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Published - Friday, December 11, 2009
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Holmen incumbents face one challenger in village board race
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Three Holmen Village Board members — Richard Anderson, Mark Seitz and Tony Szak — are running for re-election, with Tony Horvath throwing his hat in the ring as the lone challenger. The top three vote-getters will win two-year terms on the board. In an effort to help voters get to know the candidates in contested races better, we sent them questionnaires on their background and views on issues the board will deal with. Here are their responses.
Why do you want to serve on the Holmen Village Board?
ANDERSON: If elected, this would be my fifth term on the village board. I’ve always held the village of Holmen first and foremos in my mind when making decisions that need to be made by village trustees.
HORVATH: I was moved to run for office primarily because of the handling and outcome of the fluoride issue. However, the handling of the Star Hill issue had similar components. In my view there was little reason to make a move on either issue in the first place but once decisions were being made the board should have more actively and more deliberately solicited public input. In the case of the fluoride issue, the village had an obligation to provide informational materials to residents and provide structured opportunities for the hearing of all sides.
I want to ensure in the future that only items of interest to a significant portion of the citizens are acted on. Then, when they are acted on, I want to ensure that citizens have adequate opportunity to share arguments with the decision makers (before the decision is made!) and that citizens hear the reasons why the decisions are made.
SEITZ: My wife and I are fortunate to have been welcomed into this community and will always owe a debt of gratitude. Holmen has many more challenges ahead and I ask for your continued trust. We have much more work to do for our community and I’d like to continue to serve as your trustee.
SZAK: I enjoy giving back to the community. I feel very blessed in life and find this a good way to give back. I also want to have input on how we plan for the future.
What personal qualities and experiences make you the best qualified candidate for the job?
ANDERSON: If I’ve been on every committee you can be on with the village board. I’ve chaired three of these committees. I have a strong grasp of what the village of Holmen needs in the future.
HORVATH: As a student of history I am aware that transparency in government and checks and balances are the two primary means to keep governments (big and small) in line. At the local level, elections are the most obvious “check.” Because of my perspective, Holmen residents can be sure that I will strive for more public decision making and watching carefully to ensure that tax dollars are used for things that governments should be do and kept out of things that are not the government’s business.
Also, in light of today’s economic crisis, Holmen should act accordingly to double check that they are keeping as much of its residents’ money in the pockets of the residents themselves.
Every effort should be expended to ensure that businesses and citizens are not unnecessarily burdened.
This attitude, and my determination to be true to it, will give citizens the confidence that their tax dollars are used judiciously, and returned if unneeded.
SEITZ: I have eight years experience on the board working for Holmen. The greatest asset that I have brought to my work on the Village Board is the ability to listen. As a representative for Congressman Kind, I travel the district talking to local businesses, elected leaders and concerned citizens about the challenges they face, and I believe that this experience has given me a unique perspective about solutions to difficult issues. Additionally, I have benefitted from the opportunity to work with many others from d1ifferent backgrounds, a skill that is helpful on the board.
SZAK: I am an honest person who listens to the public and speaks for them. Every person that I have talked to in the past knows that I am approachable and willing to listen to what they have to say. I not only sit on the village board but have sat on the La Crosse Area Builders Association board for six years and I am the incoming president. I am the best candidate for the job because I not only listen, but I can get results.
Do you think meetings of the Holmen Village Board and its committees should have a section of the meeting during which members of the public can raise concerns not on the agenda? Why or why not?
HORVATH: Absolutely. While it appears that there are some routes available for the board to hear from constituents the process can and should be streamlined. The easiest way would be to set aside a minimum of 10 minutes for public discussion with board discretion to continue discussion if it is desired.
To ensure that this time does not become a free for all, something as simple as a sign-up sheet and the requirement that the citizens speak from a prepared statement with a set word/time limit would do the trick. These statements, which don’t even have to be said aloud, could then become part of the minutes of the meeting.
Other mechanisms are plausible. The point is that the board should hear, publicly and together, the positions of residents and be prepared to respond to them. The board should be prepared to explain — publicly — why it makes the decisions it makes.
SEITZ: As board members, we always welcome the input of citizens. I have taken calls at home, work and talked with people at every opportunity about issues that concern them. I would have no objection to a segment of our meetings to hear from the public. We need to be as accessible to the public as we possibly can.
SZAK: I think that in committee meetings there “could” be a section that the public can raise concerns if they are not on the agenda. I say “could” because policy would need to be changed. However, there are rules in place that are there to keep the meeting efficient and running smooth. The public can get on any agenda with the proper notice. Also a member of the community can call anyone on the board and has access to their phone number in the phone book or on the village Web site to make their voice heard. I think that at the board meeting you should be on the agenda to speak.
What are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board and what would your approach to dealing with those issues be?
ANDERSON: Here are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board:
Village president race: I respect Nancy Proctor but I know John Chapman would continue to be the best president because of knowledge and ability he has shown since I got elected to the board.
