Candidates speak out on the matters important to them in their community

As voters turn their attention to the spring election April 6, local candidates are sharing their views about issues involving council, village, town and school boards.

CADOTT VILLAGE BOARD – Four Seats Open

Anson Albarado – Incumbent President

No questionnaire was returned.

Russ Falkenberg Incumbent Trustee

For candidate Russ Falkenberg, he’s seeking re-election to help, because he enjoys interacting with other board members and even more so hearing from village residents, and helping find solutions to their concerns.

“We have a great village board, made up of responsible individuals, who want what is best for the village,” said Falkenberg. “The ‘environment’ at the village board meetings, is one that promotes free and open discussion.”

For his role on the board, Falkenberg says he does his best to listen to the concerns of village residents and employees, and assist where he can.

“The role of a board member should be to have one’s nose in the day-to-day business of the village, but one’s hands off,” said Falkenberg. “I enjoy working with departments’ heads to solve problems and find long-term solutions.”

Falkenberg believes safety, communications and infrastructure are the most important things the village faces, as each of the concerns require funds to maintain.

“The village board has done an exceptional job of keeping property tax increases to a minimum,” he said. “Look closely at your last two property tax bills, you will see the village was not responsible for increases. It is extremely difficult to manage village services with our current budget constraints. We make every effort to find solutions that are the best value, and not a short-term ‘cheap fix’ that will have to be repeated.”

Communications to critical infrastructure have been updated, allowing the village to actively monitor services, such as water and sewer. Infrastructure projects are closely examined with the help of contracted engineers, finding solutions that will serve the village well into the future, without incurring unnecessary costs.

“The village offers a safe community in which to live, with reliable utilities and ample housing,” said Falkenberg. “We are a community where most people know their neighbors and are willing to lend a helping hand when needed. Although it was a tragic event, last summer’s tornado was an excellent example of how tightly knit our community is. Everyone was helping their neighbor.”

Randy Kuehni – Incumbent Trustee

No questionnaire was returned.

Terry Licht Incumbent Trustee

Also up for re-election, Terry Licht wants to continue helping serve the public, with the oversight of the village operations, and have input into what is needed to make the community safe and operational.

Licht says the most important thing the village can offer its community members, is a safe, clean environment to live and work in.

“We need to work on upgrading the village infrastructure,” said Licht, “and to work with businesses

to help them prosper and supply services needed in our community.”

CADOTT SCHOOL BOARD – Two Seats Open

Cory LaNou

“I believe that as a district, we need to do significantly better academically, extracurricularly and inclusively. Academically, we are below where our students need to be.”

That’s how Cory LaNou feels, as he hopes to be elected for an open seat on the Cadott School Board, and he says the district is judged by prospective new residents, when deciding to enroll their children in Cadott.

“A good school report card results in better enrollment, which results in more funds to help our students,” said LaNou. “Extracurricularly, we have a great set of sports programs, but lack enrichment programs for those students that aren’t going out for sports. That lack of participation leads directly to a lack of inclusiveness, which leads to poorer academic performance.”

If elected, LaNou believes his role is to represent the students, residents and the taxpayers, with communication and transparency critical.

“I hear all too often, about how there isn’t enough community involvement or attendance with our school board,” he said. “We live in a world filled with technology, but don’t embrace it. I would strive to have a better presence on social media, to communicate agendas and meeting minutes. I would encourage video broadcasting of meetings and recording of them, so the community could watch any meeting at a later date.”

LaNou says academic excellence has to be the priority in the coming years, but that doesn’t happen just with a report card. Instead, he says that it’s faculty having what they need to have each student meet or exceed their goals. By having the community actively involved in supporting long and shortterm district goals, Cadott can create measurable goals that the board and faculty can be held accountable to.

“I’m a firm believer that you and your student will only get out of your education, what you put into it,” said LaNou. “Every time you successfully involve even one more community member in your efforts, you are one step closer to successfully achieving your goals as a district.”

LaNou says the most important thing the school can offer their community members, is a way to get involved or at the very least, stay better informed.

