Compiled by Kim McDarison
A spring general election will be held April 5. City of Fort Atkinson residents will find three candidates vying for two open Fort Atkinson City Council seats on the general election ballot. They are incumbent Bruce Johnson and challengers Ron Martin and Eric Schultz.
Fort Atkinson Online recently asked each of the candidates to provide some biographical information and fill out a short questionnaire. Candidates were asked to respond to four questions using a combined total of between 700 and 1,000 words.
Candidates were asked to submit a photo for publication.
The electorate also will have an opportunity to see these candidates respond to questions in a videotaped Candidates Forum which will be presented online on this news site and on other online platforms.
A release date for the video will be announced soon.
Election polls on April 5 will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the City of Fort Atkinson Municipal Building, 101 N. Main St.
Candidates’ responses to questionnaires, presented in alphabetical order, follow.
Bruce Johnson
Age: 63
Address: 42 E Rockwell Ave.
Occupation: Self Employed
Number of years resided in city: 63
Education: K-12 at Fort Atkinson School system, 2-year vocational degree MATC Madison
Civic and other organizational memberships: Not currently participating in any club memberships.
Political experience: Served on Planning commission, Library Board, Finance Committee, Ordinance Committee, Public works Committee, Transportation and Traffic Review and the Board of Zoning Review.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I have a real desire to change the city of Fort Atkinson for the better… I believe in our fire department our police department and I wish to do my part in supporting them and help keep them functional to maintain a safe and secure environment for all of us. I’d like to preserve Fort Atkinson’s small town ambience and historic downtown. I would like to help bring new business and expand existing opportunities. I very much would like to be a participant in maintaining our city’s involvement in making this a great place to live and raise a family. I’m hoping for your support in my quest to continue as a city councilman.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
- I see housing as one of our most pressing issues. We need many types of housing from rentals, to single family to multifamily and affordable housing. Fort has a definite shortage of available housing. Fort Atkinson has acquired properties on banker road to assist in these needs. We need to keep this new sub-division on a fast track to make new housing available. We also need to search out other opportunities inside our city to create affordable housing. This can be done through creative thinking and planning. Our new zoning code, comprehensive plan and land development ordinance will assist in making this a reality.
- On April’s ballot there is a referendum to address the city’s ambulance needs. This is an important issue and will not happen without some cost. I believe that if you research this you will discover why this is a need and you will discover the benefits out weigh the cost.
- Road repair is also an issue but I believe if you research it as I have you’ll find that Andy Selle, our city engineer, has lined up a substantial amount of road repair to be done at an extremely cost effective rate. The majority of the large projects are being paid for by grants and other funding while a remaining smaller portion by city taxpayers. The city is receiving a great Bang for the buck in road repair. Other smaller projects and maintenance will be utilizing the wheel tax to good advantage for the city Mr. Selle Utilizes modern technology and a layered mapping program to help organize road maintenance and repair issues into an organized plan for the City. I believe the improved road conditions will become apparent in the near future.
- Promoting the Klement Business Park is important. To help increase business and employment opportunities. I will take this issue seriously. I have a high level of confidence that the city will see positive results.
If elected, what unique perspective and experience do you bring to the board?
I bring the perspective of being a Fort Atkinson Native, born and raised here. That is something I am very proud of and enjoy. I bring the experience of serving for the last four years as a city councilman. I am a team player and believe I work well with the city and the city council. I believe I also bring qualities that help the council leave no stone unturned in making quality decisions.
Any additional comments?
I have consistently promoted and voted for bicycle paths, parks, and the river walk because these things add elegance and functionality to our city. I am pleased and promote what our city does with sporting activity’s aquatic center baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and the skate park for our family and our children to utilize and enhance their lives. I love our city’s festivals and activity’s, from the farmers market to Baseball Fest, Rhythm on the River, the Ice Cream Social, Trunk or Treat and the new Block Party Extravaganza coming this year. As your councilman I will support these things and invite more civic activities that allow us to meet, greet and enjoy our town together as a family. The abundant use of these features by our citizens makes them well worth it.
Ron Martin
Age: 59
Address: 409 Nadig Dr., Fort Atkinson
Occupation: Marketing Consultant
Number of years resided in city: 29 1⁄2
Education: Graduate of UW-Platteville with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness, Minor in Communications.
Civic and other organizational memberships: Life Member of the FFA Alumni and Supporters, Secretary of the Fort Atkinson FFA Alumni for 12 years. Formerly president, vice president and a member of the Fort Atkinson Optimist Club.
Political experience: None
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
I have been a resident and homeowner in Fort Atkinson for nearly 30 years, and I strongly believe it’s time for new leadership on our city council. Less government is better government. We need to get back to having more freedom for citizens to make our own decisions and dial back government intrusion. The Covid pandemic has showed how dangerous government overreach can be when it has a chance to take more and more control of our daily lives. I also want the city to be more transparent in its actions, and more responsive to all citizens.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
I believe Fort Atkinson has stagnated. The Money magazine “Best Little Boomtown” days are ancient history. It’s almost like we’re in a period of managed decline.
We’ve attracted no new industry to Fort in many years. We’ve lost two large retailers in the past 10 years, and nothing on the horizon indicates we are likely to attract new businesses to replace them. The south industrial park is still mostly vacant after 20 years. Is this the kind of progress we want? I don’t think so. The city is now in the real estate development business with the land on the corner of Banker and Hoard roads. What kind of development is the city going to dictate for this property? Is it strictly going to be low-income, multi-family housing units? Very little has been revealed recently about plans for this property.
The city Economic Development Commission met January 28, 2022. The last meeting prior to that was May 17, 2021. Economic development doesn’t seem like a high priority. Again, stagnation.
