Town of Waukesha Chairman John Marek says he has fulfilled many of his campaign promises from two years ago and it has helped put the town in a better place.
Wayne Krzyzanowski, however, has watched closely since Marek took over, and he doesn't like what he sees from the town's top elected official.
Marek and Krzyzanowski will square off for the town chairman's seat on April 7.
Marek, a general contractor and real estate investor, became town chairman in 2013 when he defeated Angie E. Van Scyoc after a heated campaign. Krzyzanowski, a retired chemist/production supervisor, is seeking his first elected position.
The chairman's position pays about $13,188 yearly.
Waukesha Now asked each candidate five questions in advance of the general election. Candidates were given a 75-word limit for each response.
What do you see as the most important issue in the town and how would you help solve it?
JM: This election. We are faced with the prospect of going back in time, to the liberal policies of the previous board, or continuing with cost-saving, tax-cutting, proactive policies of the current board. We have slashed spending on legal fees 75 percent, lowered your town property tax by 4.8 percent, lowered your garbage collection fee 25 percent. My opponent is opposed to cutting taxes/spending, opposed to development and would like the return of cyber supervisor.
WK: Our town is threatened to lose more water, money and land. Chairman Marek is aligned with developers, contractors, big land owners, and the cities of Waukesha and Brookfield who need our resources to achieve their dreams. Our town is being eroded. Marek is not protecting us, our money or our land. I will bring honesty and good management to town leadership and ensure town initiatives work for the benefit of homeowners and taxpayers.
How would you help spur development in the town while also maintaining the town's rural nature?
JM: Encourage development in the areas of the town that are our commercial corridors. My opponent is in favor of chasing away healthy development like the Walgreens/Aldi project. In the rural areas of the town, keep the current zoning in place to encourage the continuing lifestyle many of us have chosen, and continue to enjoy.
WK: Our town's rural nature is our biggest asset. Development in our town needs to be focused on managing our resources through adherence to our codes and ordinances. One-acre minimum lots with well and septic systems are sized to preserve our natural resources and add to our tax base. Businesses that are compatible with our laws and maintain our standard of living would be welcome.
How would you help keep taxes low while also maintaining a high-level of services in the town?
JM: The town enjoys one of the lowest tax rates in southeastern Wisconsin. This last year, your town taxes went down by 4.8 percent. At the same time we increased the amount spent on infrastructure maintenance, while eliminating waste. I will continue to search for additional savings for town taxpayers. My opponent and his wife did not support the tax decrease and spending cuts that all town residents benefited from.
WK: In order to keep our taxes low we need to do our homework, research and review options for maintaining a high-level of service in our town at the lowest possible cost. A thorough review of all facets of each department's priorities should be evaluated. A prudently managed budget will give the taxpayers the highest degree of confidence that their tax dollars are being spent wisely.
What's your take on if the city of Waukesha is not successful in its quest for Great Lakes water and uses land purchased in the town to develop wells?
JM: The best way to protect the town of Waukesha aquifer is to encourage and support the Great Lakes diversion for the city of Waukesha. Previous board members, who support my opponent, did all they could to thwart that effort, to the detriment of the residents of the town. I fully support the city of Waukesha's effort to obtain a Great Lakes water diversion, so that our wells are protected. My opponent does not.
WK: Our town must do whatever it has to do to preserve and manage our natural resources. The city should not be allowed to take our water for their overdeveloped non-sustainable dreams. Their high-capacity wells in the town of Waukesha would turn into our nightmare when our wells run dry. The city's failure to realistically plan their development with respect to their resources should not become our town's crisis.
Why should you be elected to the chairman's position?
JM: The accomplishments of the last two years are many. Here are a few: Cyber supervisor is a distant memory; spending on legal fees has been slashed by 75 percent, overall spending by 7 percent; the embarrassing headlines in the Waukesha Freeman and Waukesha Now are a thing of the past; the board works together, proactively to solve issues, rather than bickering late into the night; smart growth is encouraged, rather than chased away.
WK: New leadership is needed to preserve our town's way of life. I see our town's tax base eroding under Chairman Marek's leadership through losses to neighboring municipalities. The tentacles of the cities of Waukesha and Brookfield are reaching for our land. Our town is a beautiful place to live and I believe it's worth preserving. I will fight to maintain our low town taxes, defend our resources and safeguard our way of living.
THE CANDIDATES:
John Marek
Age: 51
Address: W236 S4526 Whispering Hills Court
Employer, occupation: General contractor, real estate investor
Years of residency in the town: 14
Education: New Berlin Eisenhower High School
Previous political experience or other related experience/community involvement: Town chairman, 2013-present
Family: Married, two children
Contact info (phone, email): (414) 640-5050, chairman@townofwaukesha.us
Wayne Krzyzanowski
Age: 65
Address: W254 S4360 Pin Oak Lane
Employer, occupation: Retired chemist/production supervisor
Years of residency in the town: 30
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Previous political experience or other related experience/community involvement: Former Cub Scout den leader, Waukesha West Band Boosters and church activities
Family: Married, three children and three grandchildren
Contact info (phone, email): (262) 549-1316, voteforwayne@yahoo.com