Two aldermanic seats on Tuesday’s ballot

City incumbents challenged in districts 1 and 4

By Vicky Wedig

Editor

The City of Lake Geneva will have two contested races on the ballot April 7 in aldermanic districts 1 and 4.

In District 1, incumbent Ellyn Kehoe is seeking re-election against newcomer Christopher Gelting.

In District 4, incumbent Dennis Lyon is not seeking re-election. Residents Kenneth Howell and Mary Jo Fesenmaier are vying for his seat.

Incumbents Alan Kupsik and Richard Hedlund are seeking re-election uncontested in districts 2 and 3. Municipal Judge Henry Sibbing is also seeking re-election uncontested.

 District 1

Banker Christopher Gelting, a five-year resident of Lake Geneva, is challenging incumbent Ellyn Kehoe in District 1.

Gelting, 40, works in commercial lending in the credit department of Westbury Bank in Brookfield. He and his wife, Christy, have three children, ages 5 ½, 3 ½ and 2 ½.

Gelting said he planned to run for common council last year, but decided against it because he was considering a move. He said when his tax bill this year with an increase in local taxes, his fire to seek office was reignited.

“We can do a little bit better,” he said, as far as balancing revenues with expenditures.

The major issues in the upcoming term, Gelting said, will be whether to close the city’s Tax Incremental Finance district, moving the road around Big Foot State Park and moving the boat ramp.

Gelting said the TIF district needs to be more closely examined before determining whether to close it early. He said the city needs to look at what projects need to be completed and whether other projects fit into the category of what the TIF was originally designed for.

“I think closing it early is a little premature,” he said.

Gelting said the vacant downtown theater is a project that should be considered because of its blight.

Regarding the boat ramp, Gelting said it makes sense to move it to a more logical location because of the congestion around it.

Gelting said he is interested in working with the state, if it is open to input from the municipality, on moving the road around Big Foot State Park, which he said is a safety issue.

The city’s budget would also be a focus for Gelting if elected. He said revenues need to be better aligned with expenses. Lake Geneva has an opportunity to subsidize taxpayer money with parking revenue, he said. The parking meter system was originally designed to generate revenue to build a parking ramp, not use as a slush fund for general expenses, Gelting said.

The situation with room hotel room taxes is the same, he said. The original intent was so those funds could be used for the chamber of commerce, but only 25 percent or less actually goes back to the chamber, he said.

His qualifications and experience for the position, Gelting said, are managing people on a daily basis, handling budgets including analyzing municipal budgets and familiarity with businesses in the city and region.

“I don’t think that our council is totally out of whack right now, but I think we can fine tune it a little bit,” he said.

District 1 incumbent Ellyn Kehoe did not return phone call requesting an interview.

 District 4

Two former aldermen are running for the District 4 seat that Dennis Lyon is not seeking re-election to.

Kenneth R. Howell, 64, who served two terms on the council in the 1990s, and Mary Jo Fesenmaier, 52, who served from 2007 to 2011, are vying for the seat.

Howell has lived in Lake Geneva for 35 years and is a personal banker at U.S. Bank, 303 Center St., Lake Geneva. He and his wife, Renee, have a son Al, 8, a student at St. Francis.

After his two terms on the council, Howell served 10 years on the Police and Fire Commission.

When running for office, Howell said he has no preconceived ideas of what the issues are.

“An alderman’s jobs are to get all sides of an issue, then once you know all the information, make a decision on what’s best for constituents,” he said.

He said he expects decisions will have to be made about whether to close the TIF district and what to do about the vacant downtown theater.

He said the most difficult thing about serving on the council is balancing the city’s budgetary needs with the residents’ desire for services.

“I know I can do the job,” Howell said, pointing out that three of the four years that he was on the council, he was elected president. “I know my judgment is good. I can make these decisions and think things through, be reasonable (and) make wise, rational decisions.”

Fesenmaier has lived in Lake Geneva her entire life and is a 1981 graduate of Badger High School. She served 1-½ years on the Plan commission before being elected to the council in 2007.

Fesenmaier finished her 25th year working in the Lake Geneva elementary school district. Over the years, she taught fifth grade at Central Dennison, second through fifth grade at Eastview, third and fifth grade at Star Center and now teaches in the library at Eastview. She has three adult children, all of whom live in Lake Geneva, and two grandchildren.

The top three issues facing the city, Fesenmaier said, are economic development, city finances and transparency and communication and is in favor of closing TIF 4.        With regard to economic development, Fesenmaier said many houses are for sale, foreclosures are abundant and downtown businesses come and go. She said the city needs to coordinate better with its Economic Development Corp., which is a separate entity from municipal government.

“We don’t know what they’re doing,” she said. “It should be more of a partnership.”

With regard to city finances, Fesenmaier said the process should be changed so that resident have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the city’s needs and expenditures at the beginning of the process rather than with a public hearing after decisions have largely been made.

“We’ve been trying to make sure the public has access to the budget process,” she said. “There are some really smart people who have some good ideas.”

Fesenmaier said the city could use its website to ensure the public is well informed and be willing to schedule additional meetings to discuss matters thoroughly in the public eye.

Fensenmaier’s personal practice has been to knock on the door of every person in her district and listen to their concerns and complaints. She published her own newsletter to communicate with her constituents.

“For me, it was always about problem-solving,” she said. “I’m very dedicated.”

Fesenmaier said she thoroughly reads all of the information in council packets and questions things.

“My platform is communication, commitment and compassion,” she said. “I love living in Lake Geneva. It’s a great place. There’s a lot happening.”

 

Christopher Gelting

       Age: 40

       Resident of city: 5 years

       Occupation: Commercial lender at Westbury Bank in Brookfield

       Political experience: none

 

Kenneth R. Howell

       Age: 64

       Resident of city: 35 years

       Occupation: Personal banker at U.S. Bank in Lake Geneva

       Political experience: Two terms on the Lake Geneva Common Council

 

Mary Jo Fesenmaier

       Age: 52

       Resident of city: Entire life

       Occupation: Teacher at Eastview Elementary School

       Political experience: Two terms on the Lake Geneva Common Council

 

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