Meet the candidates for Marathon County Board Dist. 1

Wausau Pilot & Review

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In Dist. 1, located on Wausau’s southeast side, two new candidates are vying for a seat that will soon be vacated by Michelle Van Krey. The spring election is Tuesday, April 2.

Candidates:

What motivated you to run for office?

Kroll: District 1 is well known as being a highly active and engaged voter base which I believe I demonstrate these traits: I volunteer my personal time to serving on two appointed Wausau committees and I participate in neighborhood organized meetings. My career also leads me to all corners of Wisconsin, with much of it in Marathon County, where I assist residents with home energy savings. Additionally, I was approached by neighbors and local leaders to run for County Board which sparked my desire to seek public office.

When combining my active community participation in the community, the encouragement of my district, and my unique career, I believe I have the skills and experience to be an excellent county board representative for my district.

Tokarz: As a 35-year resident of Wausau’s Southeast Side, where my wife Marcia and I raised 4 children, and now have 10 grandchildren, 5 of whom live in Wausau, I want to help make Marathon County a more vibrant and sustainable community. I also want to better-integrate NCHC & Social Services with other human service providers to improve our delivery system for mental health and substance abuse treatment, the homeless, and those living in poverty. I think my skill set, collaborative approach, and extensive experience make me well-suited for the job.

What is the biggest concern you have about the way Marathon County government operates today, and how do you propose to manage that, if elected?

Kroll: I’m slightly concerned about how the majority of the county board committees have start times during normal working hours. This can be a challenging obstacle for full time working individuals. Ideally, committee meeting start times would be more flexible so that all committee members would have a better opportunity to consistently attend.

Tokarz: I would like see Marathon County Government play a larger role in Economic Development. Similar communities in Wisconsin are doing much better than we are. Not to oversimplify our situation, but Marathon County’s labor force is shrinking, and new businesses and talented workers are not moving here because, evidently, we don’t have the necessary housing, and may lack the vitality needed to attract them. I was surprised to hear that I was the only County Board candidate to meet with the Chamber of Commerce regarding this issue. I would like to help County Government be a key player in implementing the Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan as a participant in the Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership.

If elected, what steps would you take to put our county on firmer financial footing?

Kroll: Marathon County continues to have strong credit ratings and financial outlook. However, I still see a big opportunity for the county to pursue a comprehensive energy independence plan. My career is in energy efficiency and generational federal funding is just beginning to come online in Wisconsin for renewable energy and efficiency projects. I want to bring this funding to Marathon County that will reduce energy costs for the county resulting in a lower tax burden for tax payers.

Tokarz: Recruit, retain and train more workers to help our business grow and thrive. Improve the urban vitality of the Greater Wausau area. These actions can spur further development which ultimately increases our tax base. Support County Government efforts to create leaner and more effective business and service processes to save money. Contribute to Marathon County United Way’s bold goal of lifting 10,000 Community Members to Financial Stability by 2033.

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

Kroll: I like to ask voters what is their preferred method of contact with their representatives. Unsurprisingly, there is wide spectrum of answers reflecting how I want to connect with my potential constituents – using multiple communications. I’ve shown my district this by having a presence online, talking on doorsteps, connecting by mail, and coordinating local meetups. I really want to be engaging with my neighbors, so if any voters in District 1 have any communication preferences, please reach out.

Tokarz: I’ve knocked on roughly 600 doors to learn what residents are concerned about and will continue to solicit input and share my views through my website kentokarz.org and social media. I also plan on attending monthly Southeast Side neighborhood meetings.

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

Kroll: No response offered

Tokarz: County and City Government both need to collaborate with the Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership to implement their Economic Development Strategic Plan. A couple initiatives are to “Accelerate the pace of urban revitalization and mixed-use development along the Wisconsin River and downtown Wausau through creative incentive programs. These actions can be the catalyst for more housing development throughout the county, including subsidized housing projects. As a founding member of our St Vincent de Paul conference and thrift store, I’m happy to say we have been combating the affordable housing crisis for thousands of low-income county residents by providing thousands of dollars in housing assistance since 2008.

What can Marathon County do to attract more businesses and more people to the area?

Kroll: Find solutions to the childcare crisis. The current childcare system is unsustainable and being supplemented by state funding. As one of the only, if not the only supervisor candidate who uses childcare, I can attest that this issue is a massive weight on parents. It affects family budgets, is increasingly challenging to access, and keeps some parents completely out of the workforce. I understand this is complicated issue, but if Marathon County were to solve this, it would attract families and businesses to the area as potential incoming residents would know this heavy burden is under control.

