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I've been a member of the council for 13 years, 2 years as Mayor. I've served on the city's plan commission, traffic review board, Landmarks commission, redevelopment authority, on the council when hiring two city managers, attended and participated in well over 400 council meetings and have had thousands of interactions with the citizens of Oshkosh.
Government is to there to serve and protect its citizens. Those are the items that MUST be funded. Police, Fire, sanitation, water and other municipal items that are there for the good welfare of the taxpayer. We need to compensate our employees appropriately to keep ourselves competitive with other communities. Other items in the budget that are not needed are wanted items. Those should be the determination of the citizens of the community. Over the years that I have been on the council, I have listened to what the wants of the community are and funded what they felt they wanted. Recently the council reduced the local humane society funding by $45,000 while they were perfectly fine with wanting to spend millions in funding a pedestrian bridge over highway. This to me is a CLEAR indication that the priorities of those council member is out of wack.
An outside firm that the city hired has been doing an analysis in moving there, along with other options. I worry that with buying the City Center that we will be getting into the real estate business where we would end up renting parts of the building. This is something that we should not be involved with. There are many issues to consider with this proposal so the "jury" is really still out on whether this is a good idea or not.
The best assets of Oshkosh are the citizens! The citizens deserve to have elected officials that will listen to them and to serve them, not to serve themselves. We also have a great parks system, with land accessible to the waterways we have in the city. The challenges that we have are providing a reasonable budget that meets the needs of the city while keeping taxes at a reasonable level.
I have experience working with Winnebago County Parks Department, Oshkosh Street Department, and Oshkosh Parks Department during my youth as a part time summer employee. I also have years of experience as an Operations Officer and Anti -Terrorism Force Protection Officer during my service in the United States Marine Corps. My time working with various departments within the county and city gives me insight on how work is planned and performed and some basic understanding of organizational structure within those departments. As an Operations Officer my main duties are all related to planning, coordination, and execution of those plans while ensuring all staff sections worked together towards a common goal. My background in anti-terrorism and force protection is more law enforcement focused and I was responsible for security and contingency planning and writing plans that were applied to every Marine combatant command on the east coast.
Oshkosh has a number of issues that need to be addressed and to me the main one is public safety and making Oshkosh a place where people feel comfortable on their own streets, in their own parks, and downtown. Everything is downstream of public safety. We cannot expect growth, healthy businesses, or stability unless we have safe streets. I want us to be brilliant at the basics and reduce any competing priorities that are not in line with that. Public safety, utilities, streets, emergency services, and parks I would deem as essential. We also have a significant debt to pay off and that needs to happen before we consider spending the taxpayer's money on anything else that we aren't already budgeted for. I would like to see us have the best of these listed priorities in the area and work towards a budget surplus so we can either reduce taxes or give back to the taxpayers in the form of a tax rebate incentive to help with home repairs or energy efficiency.
Based on local reporting and discussions by city council the full estimated cost of renovating our current city hall will be between $30-$40 million. We don't have exact costs available for the purchasing and renovating of the city center which is a roughly 413,000 sqft building on the Fox River. The cost of purchasing the property would range somewhere around (a low estimate of $100 per sqft x 413,000 sqft) would be valued at about $41 million and some change and doesn't include renovations or interior build outs for IT, signage, and security on the property which could also run easily in the tens of millions as well. The other issue would be removing city center from the tax rolls if the city were to purchase it (using the $40 mil assessment from above / 1,000 x $7.77 mill rate would be about -$310,000 deficit to our tax revenue). This issue is a simple cost vs benefit analysis and while I do not have exact numbers to work with, looks like a no from me for now based on my research.
Oshkosh's greatest asset is our people. Those who live here and invest their time, work, open businesses, employ others and choose to raise their families here are what makes Oshkosh what it is today. This is why public safety and cleaner streets is so important. These are the types of people we want to attract to Oshkosh and will enable growth. We need to ensure that we as a government are enabling that growth and establishing an environment that attracts others who want to be a part of this community and contribute something to it. One of the first things families look at when choosing to move is how safe a community is and per capita crime rates over time. Our children are the focus and our future and they deserve a safe environment to live and grow where they can become productive members of society with opportunity to earn a living and eventually raise a family of their own here and that is my focus. If we focus on the basics, the growth will follow.
My background is in real estate capital markets and development. I understand how projects are financed, how housing gets built, and how public policy impacts private investment. My professional experience allows me to evaluate development proposals thoughtfully and I support measures that benefit our community now and create long-term value. As a current board member for Downtown Oshkosh Inc, I’ve worked directly with local businesses, property owners, and city partners to strengthen our downtown and local business corridors. I’ve seen firsthand how smart planning, honest collaboration, and clear communication can revitalize neighborhoods, support a strong local economy and improve our quality of life. I am running for Oshkosh City Council to bring practical experience, independent thinking, and collaborative leadership to City Hall. My focus is on affordable housing, smart growth, and an efficient government that respects the taxpayer.
