Advertisement The other town board seat up for election belongs to Jeff Henessee, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated when Stan Hauser won last year’s election for town chairman. Henessee is unopposed.
To help voters get to know the candidates in contested races, this newspaper sent out questionnaires to the candidates. Fogel did not return a response, but here are the answers from Kelly:
Why do you want to serve on the Onalaska Town Board?
I believe that my fresh perspective on the town will be beneficial to the current board as new and forward-thinking programs are incorporated into the community and their experience will help me get a solid base of understanding in how the town functions.
Additionally, if elected my yearly pay will be directly donated to Riverfront Inc., a charitable organization that works with disabled adults, since I view serving the town as a duty each resident should assume at some point while they live in the community.
What personal qualities and experiences make you a well qualified candidate for the job?
In regards to experience, I have run a number of multi-million-dollar businesses in the past and served as the editor of a magazine that was circulated worldwide. In order to be an effective business or editorial leader, I had to learn how to listen to those who knew something better than me so that I could in turn make a sound decision to benefit the company I worked for. The same theory has to apply to being a town board member — learn from those with greater experience and use it to act responsibly.
What are the three most important issues facing the Onalaska Town Board and what would your approach to dealing with those issues be?
1. The comprehensive plan and its implementation. Having lived in two large cities — Philadelphia and Anaheim, Calif. — I have seen what poor planning does to a community. When a business district pops up across the street from a line of single-family homes, it really destroys the area quickly. Quality of life for the people who border the business suffer, and give up privacy and comfort to strangers on their property.
2. Maintaining a reasonable tax levy for residents. Growth of the community must be slow and steady. Rampant change costs the community money in an attempt to keep up with required services to support the infrastructure. The town of Onalaska needs growth, but it needs it following a plan that assures everyone a good quality of life.
3. Assuring the continued character of the town of Onalaska. The town has a rural feel that embodies the sense of community and friendship. Too much change too quickly will erode that and replace it with less than friendly neighbors.
The community has three distinct charms that make living here seem right. First and foremost, the farming community adds a tremendous amount to the character of the town.
Second, Lake Onalaska and the surrounding area is a sportsman’s paradise — there never seems to be an end of things you can do outside, thanks to the well-thought-out design of the community.
Third and finally, the pride of residence in this area. Community members that live in our community are proud to say they live here and look no further than the June canoe and bike race and the support it gets from the residents. Look at the various committees that used to be in place with the past board and how many people were involved in the community and supporting it. These are the reasons to preserve our town and make people wish they could live here.
What approach should the town board take in considering proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan?
Do you think any changes are needed in how the town is run?
Additionally, we cannot allow the citizens of this community to continue to feel neglected and ignored. When a resident takes the time to ask a question, it must be answered. There is always the possibility a question cannot be answered at the time it is asked, but there is no reason why an answer cannot be provided in a timely fashion.
The health of our community is dependent on residential participation in elections, at town meetings and volunteerism. If the residents do not feel part of the community, then their participation will be nonexistent.
MEET THE CANDIDATE
Howard Kelly
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