Meet the candidates for Marathon County Board Dist. 3

Wausau Pilot & Review

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In the race to represent Marathon County Board Dist. 3, incumbent Kody Hart is being challenged by Jo Ann Egelkrout, who won a successful challenge to remain on the ballot. Here, the candidates discuss their views and address policy questions about their goals if they are elected to represent their neighborhood.

What motivated you to run for office?

Hart: I am running for office again because I love living in Downtown Wausau and representing people on both sides of the river here. This is an incredibly progressive and diverse area, and I want to ensure that we are moving forward as a community.

Egelkrout: I am running for office because I believe citizens must become more involved in the decisions that directly affect their lives and the lives of their families and neighbors (children and grandchildren). I also believe it is important to have a choice when you go to vote. So many of our elected officials never have a challenger and therefore stay in office seemingly forever, losing touch with the people they represent. It’s time for a change.

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?

Hart: The Marathon County Board has a system of committees that handle the details of the various issues that we deal with year to year. I am concerned that not enough currently elected Supervisors are respecting that system – choosing to instead bring amendments and changes to policy proposals at the last minute. This is an ineffective and inefficient way to govern. In my first term, and continuing, I plan to uphold the standing committees to respect our hard working staff and citizens.

Egelkrout: County government is too big, we need to reduce the number of positions and focus on what matters and what we need.

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

Hart: The county government is already on firm financial footing that provides services to our residents with the least impact to taxpayers. I am concerned with a push to eliminate certain programs that help us carry out our mandated services like child protection. These programs allow us to protect children and families without a huge burden on the tax levy. I am also concerned with a recent push to reject grant funding. Grants are a great way to provide services like mental health without increasing taxes. If re-elected, I plan to continue to support programs that help drive down costs and increase grant funding to keep our tax burden low.

Egelkrout: Reduce the size of government and streamline operations. Pay down our debt. Put a hold on building any more large projects until we are more financially secure.

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

Hart: I have the experience and knowledge as an incumbent to do the work of the people to listen to their concerns and address their needs. In the last few years, I have had residents reach out to me asking for me to support their viewpoints as their voice on the county board. I have been proud to always be in agreement with those viewpoints. My goal has always been to represent the people that live here and I am proud to have addressed the concerns of many constituents by listening and helping those who reach out.

Egelkrout: Community members will have access to my email and phone, so I will be open to talking with them. Transparency comes from having open meetings, so all my comments and votes are public record.

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

Hart: The county has been able to, in my term, reform the way we deal with tax delinquent properties which often end up vacant in the downtown area. With this reform we are able to get these vacated properties back to the market much sooner to become housing again and help make living in this area more affordable. I have been proud to support a resolution that directs staff to prioritize affordable housing throughout the county.

Egelkorut: I do not believe it is the county’s responsibility to create affordable housing or solve every citizen’s housing concerns. The best we can do is look into zoning that would allow smaller homes to be built.

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

Hart: We here in Marathon County enjoy small town living with the amenities of a larger city. What makes our county a great place to live is alive in the heart of my district where people have destinations like the Grand Theatre and the Children’s Imaginarium along with great shopping and dining all while living in wonderful neighborhoods or even in the countryside. I think we still need to do a better job at retaining younger people and attracting others to our areas by showing that we are a welcoming community that supports diversity.

Egelkrout: The biggest impediment to business is taxation. Lower taxes and possible incentives for businesses to stay long term is important. Attracting more people is a difficult task. Where people live is not a singular item to address. I would like to see people who already live here increase their family size since they already enjoy being here.

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?

Hart: The Marathon County Board should have no say in which books are chosen for the Marathon County Public Library. It is not the role of the government to censure the people’s first amendment rights to read. We appoint a Library Board who hire amazing and qualified librarians who make these decisions with the knowledge and experience they bring. I have always supported the library by voting against all of the proposed budget cuts to the system and voting against the removal of Library Board members who held firm against a push to ban books.

Egelkrout: The Library chooses books, not the board. However, I think it is important that the Library be aware of the many concerns citizens have about book content, and however we can have that dialog in an open and respectful way is necessary. It should not be hard for the Library to make rational age-appropriate decisions when it comes to content placement.

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?

Hart: Living in the city, we have a bus system that does not get outside of the city limits so residents can access the things they need. Much of these solutions involve the municipalities, however, the county can play a role in helping to fund a more robust transit system. The county does have a mandate to provide quality roads within our county. We should also have a role in ensuring people have the ability to get to where they need to go.

Egelkrout: I feel the transportation options are fine. Our county is primarily rural/agricultural. There is no mass transportation system I would support. We have buses in the metro area. It would be nice to see more flight options from CWA.

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

Hart: I am proud to serve on the largest county board in the country – 38 members. With so many people on the board, there are bound to have disagreements. It should be said that most items that have been passed over the last two years have been unanimous. When the votes are not unanimous, we agree to disagree and move on or find a solution that works for all. As a progressive person who grew up in a conservative small town, I know first hand how to get along with those who I may disagree with policy wise and remain good friends.

Egelkrout: You do the work that needs be done and realize not everyone will agree. You find common ground when people are actually open to the ideas of others and I will do that. I do realize however than often there is not common ground and in those cases you agree to disagree and move on respectfully.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Hart: As I stated before, this is an incredibly progressive district and I think that I will best represent the people because I have done so successfully already. It needs to be clearly stated that I am the only progressive person on the ballot here.

Egelkrout: While I have never served in an elected position before, I have made serious decisions throughout my life: thoughtfully and carefully, many of which have serious consequences and important outcomes, just like all the people do who live in Marathon County. Raising a family, protecting my children, supporting my family, living within my budget and making the hard decisions that go along with that responsibility, saving money, helping my neighbors, looking for reasonable health care. I have worked almost all of my life, giving my very best to my employers. This is the experience I have and can bring to County Government: common sense, prudence in spending, concern for our citizens and our community, dedication, and hard work. I think some of the problems facing our local government is that the people holding office over time become “politicians” rather than remaining first and foremost citizens of our community and good neighbors and forget the everyday impact their decisions have on regular people. These politicians often get lost in bureaucracy, enforcing and passing red-tape regulations. They lose sight of the forest for the trees, to coin an old phrase.

I have a deep faith that keeps me grounded in truth and love for my fellow man.

I had to work very hard to be on this ballot. I won’t let that hard work go to waste. Rest assured, if elected, I will work equally as hard for you, the Marathon County residents I represent.