“We have a rich community of residents with gifts and talents that can be leveraged to build afterschool enrichment programs, at little to no cost to our district,” said LaNou. “I’ve seen this happen in other districts and we need to bring it to ours.”

Kevin Roshell

For Kevin Roshell, he is seeking election to make a positive impact on children within the Cadott community.

“Every year, our district has more competition whether it may be neighboring districts or online schooling,” said Roshell. “Each district in the state, has their own unique needs and our focus should be on what our community needs.”

As part of his role if elected to the school board, is to be a respected voice of the community and make sure everyone’s voices are heard. Roshell would like to see more proactive communication with the community, so when it is time to make the decision, the board would feel comfortable that it is truly what the community wants and needs.

“Our community relies on our board members to represent what this community thinks is best for our children,” said Roshell.

In the coming years, Roshell thinks community involvement and core academic principles should be a focus.

“The way our children have learned just in the past few years, has changed rapidly,” said Roshell. “We need to make sure we are staying active with our community members, to best understand the needs of our children.”

Roshell says the board also should re-evaluate what curriculum the district is focusing on, as Cadott is a rural district and there are certain expectations from community members that come from that. A focus on core academic principles should be the commitment to the community, according to Roshell.

As for what he thinks is the most important thing the school can offer its community members, Roshell’s answer is simple.

“Assurance that when community members speak up, their voice matters.”

Christine Rowe

In seeking election to the board, one of Rowe’s goals, is to bring unity to the board room, to create a supportive and open environment so conversation can be had. She believes organized discussion should be a priority in the board room, when it is time for a decision to be made.

“Creating a habit of ‘tabling it’ or needing an additional meeting, due to lack of preparation, is not efficient,” said Rowe. “Many times, our community, our educators and our students, are waiting for these decisions.”

For those who know Rowe, talking out all possibilities and the aftermath for decisions, is desirable, and something that she feels can be obtained, when each individual is prepared.

“There are times when a community may feel like they are in the dark, that decisions were made under the table,” said Rowe. “In my experience, I haven’t seen this happen, but things can be perceived in different ways. Decisions that are made won’t always be supported by the public, but that could be due to lack of information that has been given, or in some cases, decisions are out of the board’s hands and are state mandated.”

For Rowe, open communication and transparency are important, as well as being available to discuss things with community members, if needed. In the coming years, she’d like to build more support and trust for educators, and administrators.

“We are one unit and should be running as such,” said Rowe. “These people were put in their positions, based off of their qualifications, passion and their love for children. I want them to feel empowered and trusted, these are things that drives a person to give more, set bigger goals and in the end, reach success.”

Rowe says she has complete faith in the district’s teachers’ and administrators’ talents, and that they should be allowed to capitalize on that.

“I know our board consists of members that are well educated and that know the tasks of a board member, there is experience on our board that is irreplaceable,” said Rowe.

Rod Tegels – Incumbent President

No questionnaire was returned.

CORNELL CITY COUNCIL – Three Seats Open

Ashley Carothers – Incumbent Alderperson

Considering it an honor to have served on council since 2018, Ashley Carothers wants the opportunity to serve the City of Cornell with another term, allowing her another two years to represent Cornell’s residents.

“I love this city,” she said. “Cornell has given me so much over the years, and I want to continue to return the favor, by paying service to our city and its residents. I pledge to continue listening to the concerns of our residents and to keep working hard to make sure those voices are heard in City Hall.”

Carothers says she is thankful to be part of Cornell’s government, and remains passionate about her community. As an elected alderperson, she cares about those who live, work, play and learn in the community.

She says she wants to continue to work on the city’s goals, major projects and infrastructure improvements, while staying within the budgets that are set.

“I will do my very best to represent my constituents only after I’ve seen to the needs of the city as a whole,” said Carothers. “I believe we need to continue rising to the challenge of staying within our budgets, and focus on keeping up with maintaining our roadways and sidewalks. We need to keep working with our police department in keeping our city safe and keeping the drug epidemic out of our town.”

