improving communication between the Village Board and the village residents is a top priority. People need to be aware of the decisions that the Board is making, particularly those that change our comprehensive plan and impact future development of our lakefront.

Another priority is working on a master plan for our downtown. Hwy 67 is slated for reconstruction in a few years. This is an excellent opportunity for us to see some significant improvements in our commercial center. We need to begin drafting plans and finding solutions to some vexing issues that confront our downtown and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Affordable housing and short-term rental are also important issues that our village will continue to grapple with.

I will propose that all of the Village Board meetings be live-streamed. I will work on improving the Village Web site to make it more user-friendly. I will host office hours and acknowledge all letters and emails that I receive. I will set up volunteer opportunities and ad hoc committees to encourage more community involvement and to ensure that a wide array of potential solutions are voiced.

Affordable housing is a big problem throughout Walworth County. Our village has the added burden of being a tourist destination with investors coming in and buying up homes to turn into short-term rentals. Homes that otherwise would be a good fit for first-time homeowners and families with young children are instead rented out for a week or a weekend to tourists. This is harming our school enrollment and changing the face of our community.

Because we are a small village we don't qualify for many of the grants that are available to help with housing. The Walworth County Economic Development Alliance is spearheading a task force that is working on the housing issue and our village has been participating in these conversations.

The village is currently facing the challenge of an aging infrastructure. It is imperative that we generate additional revenue without increasing property taxes for our residents. This process must be conducted responsibly, respecting the history and culture of Williams Bay.

We must fight misinformation and prioritize facts. Trustees should justify their actions without relying solely on experts. Open discussions with all perspectives are essential. The Village should encourage residents to stay informed on local issues.

•In addition to maintaining a fully staffed police force and emergency services, affordable housing is necessary. Achieving this requires changes to certain village ordinances. A citizen committee could be established to develop ideas and seek solutions in this area.

My top three priorities include: 1. Develop a comprehensive community engagement system that offers new ways to get information, like a website where you can actually find answers, virtual and interactive streaming of board meetings, monthly listening sessions, and Q&A sessions at all committee meetings.

2. Rebuild trust by reforming the board’s decision-making framework with clear guidelines for which decisions require broad public input and improve access to benefit and risk assessments for major decisions.

3. Strategic resource management, including a comprehensive, community-driven downtown master plan, revenue & expense evaluation and reallocation, and future-casting sessions to proactively address emerging challenges.

Our community needs to heal and come together to plan for our future and protect our quality of life. Prior to and throughout my campaign, I have respectfully listened to various perspectives, thanked people for contributing to the conversation, and provided access to documented facts and held others accountable to focusing on facts, not personal or false accusations.

I plan to bring people together to express differing opinions, surface common interests, and engage the community in generating solutions for now and the future that address those shared interests.

I also plan to start with “why?” Helping people to understand why something is occurring is the first step to engaging them in problem solving.

Our community is a mix of full-time and seasonal residents and short-term rental investors have driven up property values resulting increased property taxes and reduced school enrollment. I believe our local government needs to go back to basics to ensure that our community is inviting and affordable for families.

Protective Services -Williams Bay is changing. So are the demands of Protective Services Bringing experienced individuals who understand the importance of keeping our community safe is vital. Declining volunteerism affects these changes. Our qualified personnel can identify needs and gaps by offering the best solutions through strong leadership, management, recruitment, retention, and equipment assessment. Increased Infrastructure Costs makes keeping up with replacements and improvements challenging. Using efficiency and effectiveness should align with our comprehensive plan. Continuing with a knowledgeable team to address future overviews with water and sewer systems, roads, telecommunication, while balancing tax revenue and expenditures

Civility is seeing others as equals, deserving respect. My family taught me compassion and kindness, to respect everyone, the idea that listening was more important than speaking which adds to the power of successful negotiating and reasonable compromise. To emulate Lincoln, let us strive to be better than we have been and pledge to see those on the other side of the aisle as worthy of dignity, honor and respect. Gathering information, identifying the framework and goals to achieve, collaboratively creating an open-minded path to achieving the best outcome, and accepting the challenge that every problem has a solution. Creating a space for trust and progress, to increase the quality of conversation influences engagement.

Where we live shapes our lives. Offering a variety of housing to the changing household characteristics and needs of our Williams Bay residents causes stability which fosters a sense of belonging and rootedness creating a stable foundation for community growth. Seeking successful resources and embracing a collaborative exchange of ideas creates a variety of housing solutions. Benefits include the village workforce, young families, integrated village tourism, and retirees. Intergovernmental services encourage opportunities for solutions to this problem. Inviting collaborations with community groups can help strengthen the goal.

Over the last two years I’ve used my experience to make improvements in Parks & Recreation, the Lakefront, to the Intergovernmental Agreement for EMS and a series of other contracts. There are many issues facing the Village of Williams Bay. Foremost for many individuals is the development of the GWC campus by Topography. That issue is really endemic of a larger issue; how to control growth and development within the village. My priorities are Improving EMS and Police services, Public Infrastructure Improvements (sewer, water & streets), and Downtown Revitalization all while maintaining a Balanced Budget.

Create an environment where all residents can be heard and their input included in Board decisions. Public involvement needs to be encouraged so that the Trustees are well informed.

Affordable housing is the most pressing social service issue. Local government needs to seek partnerships with developers to help build the infrastructure for future development. In addition, State and Federal grants should be sought out that may assist development thru low interest loans. Finally, zoning ordinances may need to be modified to allow the construction of affordable units.

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