Growing Shawano’s business community would seem to be a common theme for all six candidates running for mayor in the spring election, but there are differing points of view about whether enough has been done along those lines so far.
Voters will go to the polls for the primary election on Feb. 16 to narrow the field of candidates to the two who will be on the April 5 ballot.
The candidates are Rich Belongia, Jeanne Cronce, Kasey Hohn, Jim Oberstein, Brian Retzlaff and Sandy Steinke.
One of them will replace Mayor Lorna Marquardt, who has chosen not to run again after 14 years in office.
“I think the mayor is leaving things in a very good state,” Cronce said.
Cronce has been a member of the Shawano Plan Commission for 14 years. She was a teacher in the Shawano School District for 24 years and a principal for 12.
“I believe in the city of Shawano, and I want to continue the city’s growth and prosperity,” she said. “I want to see things continue to progress.”
Cronce said the highest priorities are getting vacant downtown buildings filled and keeping the city’s taxes low.
Steinke, a city alderwoman for 12 years and a County Board supervisor since 2006, said she is running because she wants to continue her service to the city and keep providing a voice in government for the constituents she represents.
“I enjoy it,” she said.
Steinke said the city has been on the right course but needs t0 broaden its efforts at expanding the business community.
“I want to have Shawano grow and bring more business into the area,” she said.
Retzlaff, who served on the Common Council for eight years, believes things have been running a little too smoothly on the council, where members, he said, always seem to share the same opinion.
“We can’t have agreement on everything,” he said. “We need different viewpoints.”
Retzlaff, who works at the Little Rapids Paper Mill, said his top priority would be growing the industrial base.
“Industry is something the city lacks big time,” he said.
The other three candidates have not been part of city government and are either current or retired members of the business community.
Rich Belongia, owner of R&R Recycling, said he is hoping to shake up city government a little.
“We’ve pretty well been stuck in a groove for 20 years,” he said.
At 44 years old, Belongia said he sees himself as a younger alternative who can bring a fresh perspective and some change to the city.
Belongia said a priority would be creating more employment opportunities in the community.
“We need more business and more business expansion,” he said.
Kasey Hohn, who has worked at the Shawano Pawn Shop for 10 years and is owner of DotCom Vinyl, said he is running with an emphasis not only on business but also on the city’s youth.
“I believe Shawano needs an individual that everyone young and old can feel comfortable and relate to, while they bring new ideas and concerns forward,” Hohn said.
“I don’t want to hear our youth say they can’t wait to get out of Shawano,” he said. “I want them to embrace and love the future of Shawano and be a big part of it. I see the importance in business and youth development.”
Oberstein, who retired in 2010 from Johnson Controls in Milwaukee where he was director of credit and collections, said the three items at the top of his campaign platform are sustainable jobs, creating new business and business expansion, and addressing downtown’s empty buildings and deteriorating facades.
Oberstein said he has a 50-year association with the city of Shawano. His wife, Judy, is also from the city and graduated from Shawano High School, he said.
Oberstein said he has been watching city government from the sidelines since the two moved here permanently in 2010, and he feels he can use his talents to help the community.
“I want to give back a little bit to the city,” he said.
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