Clintonville: two candidates for D-4 seat

CLINTONVILLE – Former common council member Jeannie Schley and current common council member Tom Lederer are both running for the Clintonville Common Council seat in the April 1 election to represent District 4 in the city.
The Clintonville Tribune-Gazette recently sent a list of questions to the two candidates to get their views on issues important to the city.
To help inform voters on where the candidates stand on these issues, the questions and their responses are listed below.

Why do you want to be a member or remain a member of the Clintonville Common Council?

Tom Lederer: I care about Clintonville’s future and its residents – citizens who live and work here of ALL AGES. We have a strong government team here – including administration, department heads, employees and elected officials. They all try to focus on the positive. All are trained, experienced, and seek guidance from outside sources as needed. Why change that?

Jeannie Schley: I have been attending council meetings and committee meetings for the last year. I think changes need to be made to better serve the taxpayers of the community. “Let’s make the city work for the people.”

What are your qualifications to serve on the common council?

Lederer: More than 20 years ago I was on the council along with working a full-time job as a store manager and raising a family of six. I now have a household of two, and Peanut. I am not an expert on anything, but I rely on our department heads to make the right decisions that serve the best interests of the community. I listen, I hear, and I communicate. If a conflict arises, I will do my best to try and resolve it with the resources I have.

Schley:I have served on council in the past for a number of years, and currently serve on the Utility Committee. I have always been interested in the community and the direction it is taking.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the city of Clintonville, and how would you try to fix that issue?

Lederer: Maintaining our city depends on the budget. There are a lot of moving parts – roads, industrial development, housing, etc. and the city needs to come up with creative ways to make all this happen. They work on getting low interest loans and grants; however, we need to continue to be creative in making sure all of the issues are fixed efficiently.

Schley: Our streets are in very poor condition. I have attended Public Works Committee meetings on this topic. At the current rate of repair, we are going backwards. Something needs to be addressed on this subject. I am “all for” in-house projects with roads, cement work, etc., but if we don’t have the manpower to do that, and keep up with the day-to-day tasks at hand, maybe that should be re-evaluated to come up with a solution.

One of you voted to increase city employee salaries based on the wage study the city had done, and the other has expressed concern about those wage increases. Why were you in favor of the wage increases, or why are you concerned about the wage increases?

Lederer: Last year a wage study was done by an outside source. The council reviewed that study and the raises were approved. We need to compensate our existing employees for a “job well done” when their responsibilities and duties continue to increase. We cannot afford to lose anyone to other municipalities. We want to be able to attract new employees to replace those retiring.

Schley: The vote for these raises was all in favor when the budget for 2025 passed. I was shocked that no one questioned these raises. It affected the budget by over $200,000. The breakdown of these raises is what I found quite disheartening. One longtime employee received an 11-cent an hour raise, while another received over $35,000 a year raise, and yet another received over $19,000 a year raise. No public sector employee should be allowed to work from home. These wages can be viewed through an open records request.

Do you feel the city of Clintonville is on the right path to success? Explain why or why not?

Lederer:I feel the city is on the right path to succeed. Living in Clintonville since 1982 has not made me a lifetime resident, but it is now my home. My town. Yes, we are always looking to improve. Our city’s staff is focusing on smart financial decisions, supporting downtown businesses and our Industrial Park. We are always looking to improve city services. We need to look around and see the changes throughout the city. Every group, large or small, is doing their best every day.

Schley:I feel it could be more successful. Ideas are great for success, but if there is no follow through or plan, it just becomes a stagnant pool of ideas that fall by the wayside. There seems to be a lack of follow through. For instance, the city took over Graceland Cemetery in the spring of 2023 with the understanding some of the money turned over would be used to purchase land on the back of the cemetery. Before you know it, that money will be gone and no land will be purchased.

Why should residents in your district vote for you?
Lederer: I want to continue the service I do with our city council. I listen to everyone, whether within my district or not. I communicate with those who can do the best for all in Clintonville. I do not have time to be negative.

Schley: I am concerned with the direction we are going and feel I could make a difference.