She also believes that the city could benefit from even more businesses coming in to town and does everything she can to keep a small business going.

Since a few new businesses have opened in Cornell over the past couple years, Carothers says it would be great if more of the town’s citizens could earn a living without having to travel out of the city. She would also like to see more tourists and tourism opportunities.

“I would love to see Cornell continue to grow into the potential that I know it has, and I would love to be a part of that growth.”

Floyd Hickethier – Incumbent Alderperson

For Floyd Hickethier, he is seeking re-election because he enjoys working with people.

“If you live in a city, you should do all you can to help make it better,” he said. “Being a city council member, I feel I can do that.”

In his role as an elected official, Hickethier feels he needs to help ensure the city is run right, financially, and with a tight budget, the council has to watch their spending. He also believes it’s the council’s job to not leave any citizen in the dark about questions they have about the city.

Although it is costly, the in-progress wastewater treatment plant upgrades project is much needed, as the plant has outlived its lifespan and Hickethier says he is glad Cornell will have a good facility to help with utility services.

In the coming years, Hickethier wants to work on improving city streets and that it is a safe place to live, work and play in, with good drinking water, clean sidewalks, lighting on the streets and a good police force. Included in the list of goals he has for the city, is bringing in more housing for the elderly and industry.

“Cornell is a good place to live and let’s keep it that way,” said Hickethier.

Aimee Korger – Incumbent Alderperson

No questionnaire was returned.

CORNELL SCHOOL BOARD – Two Seats Open

Lyle Briggs – Incumbent President

Lyle Briggs is no stranger to serving on the Cornell School Board, as he has devoted more than two decades to the district in that capacity.

“It is a great way to give back to the community,” said Briggs. “It is also very challenging and rewarding.”

To ensure the district gives students a quality education, whether to prepare them for college or the workplace, Briggs says they want students to get the most from every dollar spent.

Not only does Briggs want the school to be a safe and secure place for children, but also to be a place for clubs and groups to have events, or hold meetings.

Looking ahead in what the years will hold, Briggs says the district needs to instill skills that the students need to compete in the job market or in college.

“Things are changing so fast,” said Briggs, “so our students need to be able to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.”

Jamie Close – Incumbent Vice President

Also seeking re-election, Jamie Close sees his role on the board as a strong and understanding person, and as a business owner, that experience makes Close easy to get along with.

“As a school alumni and current school board member of this community, I would like to continue to be the growth and change for the good in our school system,” said Close.

In the coming years, Close feels as a school/community, Cornell needs to focus on the well-being of each child – to make sure no child is fearful of any challenges that they may have to face.

“May it be home life or social life, show them that we are a united front as a whole and give them guidance to prepare them for all future endeavors,” said Close.

By keeping the community fully informed and involved with what is happening within the school system, Close feels that is particularly important as a board member.

“Having a community that is involved in their growing education, shows great support,” said Close. “And I am proud to be a part of that.”

LAKE HOLCOMBE TOWN BOARD – Five Seats Open

Brian Guthman – Incumbent Chairman

As chairman, Brian Guthman believes his experience and knowledge will be a benefi t to the town, after serving on the town board as a supervisor for four years, then chairman the past two years. Given that experience with how business is conducted by the town, Guthman plans to continue to make sound financial decisions.

“The Town of Lake Holcombe is unincorporated, so this means I need to make decisions based upon what is best for the entire township,” said Guthman. “It is also my responsibility to stay on top of issues that I think will have a negative effect on the township.”

Going forward, Guthman says the town needs to focus on keeping elderly residents safe in the community, by being able to provide services like ambulance and fire protection, road repair and maintenance, as cost effectively as possible.

“We also need to focus on the young people in our community, to make sure that they continue to make Lake Holcombe their home, so we have the workforce to get these things accomplished,” said Guthman. “I believe we need to look at a longterm plan for the township to address these issues, which include the expansion of good broadband and cell phone coverage, along with affordable housing.”

