Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Voters in Bonduel will cast ballots Tuesday to narrow their choices for village president in the spring election.
It’s one of two primary elections being held in the area Tuesday. The other is in Bowler, where three candidates are running for treasurer.
In Bonduel, incumbent Village President Melvin Wendland is seeking another two-year term against challengers Sharon Wussow, a trustee on the Village Board, and former Village President Grant Staszak.
Wendland has been president for six years and served as a trustee for more than 30 years.
Wussow has had a couple of stretches on the Village Board totaling 12 years; she has served for six years this last time around.
Staszak served two terms as president before leaving for a term on the Shawano County Board six years ago. He left that to operate the Amico’s restaurant in Belle Plaine.
Staszak said that with his business venture behind him, he now wants to return to working on behalf of the Bonduel community.
“It’s a passion of mine,” he said.
For Wendland, another term as president would maintain continuity on the board, he said, at a time when things are working well and steps are being taken to look to the future.
“There are no major problems,” Wendland said.
He noted that the village two years ago adopted a 20-year plan that will address some of the village’s infrastructure needs, and efforts are in place to resurrect a local business association along the lines of a chamber of commerce to promote local businesses.
Wussow said business promotion is also one of her priorities. She said more needs to be done to market the village and encourage the more than 60 businesses in the village to work together.
Wussow said she wants to explore whether there is money available from the county or Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. to aid those marketing efforts.
Staszak said improving the business climate and drawing more businesses to the downtown and the industrial park was a top priority among residents he has talked to while campaigning. He said he would like to see what kinds of incentives can be offered to attract new business.
Staszak said he has also been hearing complaints about the village’s utility bills.
“That’s the number one issue I hear,” he said.
Staszak said he wants to look at ways of decreasing utility bills.
However, Wendland said, there is little the village can do to lower those bills, partly because there are outstanding sewer and utility bonds that have to be paid off.
Wendland said those bills might seem high in Bonduel, but other communities are beginning to raise their rates as well.
“All the other communities are catching up,” he said.
Wendland also said there is nothing special a village president can do to control utility rates.
“The village president is just a regular board member,” he said, with an equal vote like the board’s trustees. “He runs the meetings, but anything he does has to be approved by the board. He can’t make executive decisions.”
Wussow agreed with that view of the president’s authority, but, she added, there is an additional leadership role.
“Your job is as a leader to help steer the board toward what’s best for the village,” she said.
Wussow agreed with Staszak that utility bills are too high and some ideas need to be explored to see if they can be lowered.
Wussow said there are other ideas that should be explored, including collaborative efforts with other communities to provide services the village doesn’t provide, such as leaf pickup.
Wussow, who has been involved with activities at the Bonduel School District, said she also wants to see more involvement by younger people in local government.
“Getting younger people involved means different ideas,” she said.
Wendland said the community organizations he has been involved in — including the Lions Club and Civic Association — have already been promoting youth involvement.
“All board members should be part of community organizations instead of just talking about it,” he said.
Wendland said his experience in office separates him from the other candidates, though Staszak said he also has experience in that role.
Wussow emphasized her lifelong affiliation with the community.
“My heart has always been here for the village,” she said.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m.
The area’s other primary, in Bowler, pits incumbent Treasurer Colleen Cortright against challengers Jessica Paiser-DuFour and Kerry Breitrick.
The top two vote-getters in Tuesdays primaries will advance to the spring election on April 7.