• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Crowded candidate list for Edgerton City Council

Photo

Andrea Egerstaffer

Photo

Mike Hardy

Photo

Matt McIntyre

Photo

Carrie Strahota

EDGERTON — Edgerton residents will have options in two of the four city council races.

The third district is having a special election to complete Alderman Paul Davis' term in addition to the election for a regular, two-year term.

Here's a rundown of the races:

-- District 1: Newcomer Andrea Egerstaffer, 59, of 308A Bel Aire Drive, is running unopposed. Incumbent Casey Burns filed non-candidacy papers.

Egerstaffer said she wants to join the council because she cares about Edgerton and loves politics. She said reviving the downtown is the biggest issue the city faces.

The city could do more to encourage people to start businesses, such as letting them know about small business loans and other options for business owners.

"I think there are a lot of people in town who are capable of having a small business, but they don't know what's available to them," she said.

Egerstaffer has owned a couple of businesses, though she currently works at IKI Manufacturing. She fell behind on tax payments for one business, Meet Market Bar, but she worked out a deal with the IRS and makes regular payments, she said. She currently owes about $2,500, she said.

Egerstaffer said she could use her business experience to help others.

"I think some of that knowledge maybe could help," she said.

-- District 2: Mike Hardy, 38, of 412 Leslie Drive is challenging Matt McIntyre, 51, of 3 Mechanic St., in a rematch of the 2007 election.

McIntyre served 10 years as mayor before losing to Erik Thompson in 2006. He defeated Hardy, who was appointed to the council in May 2006, by 10 votes in 2007.

Hardy said he wants another turn on the council to focus on parks and recreation. The former Deforest and Mount Forest parks and recreation director has been working with Dane County on getting a bike trail between Janesville and Madison, he said.

He also has talked to the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club in hopes of getting a branch of one of the organizations in Edgerton, he said.

"That's one of my first priorities is getting more after-school and summer programs for the kids," he said.

Hardy thinks the city should be more aggressive with downtown development, he said.

"The city needs to continue working on basically improving the look of downtown, making available grants or funding for improvements to the buildings downtown," he said.

McIntyre agreed recreation is important. The city should continue building on past successes such as improvements at Racetrack Park and creation of the skate park.

Other priorities include attracting jobs and businesses to the city, keeping residents informed and keeping the city safe, he said.

But at the same time, the city has to weigh improvements carefully to keep the tax rate down, he said.

If the recession continues in 2009, McIntyre is in favor of pushing back a referendum for a new city hall, tentatively scheduled for June.

The existing city hall is undergoing emergency improvements this week to reinforce the walls and roof. If that project proves successful, the city could wait a few years before building a new hall, he said.

"I'm hoping our current city hall remodeling project keeps the building in good shape for longer use because that is a very, very expensive project," he said.

-- District 3, two-year term: Incumbent Ken Westby, 507 E. Fulton St., will face Mark Wellnitz, 35, of 4 1/2 N. Catlin St.

Wellnitz decided to run because he's unhappy with recent city decisions, he said.

He's especially unhappy with the Fulton Square development downtown. The city loaned Keller Development up to $1.2 million in tax incremental financing for the project. When the project is completed, property taxes will pay the money back.

"I feel with the economy the way it was, we shouldn't have went ahead with that project at this time," he said.

Wellnitz wishes residents had received more input on the deal, he said.

He also doesn't believe the city should build a new city hall.

"I don't think we should keep spending the money with the economy the way it is," he said.

Westby could not be reached for comment.

-- District 3, one-year term: Carrie Strahota, 34, of 6 Cherry St., is running unopposed.

Andrew Wellnitz, 105 Dakota Drive, filed candidacy papers but has decided not to run, he said. His name still will appear on the ballot, Clerk Cindy Hegglund said.

Strahota was appointed in July to finish the first year of Davis' term after Davis moved out of the district. The election is to fill the second year of his term.

Strahota has enjoyed her time on the council and wants to continue working with residents, she said.

The people I've had the chance to meet and introduce myself to have been phenomenal," she said. "I want to make sure that people know who I am and know that I'm out there."

Strahota wants to make sure the city spends money conservatively, especially with the state of the economy. She said she supports a spring referendum for a new city hall, even though it's a tough time to ask the taxpayers for money.

"It's important to have a new facility, somewhere safe," she said.