Four candidates will face off April 2 for two East Troy Community School District Board of Education seats.
Incumbents Brian Wexler and Dawn Buchholtz and newcomers Ted Zess and Charles Harwood will vie for the two positions.
The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will serve a three-year term beginning in April.
The following candidate Q&A’s begin in ballot order.
Q&A with the candidates
Q. What is the primary reason you are running for this office?
Zess: “I am running for the School Board because I believe that the board needs a different perspective. I bring the perspective of a business owner, employer, and someone who can balance budgets, plan for the future, along with realizing decisions made today have a big impact on others in many different ways.”
Wexler: “I wish to continue to devote my life to enhancing the quality of life for the children and families of the community I love: East Troy. Re-election would allow me to continue to advocate for the future of our district—our children. I believe I can continue to combine my leadership, counseling and communication skills to be of service to our community.”
Buchholtz: “For the past six years I have embraced the challenges and opportunities of working together with fellow board members, administration and staff toward excellence in education and our commitment to becoming a district of choice. We have made great strides, but there is still more to accomplish, to that end, I will continue to work.”
Harwood: “I am a concerned parent who wants to take a more active role in my children’s education.”
Q: What makes you a more desirable candidate than your opponents?
Wexler: “First of all, vision. I believe that a school board member must be able to envision a future where all municipalities and community groups work together on behalf of our kids. I’ve learned to view the board as part of a community whole that works in concert with each other; rather than work independent as an entity onto its own. I’m able to see long term and have demonstrated planning skills to facilitate excellence both long and short term.
“Second, I would include my background. I was a mental health therapist working with children and families for over 40 years. In that role, I have been able to understand and strongly empathize with the strong emotional needs and challenges of children and families.
“Finally, leadership. I have indicated several times that leaders include and look to all areas of their surroundings for guidance and strength in making decisions. I believe in doing the best I can as to surrounding myself with good people-and listening to them. I’ve learned that a leader may promise anything; however, it is what he or she delivers that will define their leadership. I will, as leaders need to do, continue to learn and grow. I will include every aspect of our East Troy Community in helping guide our district through some challenging times ahead.”
Buchholtz: “I do not know the qualifications or lack thereof of the other candidates. I do, however, feel I have considerable experience, a solid understanding of our district and an excellent working relationship with the current board, administration and staff.”
Harwood: “Having children in the district means that any decision made by me, as a board member will not only affect the community, but my children as well.”
Zess: “As an Engineer I am a problem solver, which is the way I approach all issues. I was taught to solve problems in a clear, logical manner. While all decisions should have an emotional component, emotions should not lead the decision making process.”
Q: What can residents expect from you if you are elected?
Buchholtz: “The residents of the East Troy Community District can expect a positive attitude and a commitment to serve. I will continue to support education, student learning and quality professionals.”
Harwood: “Accountability for all those involved in the learning process and a push to get ‘back to basics’ to help students build a better foundation for learning.”
Zess:
“Clear, logical decision making
Open communications with all stakeholders
Strong supporter of the community
Willing to get all parties together to reach a common consensus for major decisions”
Wexler: “Residents can expect and demand honesty, integrity and a genuine commitment to the enhancement of the school district. I am of the view that there are no problems, only challenges. And that when I hear something ‘can’t be done,’ there is a drive, which helps me view ways in which things can be done.
“Residents can expect ingenuity and vision as we engage in both long and short term planning in education. ‘Because we always did it this way’ does not work anymore. They can expect from me and should demand a leader who is not afraid to tackle tough challenges, combined with the courage and passion to work on behalf of our children. We will continue to demand the best, no matter what resources we have. Our future demands no less.”
Q: What are some of the challenges facing the district today, and how would you work to resolve those issues?
Harwood: “The items required for the facility upgrades require a better sense of separating the ‘wants’ from the ‘needs.’ There needs to be an honest assessment of the items that are safety/security concerns and/or required building repairs. Separate improvements that would be nice (i.e. the auditorium), but are not necessary. Survey the community on what improvements they feel would most benefit students.”
Zess: “The biggest challenge today, yesterday, and tomorrow is budgetary. Decreasing state aids, aging facilities, and rising expenses make for very challenging times.
“In relation to that is open enrollment and how to make this a true District of Choice. I will approach this by making decisions with a long term outlook, and making sure all programs and plans are sustainable and productive, while always keeping in mind the goal of properly preparing all students for their future lives whether they are college bound or not.”
Wexler: “I appreciate that the question used the word ‘challenges,’ rather than ‘problems.’ Challenges are to be met with creativity and strength that only a community as a whole can address.
“Certainly, a major challenge involves our continued stride toward excellence in the face of declining financial resources. Again – a challenge we can and will meet. We have an extremely competent and creative staff, including teachers, administrators, paraprofessional staff, aides, custodians, volunteers and others who constantly provide the creative energy to help us operate our district by looking forward, no matter what the constraints are.