Village board: I think there is too much conflict of interest on the village board. I think a board member should serve the best interests of village residents and not represent special groups.
TIF district: There is going to be plenty of work for the board to get businesses to Holmen. I think it is a great opportunity right now because we would expand the tax base by more commercial development.
HORVATH: Here are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board:
The fluoride issue. The matter should have never come up for a referendum in the first place but once it had the village should have taken steps to inform residents on all aspects of the issue. Although principled objections to community water fluoridation remain, in today’s economic crisis the issue should be revisited to determine if we really want to throw more than a $100,000 at something that is non-essential.
Transparency: It is not entirely clear how some decisions are being made and for what reasons. The point of electing officials is precisely so that residents don’t have to chime in on every little detail of running the government but some issues warrant more attention. Moreover, the best way to find out if something warrants more attention is to provide a mechanism to hear what the citizens think. One way transparency can be pursued is to make video recordings of every board and committee meeting and make them available on the Web site.
Business development: Holmen is a growing community but it is more important than ever to make sure that it is business friendly. I will take a close look at current policies and solicit feedback from business leaders on the effectiveness of those policies and get ideas on things they’d recommend.
SEITZ: Despite recent economic news, Holmen continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in the state and with that comes the need for better planning of our growth as well as the needs of the community. We can always do a better job of assessing our strategies and potential. As we’ve done with our Halfway Creek Park improvements and the tax-increment financing district, project planning is essential in orderly growth vital to a vibrant community.
My work on the Economic Development Committee has focused on broadening our economic base and reaching out to current businesses to promote the great things that Holmen has to offer, work I’d like to continue if re-elected. We have developed a broad plan to keep a two-way communication going with the business community, and I look forward to implementing more of that plan.
We have been fortunate in Holmen in that our rapid growth has broadened our tax base and given the board the ability to control property taxes. I believe that we must continue to be good stewards of taxpayers’ money and I hope to continue my work as chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee assuring that we grow our tax base and keep property taxes at a reasonable level.
SZAK: Here are the three most important issues facing the Holmen Village Board:
Fluoride: Our community is the largest community in the state without fluoride. It is a proven fact that fluoride helps with bone development and helps your teeth. I am in support of this issue and intend to see it through.
Impact Fees: This issue has come up in the past. However it is not finished. I intend to bring this issue up and change our fee schedule on impact fees. I had a call just the other day on the construction of a six-plex here in Holmen. The builder told me that with the impact and building permit fees that the total permit would be over $12,000! When I see things like this it says “Go and build someplace else, we don’t want your building.” Losing this project is losing tax base. This issue must be looked at very closely and I intend to do just that.
Property Taxes: Have you looked at your tax bill lately! Me too, I feel the same way! We need to turn this “bedroom community” into a more balanced community. We need to keep planning for the future, working with organizations like LADCO to help us bring more tax base to Holmen. With input from people in the village and organizations like LADCO, I intend to plan and do my part to shape Holmen.
THE CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE
Richard Anderson
AGE: 60
FAMILY: Wife, Julie; daughter Kya
EDUCATION: Graduate of Holmen High School and Western Wisconsin Technical College
PROFESSION: Kwik Trip cashier
PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: Holmen Village Board for four terms
Tony Horvath
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Wife, Tera; four children
EDUCATION: Lutheran Westland in Westland, Mich.; bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry at Concordia University in Wisconsin
PROFESSION: I was formerly the Director for Parish Ministries at Holmen Lutheran. After a stint as an over-the-road truck driver, I am now a stay at home dad and author of three books: the Birth Pangs series and a pro-life book called “We Chose Life: Why You Should Too.” I am also the executive director of Athanatos Christian Ministries, an evangelism ministry centered mainly on the Internet.
PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: None
Mark Seitz
AGE: 40
FAMILY: Wife, Carol Miller
EDUCATION: Coronado High School; Scottsdale, Ariz.; University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, bacheor of science degree in public administration
PROFESSION: Congressional aide for Congressman Ron Kind
PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: Holmen Village Board, 2001-present
Tony Szak
AGE: 31
FAMILY: Wife Michelle, daughters Emily and Alexa
EDUCATION: Graduate McDonell Central High School, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (1996); Western Wisconsin Technical College, three credits for business
PROFESSION: Owner of Empire Development and Construction, general contractor for new homes and commercial
PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICES: One term on the Holmen Village Board
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nyscof wrote on Feb 2, 2010 7:02 AM:
The Mohawk Water Authority fluoridates it's water which includes Utica, New York. It's also mandatory that Head Start children have their teeth brushed daily.
According to an article in a Utica newspaper written by the a dentist who is president of the 5th District, New York State Dental Association,
"Hundreds of children face this painful reality [extensive tooth decay] across the Mohawk Valley. Since 1996, Ive been treating 200 to 300 Head Start children each year who had never seen a dentist before."
http://www.uticaod.com/guest/x690806850/Guest-view-Putting-the-bite-on-bad-teeth
Fluoridation does not reduce tooth decay "