Two run for president, six for trustee
By John Faucher
Village of Hortonville residents will determine their leadership April 4, as two candidates are running for village president and six candidates are running for three open positions on the village board of trustees.
Incumbent board member Jack Kuhnke and former village board member Al Habeck are running for village president. If Kuhnke is elected as president, the board would then appoint someone to fill the remainder of his trustee term.
The six candidates running for trustee include incumbents Peter Olk and Kelly Schleif, challengers Nick Knuth, Michael Sullivan, Dawn Vollbrecht and write-in candidate Pat Lund-Moe. If Michael Sullivan is elected to the village board, he must choose between the board and being Hortonville police chief.
The Press Star asked both village president candidates and all village trustee candidates to provide some background information for readers and respond to questions.
Village President Candidates
Please tell us a little about yourself and why you are running for village president.
Jack Kuhnke: My wife and I have been married for almost 27 years. We have three children. I have been on the Hortonville/Hortonia Fire Department for over 20 years as well as a member of the Hortonville Lions for the past 10 years, and a village board trustee for one year. I like to give back to the community that I live in.
The reason I am running for village president is to try and help straighten things out in this village. There are a few good things happening in this village now that a lot of people may not know about because of all the negative things going on. I feel the residents as well as the business owners have a right to know the truth and the facts. I am a straightforward and honest person and you will always get the truth and honest answer from me. Unfortunately, it might not always be the answer you wanted to hear but it will be the truth.
I feel that every department in the village needs to be looked at and the issues or problems need to be addressed as soon as possible in-house. This once-great village will not survive if we continue to go in the direction we are going the last couple of years.
Al Habeck: I have lived in Hortonville since 1979. I was appointed to the village board in 1985 and have been on and off the board since. During that time, I have also been a member of the Black Otter Lake District, which I am presently the chairperson. I am running for village president to try to promote the good things happening in Hortonville and put the negative behind us.
What does the village need to do to help existing business prosper?
Kuhnke: The village needs set up some guidelines for businesses and possible new businesses looking to come in to Hortonville. These guidelines may not work for all businesses, but it would be a starting point that we can come to an agreement that works for both the village and the businesses.
Habeck: Some of what is needed is in our strategic plan. However, we must not put on blinders and only look at the plan, as needed information is continually changing. There must be a continuing relationship between businesses and the village so we can provide for the benefit needed for successful business and the community.
What do you think are some of the best things citizens, government and businesses can do to attract new people (talent) and commerce to the village?
Kuhnke: Right now, the biggest thing would be stop all the negative publicity that is out there. Instead of running to the media every time something doesn’t go your way, address the issues in-house. Also we all need to be doing what is best for this community, not just our individual friends and families. We must not have any hidden personal agendas.
Habeck: The best thing the citizens can do is become involved and bring new ideas to the table. Where government is concerned, the best thing they can do is keep in mind that the world is changing. Look at what the younger generation is looking for in places to live, work, and recreation available.
As for businesses, they need to look at the same things as government but in their own prospective. Whether it is a tavern, coffee shop or concrete business. Does the younger generation want to spend time at a tavern or a coffee shop? Do they want to get their hands dirty doing the manual labor of concrete work or run a robot that does the dirty work?
So the individual business needs to look at itself and ask what do we need to do to bring in the younger people. By working with the village, there may be things the village can do to help the business with these problems.
Village Board Trustee Candidates
Please tell us a little about yourself and why you are running for village board.
Kelly Schleif: I have been a resident of the village of Hortonville for the last 20 years and have served as a board trustee for the last six years. I hope to continue to serve this community and help maintain our projected growth and development.
Our village is also divided due to issues surrounding our police chief. As a trustee, I hope to help reconcile these differences and begin the process of restoring trust.
Peter Olk: I was born and raised in Hortonville. I am a U.S. Army veteran. I moved back to the area seven years ago to work for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently I work with the homeless veterans in the local five-county area. I’m currently serving as a village trustee.
I am running again to resolve problems created by the current administration regarding internal issues, and to move this village forward.
Dawn Vollbrecht: I was a village board trustee for eight years and I am very proud of the things that were accomplished during that time. Like most people in the village, I am a hardworking, caring person. I went back to school for a degree in marketing and have the student loans to prove it.
I struggle with the same day to day problems everyone else does. My hope is that by being a trustee, I can help make things better for all of us. I make my decisions based on the facts that I am given. I answer questions others ask of me and I ask questions that often no one else wants to ask. My decisions are not always liked, but I am fair and honest.
Nick Knuth: I have served on the Hortonville-Hortonia Fire Department for over 15 years. I’m running for the village trustee position because as a business owner and a resident for the past 15 years, I want to make a difference in a positive way for the village residents.
I do not have an agenda, and will get all the facts before making a decision. I will look at the village as a whole and think of ways we could improve and bring more business to the community.
