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Three seeking Williams Bay board seats

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Richard Chroust

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Mary Roth

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George Vlach

WILLIAMS BAY — Three people are running for three seats on the Williams Bay Village Board.

The race features one incumbent, who is completing his sixth term in office, and two political newcomers—one a retired accountant and one a retired police officer.

A fourth candidate, Marshanell Ferguson, 50, of 405 Maple Lane, has withdrawn from the race, but her name still will appear on the ballot. She said she and her family likely will move to Illinois by the end of the year, and she didn't think it was fair to continue campaigning if she soon would be unable to finish her term.

Richard Chroust (I)

Age: 80

Address: 29 N. Cedar Point Drive, Williams Bay.

Job: Retired factory manager for Rockwell International

Education: Studied industrial engineering at North Park University in Chicago

Community service: Geneva Lake Environmental Agency Board, 1993-99; United States Marine Corps, 1946-50, 1951.

Elected posts: Williams Bay village trustee, 1992-96, 2001-present.

Major campaign issues: Chroust said he didn't plan on seeking a seventh term until two issues cropped up: the proposed expansion of Mercy Walworth Hospital and Medical Center and the possibility of a joint fire district with Geneva and Linn townships. "Those could both have a heavy impact on the village," he said.

Mary Roth

Age: 64

Address: 81 Upper Loch Vista, Williams Bay.

Job: Retired accountant

Education: Certified public accountant; attended UW-Whitewater, UW-Madison, Marquette University, Milwaukee, and Loyola University, Chicago.

Community service: Secretary of the Williams Bay Harbor Commission, 2006-present; treasurer of the Loch Vista Club Property Owners Association, 2005-present.

Elected posts: None.

Major campaign issues: Roth said she is running to "preserve and protect the character of our community as a village through managed development; the economic viability of the village within reasonable tax levies; our physical assets—Geneva Lake and Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy; and the village infrastructure and services."

George F. Vlach

Age: 44

Address: 70 Walworth Ave., Williams Bay.

Job: Retired police officer from the Darien (Ill.) Police Department.

Education: Studied police science at Gateway Technical College; studied criminal justice at Broward Community College, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Community service: Helped organize a fundraiser for the Hurley wrestling team, 2006.

Elected posts: None.

Major campaign issues: "The village of Williams Bay possesses the qualities of a small-town family community, and I will do my best to continue that atmosphere. I feel that the village's central business district is in need of revitalization and that we should look at ways to encourage and promote small businesses within the district."