(Published Wednesday, April 4, 2007 01:26:52 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann Gazette staff
WHITEWATER-Voters sent two newcomers to the Whitewater City Council on Tuesday.
In District 1, incumbent Craig Stauffer beat out challenger David Stone.
In District 3, Roy Nosek beat out Jim Winship by two votes. District 3 incumbent Jan Bilgen Craggs didn't seek re-election.
In District 5, incumbent Gregory Torres lost to newcomer Patrick Singer.
Incumbent Marilyn Kienbaum, representing one of the two at-large positions, ran unopposed for re-election.
Stauffer, 33, is employed by State Long Distance Telephone, Elkhorn.
During his campaign for office, Stauffer said he believed the city will need to be creative in finding money to maintain existing programs and aggressive in attracting more businesses or corporations to the industrial park.
"The big thing will be to find dollars to fund what programs we have," Stauffer said. "The money keeps shrinking, and the state keeps adding unfunded mandates.
He also is concerned about employment options in the city.
"We need jobs that pay good money," he said.
People earning $8 an hour struggle to make ends meet, Stauffer said.
In District 3, Nosek will bring experience to the position. He is a past city councilman, having served five terms.
Nosek, 58, is a local dentist. During his campaign, Nosek said one of the main issues facing the city is to maintain the integrity of the neighborhoods.
The expansion of UW-Whitewater student housing is causing hardship to residential neighborhoods. It's an old problem that is now spreading beyond the central university area into all districts within the community.
"It's our San Andreas Fault or Achilles heel," Nosek said. "We're at the mercy of student housing abuses. I want to see neighborhoods shown the respect they deserve."
In District 5, Singer will be representing one of the fastest-growing sections of the city.
The 24-year-old legislative assistant for state Rep. Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater, is mindful of the changing needs within his district.
"We need to make sure the growth we get is the growth we want," Singer said. "We need to look to the future."
Growth brings increased traffic and added pedestrian concerns, he said.
As a senior at UW-Whitewater, Singer also recognizes a need for the university and community to work together to ease neighborhood tensions.
