other young people to become active participants in government.
"Especially the younger population," Christopher said. "I believe, as a general rule, they don't pay attention to stuff going on around them."
Christopher said he may be unusual for his age group, but he has been paying attention to what is going on in the city. He said he reads the news and keeps an eye on the workings of his mother, Pam Christopher, director of the Chamber of Commerce. The city contracts for its economic development services through the Chamber.
"I see how the city works with the county and the Chamber to get things done," he said.
Christopher said although he would abstain from any vote that would directly involve his mother's position with the city, encouraging businesses to move into the city should be a main role of city government.
One of the primary issues the city faces right now is the privatization of trash pickup, which he is against. Getting rid of a city service may lower taxes, but other effects must also be looked at, he said.
"We'd have to explore options for city employees (who pick up trash) to do other things," he said, "and for the use of the county transfer station."
Christopher comes down in favor of zero-based budgeting.
"There are areas that could be scrutinized more," he said, "to see if we could save money on any one item. Every little bit helps."
Christopher said Monroe could lower taxes by bringing in new businesses, building new homes and "encouraging children who grew up here to come back here."
For more industries to view Monroe as a place to be, Christopher said the city can get serious about offering tax incentives, including property, which is happening in other cities winning those industries.
"I'm not opposed to any industries (coming into Monroe)," he said. "We have a workforce that is educated and highly skilled, and our cost of living is lower than in other cities."
Christopher said he is "aware Monroe has a big drug issue" because he has seen people dealing and doing drugs as he drives through the city. The parking ramp is a favorite place for these activities, he said. Christopher would like to see drug education classes reach down into the early middle school grades, before children "try experimenting."
Education about drugs needs to start in the home, Christopher said, "but educating kids is not enough, you have to show them what that can lead to."
Boyce is also appearing on the ballot for mayor, challenging incumbent Bill Ross for that position. If Boyce wins both races, he can only serve in one position.