Bruce Lechner to represent citizens in city’s third district
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted in favor of appointing Bruce Lechner to fill the vacant District 3 aldermanic seat on the council.
The seat has been vacant since former District 3 alderman James D’Alessandro submitted his resignation on June 8.
Lechner first received three of five written votes in his favor, and then a unanimous vote for a motion to appoint him. Lechner was then sworn in and took his seat on the council.
Prior to appointing Lechner, the council interviewed both candidates who submitted letters of interest Monday night, James Pody, III, and Lechner.
During the interview process, both councilmen and Mayor Brian Olson asked the candidates several questions, including what they believe the council’s strengths and weaknesses are and why they’re running now, rather than during the previous election for the term.
When asked what they felt made them the best candidate for the position by Alderman Hoss Rehberg, both candidates noted they’re open-minded and like to hear others points of view prior to making a decision.
Pody noted being a contractor he’s met a lot of homeowner’s in his situation. Lechner said being a supervisor for the past 24 years he’s dealt with a lot of situations he feels would help him out with being on the council, being able to think things through thoroughly before making a decision.
Alderman Scott McClory asked the candidates how they would handle a situation where constituents in the third district would ask them to vote a certain way, though the candidates’ values and ethics might differ.
Lechner said he’d attempt to speak with his constituents and try to gain a better understanding of why they’d want him to vote the way they do. From there, he said he would go with his heart, though if the circumstances proved to be in the best interest of the people in his district, he’d vote in their favor.
Pody said being a representative of his constituents, if he had received enough emails, phone calls and “door-knocks,” he feels he would have to go with their point of view, though he would turn to the streets himself, knocking on doors to gather further opinions on the issue from other constituents.
Both candidates said they were in favor of the sexual offender ordinance passed last fall by the council when asked by Olson.
Lechner will fulfill the remainder of D’Alessandro’s aldermanic term, which ends in April 2016. At that time, the seat will again be up for election, for which both Lechner and Pody could run for if they so choose.
Though Lechner received the appointment from the council, Olson noted Monday night based on Pody’s resume and experience as a contractor by trade, he would make an excellent appointment for the city’s Plan Commission, which currently has a vacancy due to the resignation of Plan Commission member Mike Roberts.
