contact email
timleedonahue@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
6087998037
Community Involvement
LWV, French Island Lions Club, Scouting America, United Campus Ministry, and Sustain our River.
French Island has been my home for 21 years. I love this community and I want to see it successfully transition to a Village. l served 6 years as a Town Board member for Health, Education and Welfare. I welcome the opportunity to provide continuity, experience and expertise as a Village Trustee
I meet and chat with residents every day when walking, boating, and shopping in the community. Some of the best conversations occur at the Library, Village Hall, our parks and walking the Spillway. As questions lead to further discussion, I actively seek their knowledge, engagement and participation. Sometimes they begin to attend Board meetings and speak during public comment. I encourage residents to be involved which includes volunteering to be a member of a committee or commission. My active participation in local non-profits and community activities provides me with many opportunities for resident engagement.
A municipal Board (Town or Village) is a teamwork of leadership between elected officials and staff. Accountability and efficiency are cornerstones of any successful municipality. Clearly communicating and integrating the roles and responsibilities of each is the key to success.
The Village is full of sharp experienced residents who want to be engaged and share their skills and insight. The newly elected Board will determine commissions and committees. They will consider those of neighboring Villages and consider specialty ones which may include PFAS, grant development, and the new water system.
contact email
heather.aaland@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
608-780-5046
Education
UW- La Crosse, Bachelor of Science
Community Involvement
Logan High Booster Club, Treasurer (12 years), Summit Elementary parent volunteer
I am running for Village Trustee to build on the solid foundation of local leadership that the Town has built. I see this as an opportunity to bring more members of our community into the decision-making of our local government. My husband and I have owned our home on French Island for the past 12 years and our children were born on the island. I want to ensure it continues to be a great place to live and raise a family.
I like to meet people where they are. Many of the families we know on French Island share information about Village issues through informal, word-of-mouth conversations with their neighbors. I strive to be approachable and serve the needs of French Island families.
One of the strengths of our government on French Island is that prior to incorporation it was serving the community in all of the ways a Village government would need to operate. We have a tremendous amount of experience and institutional knowledge in our Village services that the Board of Trustees should continue to rely upon. My work in administrative services has taught me to trust and value the work of the people who know how to do their jobs. Trustees should provide sufficient oversight of the Village government services, but I do not believe there needs to be a significant change in the way the Village government conducts its operations.
Participation and connections between residents and our government on French Island happen informally and authentically. Rather than the creation of new forums to hear from residents, I would support the use of Board listening sessions to allow residents the ability to provide feedback to our Board without the expectation of sustained participation on a more formal committee. Many of our neighborhoods include lifelong French Island residents that are proud of our community and take a strong interest in the decisions we make. The Board of Trustees would be wise to utilize this resource as we continue to build a French Island that families love to call home.
contact email
stolpa.michael@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
6087698918
Education
AS WTC, BA (Business) Lakeland University
Community Involvement
Free Little Library, Giving Tables during Covid, Volunteer La Crosse Schools, Bike Rack Library
I love the Island and feel that it is time to give back. This is a critical time to show who we really are as the Village of French Island. I would like to help guide us toward our own positive identity.
I would show all our residents that we are truly listening to them. Specifically to ask and respond to what really matters to residences. A map of the propsed water pipes, including hydrant locations along with letting residents know that the difficulties in dealing with the county and township from long ago are no longer there.
I have found that letting the staff suggest solutions to individual problems and situations empowers them. Actually listening to the people directly dealing with situations will be more successful than decrees from on high.
I would like to see comittees involved with safety (especially as pertains to our children and our schools), along with better use of our parks. We want our residents to want to socialize within the Village rather then head into La Crosse. I would also form a comittee to suggest better use of the Mall and what to do with the old Hotel.
contact email
mjwerner14@icloud.com
Campaign Phone
608-317-9790
Education
College graduate, Law School graduate, licensed in Wisconsin as both Certified Public Accountant and Attorney
Community Involvement
Kiwanis, Scouting America, Blessed Sacrament Church, Family and Children's Center, FSPA, BGC
I am a 23 year resident of the Village of French Island and recently retired from my professional career. I hold both a CPA and law license and want to invest my time and talent in our newly formed Village. I have expertise in grant writing and research, which will be helpful for our current PFAS water issue, redevelopment possibilities, and other matters that arise. I have experience using techniques of collaboration and cooperation with groups of differing opinions, having served on both for profit and nonprofit boards and committees. I have a problem solver mindset and want to see my Village flourish. I am a former Village Board Trustee of West Salem and want to provide that experience to help move our Village forward.
Some people are nervous about speaking publicly at a meeting. I would recommend providing a 'suggestion box' to be installed at the Village administration building for people to provide ideas, list their talents they have to offer and issues for consideration. I would recommend committees be set up for special projects so that folks could volunteer for these and see what it is like to serve without having to commit a large amount of time. A 'leader board' could be set up at the Village administration building which would include what ideas are 'in the works' and details about meetings and tasks that are required. I would encourage social visits with Trustees at different businesses so individual residents can talk to them.
Bylaws for the Village would be created and serve as a 'map' for setting up government. The Board of Trustees would be responsible for setting up committees for particular areas. Some of these committees would be: personnel, finance, police and fire, planning, and welfare. The committees would handle the details, meet and discuss issues (with residents involved), and provide recommendations. Employees would attend these meetings. Minutes would be taken at these meetings to document recommendations and be provided to the board. If there is a question from a trustee, the matter can be discussed at board level. Once resolved, the recommendations are approved. Personnel committee handles all employee matters.
I would ask Trustees and employees if they have specific knowledge of individuals with expertise in areas where there is a need. At board meetings, I would ask for input from attendees. I would use a 'leader board' provided at the Village administration building and the website to solicit input from residents for specific expertise. Police and Fire, Grants, Planning (Redevelopment) and Special Events committees can be set up to invite residents to participate. Other committees can be set up on an 'as needed' basis.
contact email
bwolf41@gmail.com
Campaign Phone
608-783-7747
I’m running again because our successful incorporation is only the first step. After decades of effort, I remain committed to building a transparent and accountable village government that truly serves our taxpayers. Residents have told me repeatedly: we need a reliable water system and tight control over costs. I will ensure strong oversight and transparency to deliver both, while providing steady leadership through this important early period of village government
I will actively recruit residents through targeted commissions that let people contribute their skills and experience directly to village decisions. We’ll combine this with modern tools—clear social media updates, a simple contact form on the village website, and old-fashioned personal outreach. If you have ideas or concerns, call, email, or reach out to me or any board member. Government works best when everyday residents are involved.
The shift from town to village means moving from day-to-day management to high-level policy and oversight. I will ensure accountability by creating clear commissions with well-defined responsibilities. In my recent experience on the board, unclear roles led to stalemates and confusion for staff. By assigning commissions specific oversight areas and mixing board members with resident experts, we will provide consistent direction — empowering professional staff to deliver excellent results while staying fully aligned with the board’s vision and taxpayer priorities
Yes—resident skills and experience are one of our village’s greatest assets. I will start by reviewing all existing committees, then carry forward, combine, or strengthen them as commissions. Priority areas include Police and Fire, Utilities, Streets, and Parks & Recreation commission. These commissions will follow our successful past model but with clearer roles: a mix of board members and appointed residents serving in their areas of expertise. This structure delivers strong oversight, brings valuable local knowledge to policy decisions, and provides continuity even when the board changes. I’ve recently met several residents with exactly this kind of expertise — civil engineers (and others with direct access to engineering support),
