Get to know the candidates for Wausau City Council Dist. 4

Wausau Pilot & Review

In Dist. 4, incumbent Doug Diny is not seeking reelection but instead running for mayor. Tom Neal, who represented the district for years before stepping away, is once again running for the seat. Another candidate, Debra Weiss, was offered the same opportunity to answer questions. She refused, claiming that the newspaper had discriminated against her and did not recognize her contributions to the environmental cleanup fight in Wausau. City Council members serve two-year terms.

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What motivated you to run for office?

I didn’t run in the last election because my wife and I thought we were moving away. That uncertainty is over and I wish to return to the work I was doing on council to help Wausau attain its goals to be a prime destination for new businesses, newcomers and visitors.

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?

I have no big concerns about how City Hall operates. As citizens, we are provided with the vital services we need, along with quality of life amenities. I would like to see the Council operate more efficiently, with more reasoned discussions and compromises and less winner-takes-all attitudes.

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?

Any consumer will tell you that everything costs more these days. It’s unavoidable. It’s the same for running a city. Just as individuals take on debt like mortgages and car loans, municipalities need to employ debt to pay for mammoth infrastructure and service costs. Even during difficult economic times, Wausau has maintained a solid credit rating (debt/stability measures) and remains a financially sound community. I am troubled, though, by our under-performing local economy. We need to invigorate our business sector by attracting new businesses to invest here and provide living-wage jobs.

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

We are a representative government…elected to act on the citizens’ behalf. And we need to do that in the full light of day. The public is able to witness and engage through regular Council and committee meetings, listening sessions, surveys, task forces, occasional advisory referendums and via the advocacy of their elected representatives. There are strict guidelines related to closed-door sessions and I have always seen them followed. I hope to see more citizens getting informed and involved.

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

The new Gorman project on the river downtown is a great example. Wausau is somewhat “landlocked” with little footprint to expand outward. We need to expand inward and upward with infill and high density-focused residential development across the income spectrom. To accomplish this we need more effective partnerships with developers, utilizing historic and affordable housing tax incentives. We also need to continue building solid connections to state and federal resources to capture all the assistance we can.

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

We need to focus on the causes of homelessness…including mental health, substance abuse, lack of opportunity and even bias against people in need. All of these are being addressed but services are insufficient to tackle it all. We need more involvement…not just government…to get it done. And perhaps the most elusive solution: creative thinking to find innovative ways to bring people out of homelessness and into a new life.

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

Downtown development on both sides of the river. our central business and entertainment district represents the heart of our city. The energy created there radiates out to the city limits. Our brand identity is largely influenced by our downtown and it’s exciting to see it becoming more of a place to live rather than just a place to go.

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

We may be a small city, but we are a city, and as such we have a responsibility to provide reliable public transportation for those who need it. I’m certain we will see our system evolve with new types of vehicles and expanded route service. I hope to see more inter-community collaboration to create a greater system that serves the whole metropolitan 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?

Municipalities everywhere will need to address water issues, and their costs will certainly increase as ours have. I’m glad we’ve been on the leading edge as we’ve dealt with new requirements. As an economic development-focused person, I hope to offset water utility costs by broadening our tax revenue base via new businesses and new people moving here. Economic growth is a big factor.

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

A mayor, hands down…just like we don’t need a state administrator instead of a governor. The mayor is a leader elected by the people, answerable to the people. An administrator, on the other hand, is a public employee, and as such more difficult to hold accountable for under-performing or malfeasance. Conflicts with an administrator can lead to costly litigation and prolonged dysfunction. We’ve seen plenty of that drama around the region and state and don’t need it here.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

My only personal agenda is to be the guy you can go to for help, who will advocate for you at City Hall and work to find solutions.