Get to know the candidates for Wausau City Council Dist. 6

What motivated you to run for office?

McElhaney: I am interested in finding solutions to our public transit system. The current bus routes and times do not fit with our local employers looking for employees. Our current and prospective bus riders need more access to retail and other opportunities. I feel we need to grow our city and subsequent tax base to lessen the tax burden on the residents. We need to end the PILOT payment and find other ways to lower the water rates as quickly as possible.

Lobato: I am motivated to run for office by the clear disconnect between our city’s unique identity and the current development trajectory set by our city leaders and alderpersons. Their seeming desire to treat Wausau like a large northwestern metropolis, a Portland or a Seattle, completely overlooks what makes our city so appealing in the first place: that it is a great place for young families to raise their kids. This misdirected ambition, driven by what I believe is a misplaced desire for prestige, motivated me to run for office and hopefully steer our city back to what makes it so appealing in the first place.

What is the biggest concern you have about the way Wausau’s municipal government operates today, and how do you propose to manage that, if elected?

McElhaney: Residents need to be informed to express their opinions and feedback. I believe city government could find ways to be more transparent with action items to ensure residents are informed and encourage communication with their alder I answer every call and email I receive regarding city business. I also attend two neighborhood meetings each month to discuss current business while receiving resident feedback.

Lobato: My primary concern is the municipal government’s failure to understand the true needs of our community, especially its young families. Our current city council continually approves, and endlessly re-negotiates projects fundamentally at odds with the desires of our residents, all while making them pay for it. The council pursues a flawed vision aimed at attracting young professionals with policies much more at home in Madison or Milwaukee (like high-density developments) that are unsuitable for healthy family life. If elected, I plan to halt projects designed to create a perpetual renting class and instead focus on enhancing the quality of life for existing families, while encouraging first-time home ownership.

Residents are concerned about the city’s debt and financial stability. If elected, what steps would you take to put our city on firmer financial footing?

McElhaney: I would like to be strategic about future projects. Unfortunately, generational projects delayed over the years, become more expensive when they are replaced, such as the water/sewer plants.

Lobato: To address the city’s financial concerns, I propose a rigorous reassessment of our spending, focusing on fiscal conservatism to cut waste and prioritize investments that genuinely benefit our residents. The endless renegotiating of contracts, a symptom of the current council’s mismanagement, needs to stop. This, combined with a strategic reduction in property taxes, can stimulate economic growth. This works by driving down how much first-time homeowners would have to pay for their monthly mortgage payment, making it cheaper than renting, thus incentivizing homeownership over renting. This will attract new families, fresh out of their “young professional” life stage which will broaden our tax base and improve financial stability.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our community and be transparent in your decision-making?

McElhaney: I encourage residents to call or email me with any questions and/or concerns. I attend two neighborhood meetings a month where I give updates. The residents appreciate getting more details, and with our discussion, they are able to give their opinions on issues discussed. I would like to see more robust community outreach to keep residents informed of what is being discussed, but also why. We deal with changing federal and state laws, and regulations which impact us locally. We can always improve our communication.

Lobato: I plan to ensure transparency and resident involvement by utilizing all available modern methods, such as maintaining an active social media presence and text-based updates. I hope to facilitate open communication and provide clear, accessible information and most importantly the rationale behind all governmental decisions. This approach will ensure that the community’s voice is heard and valued in the decision-making process and that people know why the council makes the decisions it does.

How can Wausau effectively tackle the ongoing housing shortage, particularly for people with low to moderate incomes?

McElhaney: No response given

Lobato: As of November 2023, the median home price in the USA was $387,600; in Wausau, it’s $185,000. In all reality, our affordable housing crisis is really a too-high property tax and utility cost crisis. Addressing the housing shortage, therefore, requires not just pouring resources into temporary shelters or high-density apartment blocks but a lowering of property taxes and utility costs. If we can do this, we can bring down the average monthly payment required to own a home to a point where it becomes cheaper to pay a mortgage than to rent. This will make homeownership both more attainable and more desirable for low to moderate-income families, even if they have little to nothing to put on as a downpayment.

What can Wausau be doing better to help the homeless population in the city?

McElhaney: The city has increased the availability of the warming shelter from a winter only model to a year round model. We need the day services to assist our unhoused with a place to go and more importantly to connect them to services such as job searching and skill building. I am currently dissatisfied with the current day service model due to the lack of programming offered and numbers served. We have a community outreach specialist working full-time, connecting clients to services, and housing. We need to engage county government, social services and NCHC in providing the needed services, including drug, alcohol and mental health treatment. We continue to collaborate with local non-profits to fill gaps in services. The unhoused population is a community problem, not a city of Wausau problem. It will take everyone working together to find solutions.

Lobato: No one wants their young children exposed to public drug usage or mental health episodes; at the same time, we in Wausau are compassionate people. Therefore, to better address the challenges faced by Wausau’s homeless population, the city needs a strategy that involves not only compassionate support but also enforcement. Currently, services for the homeless are underutilized, while public spaces increasingly become areas of concern, detracting from the city’s family-friendly atmosphere. A closer partnership with law enforcement and those that manage public services (like the library) could ensure that the homeless are encouraged to use the plethora of services available to them while reducing their visibility in public spaces frequented by families. Additionally, we need to stop refugee resettlements led by ECDC Multicultural Community Center, staffed by my opponent Becky McElhaney, as they strain our public services and use the same resources utilized by our local homeless population. By addressing the factors that draw homeless people out of town and working to ensure that services already available reach those who genuinely need them, we can create a balanced approach that is both compassionate for the homeless and while respecting the tax-paying families of Wausau.