“We will see financial issues as a way to create imaginative solutions to problems others cannot. Our staffs have already helped our students grow through many innovative programmatic suggestions that have kept us well above average.
“Second, for too long, we have looked at the district as ‘the district;’ the village as ‘the village;’ the towns as ‘The Town of ___.’ Rather than work in harmony, I believe we have often seen our particular areas as individual ‘areas’ with little in common. This will become a far greater challenge in the future, when resources continue to shrink for all of us. We need to see how connected we all are. How can we share resources? How can we jointly plan for the children and families of East Troy?
“Third, as we all know, the world has grown markedly smaller. We are not only in ‘competition’ with Mukwonago; but also with Japan, China, South Korea, India and so on. How will we prepare our children for the global society and economy, which is already here?
“Our challenge to be technologically strong, combined with creative programming continues to be a challenge facing our young (and older) learners.”
Buchholtz: “The key challenges facing the district today include providing high quality programming and learning opportunities to all students, attracting high quality staff and ensuring safe, efficient and effective facilities within the budgetary restrictions dictated by the state and without burdening the taxpayer.”
Q: What do you believe to be the district’s biggest asset and how does it make East Troy schools unique from others?
Zess: “The biggest assets of this district are the students who are working hard to reach their goals, with the resources they have available. Couple the students with supportive parents, great teachers, guidance and administrative support, and this district will continue to achieve great things.
“These ‘assets’ have been evident during the last few weeks in both academic and sports achievements. These successes, against long odds, are unique and exciting. Now we have to work to ensure all students of the East Troy School District share in equal opportunities to achieve success no matter what their post-graduation goals are.”
Wexler: “Our biggest asset –the remarkable children, families, civic groups, businesses, friends and neighbors that make up our East Troy community. We would not be the ‘District of Choice’ without those of who make up who we are.
‘We are blessed with creative, visionary and long range planners and thinkers who will not tolerate second place. We have a district filled with staff who love what they do; who have a passion and a drive that is helping our children achieve in spite of all challenges.
“‘We are East Troy’ is not just a cheer, but a statement that we are indeed special; that we recruit, hire, retain and develop the best. Not only in our schools, but in our entire community.
“And assets? How does one define children in that term? Yet, for the 36 years my family and I have lived in the East Troy community, I look at the children – our future – and have continued positive hope for all of us. We are unique from others because we are East Troy.”
Buchholtz: “I believe our biggest asset is our focus on becoming a ‘District of Choice.’ We won’t get there overnight, but by having a solid focal point and direction, we are better able to address budgetary issues, facility issues, attract quality staff, provide programming excellence and improve communication with the community.
Harwood: “Its size gives it the ability to have many of the programs that will help prepare students for the future, but still keep students from feeling ‘lost in the crowd.’”
Ted Zess
Age: 47
Education: East Troy High School (1983), B.S. Electrical Engineering, MSOE, (1987)
Occupation: Engineer, business owner
Political experience: East Troy Village Board Trustee (1996-2004), Village Plan Commission (1995-present)
Organizations: East Troy All Sports Booster Club, president; East Troy Economic Development Committee, member; East Troy Robotics FTC team, The Patronum Bots, mentor
Family: Married to Ann for 25 years; daughter Nina, college student; son Joe, East Troy High School junior; son Ben, East Troy Middle School seventh grade
Brian Wexler
Age: 64
Education: Master’s Degree, Social Work, UW-Madison, 1976; Master’s Degree, Counseling, UW-Milwaukee, 1972; bachelor’s degree, English, UW-Madison, 1967
Occupation: Retired Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor; Part-time tutor for children, grades K-6
Political experience: School Board, 12 years; East Troy Village Board, four years; Town of Troy Board, three years.
Organizations: Kiwanis Club of Greater East Troy
Family: Married to Karen for 40 and a half years, four children (all East Troy High School grads), Kevin, 35, Brad, 33, Megan, 30, Stephanie, 25
Dawn A Buchholtz
Age: 49
Education: UW-Whitewater
Occupation: Facility Administrator for WCGC
Political experience: Two terms for East Troy School Board, two years as clerk and four years as vice president
Organizations: Upon moving to the East Troy community in 1992, my primary focus has centered around volunteering and supporting the many and various activities, clubs, sports and events my daughters have participated in.
Family: Four daughters (three ETHS graduates and one current student)
Charles V. Harwood
Age: 40
Education: High school
Occupation: Engineer
Political experience: Candidate for School Board in 2011 and 2012
Organizations: United States Bowling Congress Registered Volunteer and Certified Coach for my son’s youth league
Family: Married, three children, daughter, recent ETHS graduate, son in elementary school and 21 month old daughter