Pat Lund-Moe: Hortonville has been my home for 29 years. I have volunteered with school and community efforts, as I believe it is important to give back. Presently, I am an appointed member of the senior services and urban forestry committees and the library board. I am also a member of Friends of the Hortonville Library.
Throughout my career in social work and human services, I have worked on teams and committees of people from diverse backgrounds and opinions. I would like to bring that experience to the village board by giving equal voice to every resident, life-long and new.
Michael Sullivan: I’m married to my beautiful wife Robbin who grew up in Hortonville and I want to help bring the village to its full potential.
There is a small power elite group who think their interest is more important than the entire community. Government serves all the community not just these elite. I want to join the like-minded that believe government exists for the whole community.
What does the village need to do to help existing business prosper?
Schleif: We need to remain focused on our strategic planning objectives. Hortonville needs to be seen as a welcoming community, a place where people and businesses are proud to call home. We are currently in the process of establishing additional TIF districts throughout the village to attract business and continue our growth and community development needs.
Olk: We need to create incentives for the promotion and fostering of local trade. We also need to increase opportunities for industrial businesses to locate in Hortonville and actively solicit outside interest in developing commerce in Hortonville.
Vollbrecht: The village residents need to not only use the businesses here, but promote them when they are out of the village. Working outside of the village, I always try to talk about the village and the shops here with co-workers and friends. Our new library and its educational programs have been of interest to people I know with children.
Knuth: Our political candidates and departmental leaders need to stop the bullying and wasting taxpayer’s monies. Our village board needs to be made up of people that are concerned with business growth and residential growth. We need to show Hortonville in a positive light. Positivity brings people, which creates economic growth. They want their voice to matter.
Lund-Moe: We need to collaborate and support every business in our village. This happens by listening to each other, seeking common goals, and working together to make those a reality. We must address difficulties in a timely manner, realizing the impact any decision has on the entire village, our image and future success.
Marketing is key, and there have been many positive steps taken. Our strategic plan has laid out some excellent ideas to bring businesses and community groups together to support, enhance and promote our village. Special events, festivals and promotion of local shopping are all important.
Sullivan: We need to start working for businesses and adjusting our thought process to include them when decisions are made that may have an impact now or in the future on their prosperity.
This entails looking into the future. Our future generations such as the millennials are a strong population that will be making a huge economic impact. As a community, we need to address these future generations because businesses will be using this work force to fulfill its needs. When a business owner calls, we need to change our thinking to, “How can we make this work.”
What do you think are some of the best things citizens, government and businesses can do to attract new people (talent) and commerce to the village?
Schleif: We have to continue to provide exceptional services, up to date resources and beautiful public spaces and parks. We also need to continue to support the organizations that provide youth activities within the village. We need to continue to keep our new home permit fees low and promote our village as the beautiful bedroom community that it is.
Olk: We need to create an idyllic community centered around unique shops, lodging, camping, ethnic foods and community events. Currently I serve as founder and president of the Hortonville Civic Association, a non-profit organization, that hosts the annual Chocolate Fest and Oktoberfest events in Hortonville.
Vollbrecht: Attracting people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds is important. Having businesses like “Standard Projects,” which reach out to artists and offers them a place to be creative and have a showing of their works is great. It reaches the artist and the people interested in art or learning more about it.
Having new shops like “Alley Cat Coffeehouse” open up which offers areas to sit, drink a cappuccino and discuss events in a peaceful surrounding takes the edge off a stressful day. Our location to the trails and nature is always a welcome site for people looking to get away from too much brick and metal. We have lots to offer, we just have to put it out there and make it available.
Knuth: Cater to people as a whole. Help promote and retain development. We need to work together for the betterment of everyone.
Lund-Moe: Listen to all residents, address their concerns, and work to build on the positives. If all residents have a voice, they have a personal stake in our village and will advocate for the community.
Assess what types of businesses would enhance those in existence. Collaborate with our school district to attract families to our village. Emphasize community groups, activities and our natural resources. Address environmental sustainability with every decision. Market jointly with employers seeking new employees. Grants and foundations should remain a focus to supplement the budget, encouraging growth. Continuing the use of “village” is crucial, as it gives us a unique way to promote a welcoming home and community.
Sullivan: We all need to focus on the future and what it has to offer. Future generations coming out of schools or just starting in the work force and moving into new communities are not brand specific. We need to help business, government and fellow citizens adapt or understand this philosophy, which is used in business and advertising. What type of marketing will help Hortonville stand out amongst its competitors?
Future generations are all about easy movements, healthier lifestyles, and convenience. We need to develop amenities to address this new life style and help attract new talent and tax base to the community. One of the needs of business is a place for their employees to live. Hortonville has had very little option for single family and multi-family growth. We need to embrace new construction especially with the present upswing in the economy. One of the needs of business is a place for their employees to live.