The city is now conducting remediation of the Lorman property, which is part of a huge, now abandoned tract of former industrial land in the middle of Fort Atkinson. What is the long-term plan for that area? Is it residential, commercial or mixed-use development? I believe residential use makes the most sense based on location and proximity to Ralph Park.
I consider myself a fiscal conservative. There are better ways to spend tax dollars without so much borrowing and incurring interest charges. We are borrowing money every year to fix the streets. What is the wheel tax for? It’s death to the taxpayer by 1,000 cuts. The city council just approved another $2.275 million in short-term borrowing for capital improvements and road construction projects. This includes $932,000 for street/bridge repairs and water main replacement. Do we need to borrow this much money on an ongoing basis? I believe paying as you go and operating within your means makes more fiscal sense.
It’s very troubling that the city decided to cancel its contract with Ryan Brothers with no notice or concern for how it would impact budgets and services. Ryan Brothers was not given any prior notice of problems, improvements the city was seeking, or an opportunity to address any concerns, before the city council voted to give notice of non-renewal. “We are a contracted service, so if they needed any additional, or thought they needed any additional services …we were not notified of any of that information, and really, it’s been relatively quiet from the City of Fort Atkinson towards us. They have never asked us to weigh in on anything,” according to Ryan Brothers Service Director Cody Letson.
Now we have a referendum on the April 5 ballot to spend nearly $800,000 a year going forward, most of it to hire 12 new full-time employees to staff an EMS within the fire department. If approved, this would increase the city tax levy by 10% starting this year. With salaries, benefits and costs of equipment always increasing, you can bet this would grow in the future. With a brand-new fire station addition, I guess we need to fill it. It’s obvious this was the plan all along.
If elected, what unique perspective and experience do you bring to the board?
A common-sense approach to decision-making. As a political outsider and working in the private sector my entire life, I can bring the perspective and real-world experience as a businessman, taxpayer, homeowner and 30 years of living in Fort to help solve the city’s pressing issues.
I grew up on a dairy farm, where I learned the value of hard work, the kind of work ethic that is becoming all too rare. I am a trustworthy person and treat people fairly and with integrity. This is how I’ve lived my life. I tell people not what they want to hear, but what’s really going on. Imagine, honesty from a politician!
They say the truth shall set you free.
Any additional comments?
My wife and I raised two great kids here, and we plan to continue making Fort Atkinson our hometown for years to come. We want this city to be a great place to live, work and do business. A vote for me April 5 will help ensure that this city has a bright future for all residents.
Eric Schultz
Age: 38
Address: 365 Ramesh Ave.
Occupation: Production Scheduling Manager, Trek Bicycle, US and Germany
Number of years resided in city: 3
Education: BBA Supply Chain and Operations Management 2008, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; MBA 2017, University of Wisconsin.
Civic and other organizational memberships: Fort Atkinson Planning Commission since 2020; Fort Atkinson Lions Club (current 3rd vice president); Veterans of Foreign Wars – Lifetime Member; United States Army Reserve, captain, 4-414 SROTC, Joint Base Lewis McChord.
Political experience: This is the first political position I’ve run for.
What are your reasons for seeking this position?
It is an honor serving on the Fort Atkinson Planning Commission, and it’s given me a deep understanding of the city’s long-term plan for improvement and growth. As an involved resident, I want to see the current and future projects come to life in an efficient and cost-effective manner that still respects the interests of residents and business owners of Fort Atkinson. The city council provides that oversight and is a voice of the people. I’m proud to stand up and be a qualified candidate for city council and give the residents a choice for who will serve them.
What are the most pressing issues facing the position you seek?
This is a challenging time for both residents and the city. With Consumer Price Index / inflation creeping higher and higher, this is putting pressure on everyone, especially those living on fixed incomes. It also challenges the city to find ways to provide the same level of services to the city when the tax revenues don’t stretch as far.
The city invested a lot of money in the Banker Road development. I want to see that it provides a full and timely return on investment to the city and residents. My belief is that current residents should not be paying for growth in the city when many want their roads fixed first and believe their taxes are too high already. We can sustainably grow without subsidizing future residents and developers with our taxes. I’m confident the city will be able to craft the right deal that can attract developers while recouping the cost of this growth.
So many cities are struggling to preserve their main street businesses and downtown. Fort Atkinson is no different. We’re fortunate to have great downtown businesses, but there are still many vacant properties. We should listen to our residents and leaders in the community to keep our main street alive and thriving. We can work to remove barriers or to encourage investment.
The same goes for the Klement Industrial Park’s empty lots. Residents want to see that the city works to bring business to these areas to strengthen the community and expand the tax base. Opportunities exist to work with the Chamber of Commerce and continue to enhance the Economic Development Commission to attract and grow business in the city.
What unique perspective do you bring?
I tend to be analytical and data driven. I find it is best to gather data, ask questions, and look at it from different perspectives to fully understand a situation and coming to a conclusion.
A life of service is important to me. For over 15 years, I’ve served this nation in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve. I also actively participate with service organizations to help my community at a local level.
Any additional comments?
Fort Atkinson has become my home, and there is so much it has to offer and appreciate.
I would like to thank everyone, past and present, who helped make Fort Atkinson what it is today. We’re grateful to have great trails, parks, schools, infrastructure, annual events, and so much more. However, our future isn’t set in stone.
One day, I was driving home from work, and noticed how much litter there was on the side of the roads. At first, I thought, “Someone should clean that up,” but after a moment I decided that “someone” was me. I grabbed several garbage bags and went for a walk and picked up as much litter that I could find. It might just be a call, email, or letter to your local city, county, or school district leader, but we can all play a role in shaping our future. Sometimes it just requires getting out and doing the work ourselves.
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