Five in running for village seats; two on ballot in the town
By Heather Ruenz
Staff Writer
In the Village of Darien, five candidates are on the April 7 ballot for three trustee seats up for election. Incumbents Cheryl Kaufenberg, William Volmar Jr. and Sheila Stirmel face challengers Daniel Slattery and Kevin Atkinson.
Below are capsules on four of the five candidates including what issues the Darien Village Board will face in the next two years and what makes them the best candidate. They are listed according to ballot order.
Slattery did not submit a response prior to the deadline.
Cheryl Kaufenberg, 73, is a retired educator who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Whitewater with emphasis in education and business.
Her community service includes church treasurer and Sunday school teacher, volunteer at New Day Women’s Clinic and serving as a Village of Darien board member.
Kaufenberg said having attended a number of county-wide fire/EMS meetings since its inception in 2017, there continues to be focus on providing needed emergency services here. Some progress has been made by the committee in regard to improving communication along with better dispatch services, according to Kaufenberg.
“Perhaps regional solution/s in regard to a shortage in the area of adequate EMS manpower services could bring about more efficient solution for small municipalities,” she said.
She said her being the best candidate “would lie with my having served as a trustee for the number of years I have done so along with my willingness to continue this service.”
William Volmar Jr., 48, has a bachelor’s degree in information technology. He is a technical advisor at FedEx and has experience as a member of the Village Board of Trustees.
He said the board’s focus in protecting the people who live in the village.
“We are working together with other communities around us to provide better services for all,” Volmar said.
Lastly, according to Volmar, the board needs to look “to the future and provide a vision of what we want the Village of Darien to become.”
Sheila Stirmel, 56, is a member or volunteers with the following groups: Darien Annual Christmas Tree Lighting; Masonic Lodge (volunteer); Rotary Club (volunteer); FFA alumni; Cornfest Committee; Lakeland Safety Council; Darien Community Baptist Church; Darien Egg Hunt; and the Darien Spook House.
Stirmel, a native of the Delavan-Darien area, graduated from DDHS and said her 30-plus years of experience in the medical field assists her in being able “to see outside the box and include the mental, physical and emotional needs of our community when looking at maintaining or changing policies.”
She said her goal is to continue to listen to the people of the community, take into account what their needs are and how the Village Board may best serve them. She also said it’s key to ask questions and wait for answers before blindly agreeing with all things presented to the board for approval.
“I will continue to strive for improvement and growth within the community that will benefit Darien, while maintaining the camaraderie of our village,” she said.
Stirmel said during her present term, she has been instrumental in agreeing to continued growth of the industrial park, the implementation of the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony – which was funded by donations with no cost to the village – and various areas of review.
“I look forward to representing the people of Darien in the upcoming term,” she said.
Kevin Atkinson, 48, graduated with the Delavan-Darien Class of 1989. He is a dispatch and driver manager Kolnik Trucking and Distribution in Darien and a member of the Delavan Lions Club.
He said he and his family moved into their home in Darien early in 1999 and he’s enjoyed his time here.
“The safety and comfort of our village has always appealed to me. As a long time member of the community – and now that my children are grown – I have decided to run for the board here in Darien.
Atkinson said he wants to learn more about the community and its inner workings and help bring a fresh perspective to the issues and decisions facing us in future.
Town of Darien
Two candidates are on the ballot for Darien Town Supervisor seats April 7.
Kevin Schutt, 33, works for Landmark Services Co-op as an applicator/salesman. He said he’s the best candidate because he listens to the people of the town about what their needs are and “have the best interests of the town in mind.”
Richard Keyzer, who is also on the ballot for Town Supervisor, did not turn in a response prior to the deadline.