My priorities are founded on building an efficient, disciplined city government that uses taxpayer dollars wisely today and positions Oshkosh for balanced growth in the future. When the city approaches its budget with clear priorities and regular accountability it is better able to leverage private investment, expand the tax base, ease financial pressures on current residents and provide more resources for the community at large. Efficient budgeting begins with maintaining our core Gov't services, investing in infrastructure with smart planning that avoids costly and reactive spending. It also requires regular review of third-party contracts to determine whether services can be performed more effectively or cost-efficiently in-house or if we are maximizing the contracts value. Before adding new obligations for taxpayers, the city should demonstrate that its existing resources are being used efficiently.
I believe it is important to gather more information before forming a responsible opinion about potentially relocating Oshkosh City Hall to the City Center. A decision of that scale should be based on a clear understanding of costs, long-term value, operational impacts, and how it would affect residents, downtown businesses, and city staff. The City Center site has presented challenges since the original mall closed decades ago, and any future use deserves careful consideration. There may be potential benefits, including better use of an underutilized property, improved accessibility, and the opportunity to add value to the tax base while keeping Oshkosh a competitive place to live and work. At the same time, there are real concerns about cost, functionality, disruption, and whether a move would deliver meaningful and long-lasting benefits to the people of Oshkosh.
Our city's most significant assets are its people and its natural resources. We have strong neighborhoods, engaged residents, local businesses that care about the community, and exceptional access to lakes and outdoor recreation. These assets give Oshkosh its character and provide a strong foundation for long-term success.
At the same time, our city faces real challenges like housing affordability, aging infrastructure, and ensuring economic growth benefits residents and local businesses first. Addressing these challenges requires thoughtful leadership and an understanding of how closely housing, economic development, and city services are connected. City government plays a critical role in celebrating Oshkosh’s strengths by creating the conditions for people to succeed. That means being more of a coach than a warden—setting clear rules, maintaining strong infrastructure, and removing unnecessary barriers so residents and businesses can invest with confidence and seize opportunity.
Professionally, I work in technology and education, helping organizations gain efficiency, grow responsibly, and reduce risk by translating complex systems into clear, practical solutions. Those same skills matter in local government: using data wisely, planning for long-term sustainability, and making sure public dollars are spent with intention and care.
I’m a UW–Oshkosh Honors College graduate and bring a strong connection to this community. I currently serve on the Oshkosh Landmarks Commission, volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and am involved with local arts organizations such as Oshkosh Community Players. I believe strong communities are built not just on good infrastructure, but on culture, creativity, and places where people feel proud to live.
My top budget priority is fiscal responsibility without placing additional burden on taxpayers. Oshkosh’s new city manager has already taken meaningful steps to streamline operations and improve efficiency, and at this point I don’t see any major areas where further cuts could be made without harming core services. I advocate for keeping the levy flat as was achieved in the most recent budget.
Cities across Wisconsin are being asked to do more with less, largely because state shared revenue has not kept pace with rising costs. Meaningful budget reform needs to happen at the state level, and I believe local leaders must continue to apply pressure there.
At the city level, I support continued efforts to find efficiencies where possible and to aggressively pursue grants that allow us to invest without raising taxes, particularly for public transit, walkability, and accessibility improvements that directly improve quality of life for residents.
A potential benefit of moving City Hall to the City Center is improved visibility and access for residents, as well as the opportunity to place city services in a more active, centrally located area near the Riverwalk. For city staff, a newer or renovated space could address safety, accessibility, and deferred maintenance issues that exist in the current building.
The drawbacks require careful scrutiny. There are concerns that City Center may present its own building and infrastructure challenges, potentially making the move a lateral solution rather than a long-term fix. Construction disruption, impacts on nearby businesses, accessibility during redevelopment, and long-term costs to taxpayers must be fully understood.
Before supporting any move, I believe residents and staff deserve transparent, side-by-side information on building conditions, costs, and long-term sustainability so the city can choose the option that best serves Oshkosh over the next 30–50 years.
Oshkosh’s most significant assets are its natural environment and its people. Our river, lakes, and Riverwalk are central to the city’s identity, and protecting and celebrating our waterways should remain a priority. UW–Oshkosh is another major asset and a key driver of the city’s long-term vitality.
Many of Oshkosh’s biggest challenges (housing affordability, infrastructure strain, transit limitations, and pressure on public service) are made harder by decades of inadequate state funding. Cities across Wisconsin are being asked to do more with less, while shared revenue has not kept pace with rising costs or community needs, including support for public education.
City government still has a responsibility to act locally by investing wisely, pursuing grants, and prioritizing quality-of-life improvements, but it must also be willing to advocate strongly at the state level for better funding tools.
I am a lifelong resident of Oshkosh with a strong background in military service, emergency management, small business, and community leadership that prepares me well to serve on the City Council.
