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Metzner, Etten vie for Darien president

Photo

Evelyn Etten

Photo

Robert Metzner

DARIEN — It's hard to run a village that's in the middle of two or three different legal battles.

But that's been the state of things in the village of Darien.

Incumbent President Bob Metzner looks forward to moving on with village business such as a fire station and sidewalks.

His challenger, Evelyn Etten, thinks the board has mismanaged the village lately, particularly when it voted to put Police Chief Steve DeVoy on paid leave in December and fire him in March.

If re-elected, Metzner's first priority would be repairing or replacing the village's aging sewer system. Some of the pipes leak, so the village is paying extra to treat clear water.

Metzner made phone calls to Sen. Paul Ryan last year to learn about applying for grant money for repairs, he said.

"Truly I want to get the sewer systems replaced," Metzner said. "I initiated the request for funding. I applied for $2 million in repairs."

The sewer issue is a big concern for all the residents, Etten said of her campaigning contacts. The village board cannot close doors to any options for paying for the repairs, she said.

"I don't think we can close our minds to anything," Etten said. "I don't want to see any of our costs go up any more. For the size of our community, our needs and our operating costs are very big."

If elected, Etten would compare the number of village staff and the costs of their salaries to those in other communities. She also is interested in changing the format of board meetings so residents are better able to share opinions.

Metzner said he's the best person for the job because he has experience. He said when the court battles settle down, residents will see how hard he's worked.

"They're going to see that everything I've done is for the betterment of the community," Metzner said.

Etten thinks the board made a mistake when it fired DeVoy after years of quality service. She is the better person to lead the board, Etten said.

"I think it's time for a change," Etten said. "I really do."

Evelyn Etten

Address: 436 Oak Ridge Drive, Darien.

Age: 46

Job: Budget analyst with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Education: Earned a cosmetology certification in June 1982 from IBA Beauty Prestige College, Milwaukee; graduated in 1987 from the account clerk program at Waukesha County Technical College, Pewaukee; earned an associate's degree in business administration in 2004 and a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2006, both from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee.

Community service: Former youth church choir director and Sunday school teacher

Elected posts: None

Robert Metzner (I)

Address: 340 W. Beloit St., Darien.

Age: 69

Job: Retired from several careers including police officer and city commissioner in Pampano Beach, Fla., business owner and U.S. Air Force crash rescue recruiter.

Education: Graduated from University of Michigan in 1960 with a degree in economics and business law

Community service: None

Elected posts: Darien Village Board member from 1994-95; board president from 1996-97; has served as board president since elected in 2007.