Guthman says he will continue to look for opportunities to improve the town and its residents, as well as looking forward to the development of the Holcombe Area Veterans Memorial and continued improvement of the Wayside Park.

In the coming years, Guthman says the town will need to focus on the needs of the residents.

“In my opinion, the most important thing is safety and stability,” said Guthman. “The town needs to address the needs of the township and the surrounding community, and find ways to keep the town viable.”

Tracey Larson – Incumbent clerk

Tracey Larson has served as the town clerk since 2016, a role she has enjoyed, as the “eyes and ears” of the town. Larson says communication between the residents and elected officials is an ongoing process. Sometimes, it can be hard to find effective ways to get information to everyone and reach a good feeling in the township.

That doesn’t mean Larson isn’t working to ensure an open communication, where residents feel as though they can attend the monthly board meetings.

“I hope to continue to help make the town better.”

Jim Mataczynski – Incumbent treasurer

Up for re-election as town treasurer, is Jim Mataczynski, as he wants to continue to serve the people of Holcombe, in his role of presenting accurate figures in the town’s accounts, needed for operation.

Mataczynski says in the next years, the town needs to keep up with infrastructure, roads and public services. The town board has an important mission to offer to the community.

“Making sure Holcombe is a safe and progressive place to live.”

Doug Olson – Incumbent Supervisor I

To represent the residents fairly and impartially in governing matters, Doug Olson is looking to be re-elected to his town supervisor position.

“I feel it’s important to be actively involved in the community that I live in,” said Olson.

Important issues he wants to focus on, include receiving the town’s fair share of state and road tax to keep roads in good shape, and attracting more businesses to the area. He also believes it’s good to have transparent governance.

Running for another term, David Staudacher hopes through his supervisor position, that he can listen to the suggestions and comments of the town’s citizens. He also wants to update the town’s ordinances and encourage new businesses to locate to Holcombe.

Included on his wish list of helping the town, Staudacher wants to make the community a safe environment for families, while providing safe roads and recreation areas, among other things.

“I hope to continue to provide input for town projects.”

LAKE HOLCOMBE SCHOOL BOARD – One Seat Open

Brian Guthman – Incumbent President

With more than 30 years under his belt as an educator and elected official, Brian Guthman feels that his experience is an asset to the school board.

“I want to make sure the taxpayers are getting the most out of their taxpayer money,” said Guthman. “I have spent my life working in the Lake Holcombe community, trying to make the school and the community, the best place for kids and families to live. My vision is for the school to be the center of the community, from the time a student is born and through their years as a parent, and eventually, grandparents, as they live their life in our community.”

As an elected school board member, Guthman says he will try to represent the people who have elected him to the office.

“I see my role as educating myself on the issues, so I can make the decisions that will be the best for Lake Holcombe School District students and community,” said Guthman. “The major role and responsibility of the school board, is budgeting and policy. It is also my responsibility to stay on top of issues that could potentially have a negative effect on the school district.”

One such issue he wants to focus on, is the school funding formula that unfairly penalizes school districts (like Lake Holcombe) which are property value rich, but have economically challenged communities and families.

“It is also very important to assure our school stays open, to provide opportunities and an education for our students for the future workforce,” said Guthman. “This means students may need educational opportunities that support their direct workforce entry, vocational school, and/or college level preparation for needed future occupations.”

Another issue, is the lack of broadband in school districts, and Guthman says COVID-19 has shown the disparities of the haves and the have-nots when it comes to reliable broadband.

Looking ahead to the future, Guthman wants to focus on funding, hiring and retaining quality teaching, and other educational staff. He also wants to ensure the school is open to the community for events.

“I believe our school is the center of our community, and it is our duty as adults and concerned community members, to educate our students to the best of our ability,” said Guthman. “There is a significant need to invest in the youth in our community and to have high quality education offered though the Lake Holcombe School, because without youth and a school, there will no longer be a Lake Holcombe community, nor will there be a workforce to support the services required of our retiring and aging populations.”