I am a retired and honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army and Wisconsin Army National Guard, including Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where I learned accountability, teamwork, and leadership under pressure.
Locally, I hold leadership roles in ARES and RACES, working with Wisconsin Emergency Management, FEMA Region 5, and county emergency managers on training and emergency communications that support public safety and hospitals.
I also own Phoenix Precision Machine Co. in Oshkosh and understand the challenges facing small businesses, budgets, and regulations. Through civic involvement, I have managed budgets and facilities, reinforcing my commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and listening to residents
My top budget priorities are public safety, core infrastructure, and basic city services that directly affect residents’ quality of life. That means properly staffing and equipping police and fire, and maintaining streets, sidewalks, water, and stormwater systems before small problems become costly emergencies.
The City should place more emphasis on preventive maintenance and long-term asset management. Fixing things early saves money and avoids service disruptions. I also believe stronger, fair, and consistent code enforcement focused on real health and safety issues helps protect neighborhoods and property values.
We should reduce or eliminate non-essential spending and projects without clear public benefit or measurable results, especially when taxes or fees are rising. I also support greater transparency, so residents clearly understand what we are spending and what they are getting in return.
From a cost-benefit standpoint, given the age of the current City Hall and its physical limitations, relocating to City Center could save taxpayers significant long-term maintenance and infrastructure costs.
The main drawback is the concern that additional space could create the false impression that the city needs to expand government, when in fact the goal should be to deliver services efficiently, not grow bureaucracy.
Oshkosh’s key assets are its national identity through EAA AirVenture, a strong manufacturing and aviation workforce, UW–Oshkosh as a talent pipeline, and its lakes, river, parks, and neighborhoods. These support economic growth and quality of life.
Our biggest challenges are housing affordability and homelessness, aging infrastructure and rising utility costs, keeping taxes reasonable while funding core services, and retaining young families and skilled workers.
City government must protect and promote what makes Oshkosh strong while fixing what holds us back. That means partnering with employers and schools, investing in neighborhoods and downtown, making it easier to build and rehab housing, and being transparent and efficient with taxpayer dollars. The goal is a city that is affordable, safe, and growing responsibly.
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I am an experienced civic servant to the City of Oshkosh with past involvement on the Board of Zoning Appeals, and current member of the Plan Commission and the Redevelopment Authority. These boards and commissions uniquely qualify me vs other council candidates as I am actually already doing the work-albeit in an advisory capacity. Both the Plan Commission and the Redevelopment Authority make recommendations to the Council from our perspective. We do the due diligence needed to make a sound recommendation. No other candidate has this vast experience already serving the City of Oshkosh.
In addition, I am a past Rotarian, a founding member of Propel, Oshkosh's young professional network, an adjunct YMCA member and a proud member of the 4 under 40 club via the Oshkosh Northwestern. My resume is filled with community involvement and civic servancy.
Given I am a Vice President of a local bank, I am strongly qualified to negotiate and evaluate the $240M operations budget. First priority, is to start the discussions earlier. Even though decisions cannot be made, starting conversations earlier will help not squeeze decisions at the end.
I am interested in discussing a sales tax vs soley relying on property tax. I am not sure it can fully replace property taxes but I would support the conversation like Milwaukee did.
Finally, my budget priorities include starting at no new tax increases. No council member should say that they will not raise taxes, because that is likely a false promise, however I state that I will start with the mindset with no tax increase. I will ask the questions, "how do we get to yes without raising taxes". With the state continuing to not fully fund the MSP, the City has to be creative in how we come at a budget with no tax increase. It can be done-just look at last year.
It first must be stated that very little information has come out about the relocation of City Hall so my comments are more around what it could be vs. what it will be.
I support the idea of moving City Hall and perhaps County Administration to downtown. Just imagine an influx of hundreds of workers downtown! But there are several questions to be answered. How much space is needed to move City Hall? Just the end where 4Imprint is? Then what happens with the rest of City Center? I envision a combination of City Hall/County Administration, development of retail/restaurant, perhaps condos, perhaps green space, a dog park, etc. I want to see how this property (which is the size of downtown Neenah) will work with the current redevelopment plans of Opera Square/the Grand/Downtown as well.
Understanding how it all fits is important. Bottom line is I am supportive of continued discussions on transforming City Center into something unique and grand to downtown Oshkosh.
Our waterfront is one of our biggest assets. Being surrounded by 3 bodies of water makes us uniquely different than other communities. Second, Oshkosh has new leadership in many key positions which will help us stay agile, flexible and demonstrates our willingness to "get to yes."
One of our biggest challenges is perception. People complain all the time about roads, safety, lack of things to do etc when in reality, we are "open for business". It is true that in 2026, we are going to fix many items within the inspections department to make Oshkosh easier to do business with. In addition, and we are relooking at our zoning to ensure we make flexible decisions that encourages affordable housing.