Tokarz: Compared to the nation, we have the #4 small health system, the #1 place to buy a home on a budget, and the #1 place to work in manufacturing. Our cost of living is 15.4% lower than the U.S. average. We are well known for our cultural arts and Granite Peak Ski Resort. We have a lot we can build on, but we need to do a better job of promoting our brand and recruiting. Initiatives I think are critical include: 1) Create a more inviting Urban setting by revitalizing the mall area, downtown Wausau, and the Riverfront district. 2) Promote Marathon County as a destination for Tourism & Sports Recreation. 3) Support the expansion of Granite Peak Ski area, including summer-time attractions, and amenities. 4) Target remote workers. 5) Investigate creative approaches to attracting recent college or technical school grads.

What role, if any, should supervisors play in determining which books are chosen for the Marathon County Public Library and how they are placed on the shelves?

Kroll: Marathon County Supervisors have tools to affect how Marathon County Public Library; mainly confirmations of the Library Board appointees that are recommended by the County Administrator. Supervisors also have two appointments to the Library Board.
If the County Board perceives there is an issue with which books are being shelved at our public libraries, supervisors can offer public comments at Library Board meetings or use their vote to affect Library Board memberships when applicable. In any situation, I believe we need to honor the Library Board’s decisions as a democratically appointed body where supervisors respect the autonomy and structure of the Library Board while also knowing supervisors can provide feedback through the proper channels.

Tokarz: The County Board should do everything it can to support a strong library system for all Marathon County residents, including adequate funding and assuring we have a qualified library board committed to excellence. When a high-profile controversial issue can’t be resolved by the authorized library board, the county board’s role should be to assign a task force to thoroughly investigate, and lead both sides to consensus or at least compromise.

How do you feel about the transportation options available in our county, and what role, if any, should Marathon County play in tackling the challenges involved?

Kroll: I’ve talked with neighborhood transit users and they all have the same conclusion: they want improvements.
The Wausau Metro Ride Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) of 2022 listed connecting municipalities, particularly Weston and Rib Mountain, as a potential scenario to improve county transit. This would require funding and agreements with these cities. If this is not achievable, it’s possible the transit system would benefit being under county guidance. Regardless of the challenges, I am very encouraged to see the county announcing the formation of a transit planning work group and I look forward to this group’s findings. Also, many Southeast Side bike enthusiasts have reached out and they generally just want more progress to a more bike friendly commute. I agree.

Tokarz: Many of our available jobs and service providers are beyond the bus routes in Wausau. This makes it very difficult for residents without cars. I would like to investigate public/private partnerships that could develop creative ride sharing options, particularly to the Industrial Parks located outside the city of Wausau.

The County Board is large and diverse. How will you work with people whose views you do not agree with to find common ground?

Kroll: My career has given me the opportunity to work with and assist people from all different walks of life. The work I perform has a specialized technical foundation, but the most undervalued skill that I’ve acquired is curiosity – I need to be able to ask thoughtful and stimulating questions that get proper responses and solutions. I bring this mindset into my personal life; my wife even jokes that she likes me coming to our children’s various appointments because she thinks I ask good questions. Personally, I’m willing to sit down and have a respectful conversation with just about anyone. I enjoy learning what drives people’s actions and discussing how my life’s experience can intersect their views to create meaningful results.

Tokarz: In my 40-year Engineering, Business and Non-Profit career, mostly in leadership roles, I have learned the art of collaboration and consensus building with people who don’t share my views. The challenge is to get people to agree on the underlying objective, value everyone’s input, and strive to do what’s right for as many stakeholders as possible.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Kroll: Our family has finally found a place to establish our roots here in Wausau. Our kids attend public school and local daycare, we enjoy the wonderful outdoor recreation in the county, we appreciate the general small city vibe of Wausau, and its proximity to the rest of Wisconsin is unmatched.
We love Wausau and our Southeast Side neighborhood. If you see us out and about, please don’t be afraid to say hello.

Tokarz: I have an Engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame and worked for the General Electric company for thirteen years prior to moving to Wausau in 1989. I’ve lived in 7 different states which gives me a broad and open-minded perspective on a wide range of issues.