What is the most exciting thing happening in Wausau right now?

McElhaney: No response given

Lobato: The most exciting development in Wausau right now is the noticeable influx of young families choosing to make our city their home. This trend is vividly illustrated by the increasing number of children playing in our parks, families visiting our library, and people enjoying walks downtown. My youngest daughter was just born and has unfortunately been in the NICU for the past week, but even there I see hope for a bright future with the sheer amount of children being born within this community. It’s a testament to our city’s appeal as a family-friendly community where quality of life is prioritized. To me, this signals a bright future for Wausau, but only if we continue to emphasize our strengths as nurturing environments for families to grow and thrive.

How do you feel about the transportation options available in our city, and what would you do to tackle the challenges you see?

McElhaney: I have heard from many local employers regarding the need to increase transit routes to be available resource for employees. I receive requests weekly to expand bus routes to Rib Mountain and Weston to allow riders to shop retail and enjoy restaurant opportunities, not found in Wausau. We need to find a solutions, but it will require all municipalities within the community to find some common ground. I am hopeful with the new task force consisting of representatives from adjoining municipalities and the chamber we can find a way to move forward in a common sense and mutually agreeable way.

Lobato: The continual push for increased public transportation is again based on a misaligned vision of Wausau as a major metropolitan area and misses the mark for a family-oriented city like ours. To drive from one end of town to the next takes a maximum of 15-20 minutes and most families are going to prefer the convenience of personal vehicles to drive that short distance rather than trying to wrangle small children on a public bus. I propose improving infrastructure to support these preferences, ensuring our city remains navigable and pleasant for families, while still allowing for the option of a “walkable lifestyle” for those living near the downtown area.

After multiple rate increases, many residents are concerned about their water and sewer bills. What is the best way to manage this issue, while still providing Wausau with the clean water it needs?

McElhaney: I too am concerned about the water rates. It is another bill on top of the rising cost of living issues we all face. Council needs to be serious about ending the PILOT payment. If the PFAS litigation is successful, we need to use any proceeds to pay off the utility debt which would lower rates.

Lobato: The recent surge in water and sewer rates, which saw an average annual bill leap by approximately 54% since 2021, has understandably left many Wausau residents distressed. This situation, exacerbated by promises from city leadership that were not kept, highlights a failure in transparency and fiscal management. Future infrastructure and operational upgrades must be planned with a sharper focus on cost-effectiveness and the long-term impact on residents. Implementing technology and practices that improve efficiency without disproportionately increasing costs to residents is crucial. For our current crisis, we must explore alternative funding sources for the staffing increases, ensuring that essential services like clean water do not become a financial burden on us, the taxpayers.

How will you work to keep tax increases to a minimum while maintaining expected services for residents?

McElhaney: The city budget is not static due to increased wages, benefits and increasing costs of equipment, etc.. Our cost to continue with the same services goes up every year. We need to continue to increase the tax base. This could be done by growth and also being judicious with the use of the TID model. We need to keep as much money in the general fund as possible.

Lobato: Maintaining essential services while keeping tax increases to a minimum requires a holistic review of the city’s budget and spending. The recent financial decisions, including the hefty water and sewer rate increases and the unplanned expenses for staffing and operational costs at the new facility, underscore a broader issue of a lack of fiscal responsibility within the current council. My approach involves a thorough evaluation of all city expenditures, prioritizing spending that directly benefits families and enhances the quality of life in Wausau. This includes seeking efficiencies across departments, cutting unnecessary spending, and halting the importation of non-tax-paying residents that burden our public services. Fiscal responsibility must be at the forefront of every decision, ensuring that our city remains affordable for all residents while continuing to provide the high-quality services they expect and deserve.

Which does the city need more: A city administrator, or a mayor? Why?

McElhaney: I believe this is a question the residents of the City of Wausau need to answer. A referendum was narrowly defeated a number of years ago. Since then I have not had more than 2 residents request to add an administrator over the past 8 years. I would hope we would have another referendum to gauge the residents desire to add this position. There are many questions requiring answers before adding an administrator position to our current organizational chart. Do we have the administrator report to the Mayor or council? Does the Mayor position remain at full-time? If the administrator reports to the Mayor, what will be the job duties of the administrator versus the Mayor? We can have these discussions, but city residents need to make the final decision. Attempts to add this position during a final budget vote is not a thoughtful way of governance.

Lobato: A city administrator could bring professional, unbiased management to our city operations, focusing on efficiency, strategic planning, and long-term goals free from political influences. This role could be crucial in ensuring decisions are made based on what’s best for Wausau’s future. The position of city mayor is often used as nothing more than a springboard into higher office, thus decisions are made more in line with what will gain them short-term popularity rather than what is best for the city long-term. For this reason, I would prefer an administrator than a mayor.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

McElhaney: It has been my honor to serve the last 8 years as Alderperson for District 6.

Lobato: I want my kids to grow up here. So you can believe me when I say I am deeply committed to making Wausau a safe, affordable, and welcoming place for families. My experience working with local nonprofits and social services has given me a unique insight into our community’s needs, and I understand the challenges we face and have practical ideas for addressing them. My vision for Wausau is one where families can thrive, where our community’s safety and well-being are prioritized, and where fiscal responsibility guides our decisions. I believe we can achieve this vision together.