Campaign Phone
9209541718
My name is Charles Brown; I have been a resident of Appleton for my whole life aside from my time in the service. My decision to run for city council is based on a few factors, first I believe in public service. I have worked for the state of Wisconsin for over 20 years, I am a volunteer as an election Chief in Appleton and have been for several years, and as mentioned earlier I served in the US Army after High School. I considered running for a local position for many years, however as life, family, and a career have taken precedent I didn’t feel I could dedicate the time the position deserves. As the kids have grow up and move on their own, I have taken on several new challenges and I think the timing is right for this opportunity.
Safety and dialogue is the first topic. I am committed to keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe. But a truly safe community is also one where everyone feels heard. I want to be an outlet for diverse views and opinions; I believe that our best policies come from listening to the people who disagree with us, not just those who agree. The second is ensuring generational balance. We must keep Appleton vibrant and viable for our youth and young families ensuring housing and opportunity to grow.
We need diverse housing options. Multi-unit builds lower the monthly cost of living, while varied home sizes foster stable neighborhoods. Individuals and families have changing needs and resources throughout their lives; as a community, we must honor our own journeys and recognize that our neighbors are at different stages, too. If we focus only on one end of the spectrum, we disenfranchise a vital part of our population.
Appleton reflects a diverse range of views and values. A healthy community isn't defined by total agreement, but by the dialogue that occurs despite our differences. Our ability to host protests without the conflict seen nationally proves we can disagree without violence. For instance, demonstrators have gathered near Wisconsin and Alvin for as long as I can remember with minimal incident, this is a testament to our local civility.
Taxes are vital, but citizens must realize that increased expectations raise costs. Government must be a good steward, distinguishing "must-haves" from "nice-to-haves." Politicians bear an even greater burden: "spinning" truths to sell ideals is disingenuous. Integrity requires being forthright about the total cost of ownership and providing honest accounting for referendums. Trust is built on transparency, not salesmanship.
Campaign Phone
9208096669
Preferred Pronouns
he/him
Facebook
VoteVered
I have been representing District 2 on Appleton’s City Council since 2014. I have served on all standing committees and most of the boards and commissions. I have a depth of knowledge and experience of Appleton’s departments, budget process, policies and procedures. I have been Chair of the Utilities Committee since 2020. I served 2 terms as Council Vice President. I am passionate about infrastructure, water, efficiency, and customer service. My constituents value my representation and have come to expect a high level of communication and engagement. It’s humbling and it’s an honor to uplift the voices of those I represent, to ensure that their cares and concerns are addressed. I love the amazing community we have in Appleton.
Community voices need to guide the development and growth of our city, which means I need to effectively communicate all important information such as when meetings are being held and what’s on the agenda, and how to access all public forums. The state's shared revenue continues to fall behind the rate of inflation, so the city is challenged to maintain increasingly expensive services on static budgets. I must stay engaged and informed on all issues so I can protect the community's priorities.
Affordable housing requires the addition of enough units, at different price points, to balance the local housing market and bring down rent prices. The city plays a big role in all housing development through zoning, planning, tax financing, etc, and the city needs to make sure these developments are diverse, fiscally prudent, and ultimately do equitably and effectively solve the problem and facilitate a housing market in which no one is priced out, and vulnerable populations are protected.
Appleton is very attractive, but the lived experience of many residents reveals that our community still has a lot of work to do to be welcoming and safe for a diverse population. We need to listen more to vulnerable and marginalized populations, and ensure that our policies do not harm the residents they are meant to support. Making sure that diverse voices are part of decision making processes is an important priority.
Operationalizing the budget of departments through their revenue generating activities is one example of balancing funding with service, and the Health Department serves as a role model in recent years. Grants are also an important source of funding outside of property taxes, especially for public safety. The more we grow our tax base via infill and density, the more we can keep rates from rising, so supporting ways for our city to grow in spite of being landlocked, is very important.
