By Press Times Staff
GREEN BAY – Long-time incumbent Barbara Dorff will face off against newcomer Jennifer Grant for the District 1 seat on Green Bay City Council in the April 5 general election.
District 1 encompasses parts of Green Bay’s far east side along the bay.
The Press Times gave each candidate 200 words to answer the same question:
What do you see as the most important issue facing the City of Green Bay and District 1, and if elected how will you address it?
Barbara Dorff
A: The most critical issue facing our city is the need for an effectively functioning city government, in which all voices receive a respectful hearing and response.
Our job, as a city council, is to focus on ensuring the safety of our citizens by properly funding and equipping our police and fire departments.
We must provide services, such as proper zoning to ensure increased development, well-maintained roads, projects to provide flood mitigation and reliable garbage/recycling pickup.
Our residents also deserve to have well-maintained trails, pools and parks.
As chair of the Finance Committee, I continue to work toward efficiency in government, so tax increases can be kept to a minimum.
As a member of the Personnel Committee, I work toward hiring the best people for city jobs, and negotiating fair contracts with city employees.
I will continue to attend city council committee meetings of which I am not a sitting member, such as parks and department of public works, to ensure that District 1 has a strong voice at the table when critical proposals are being introduced.
I will continue to keep the City Council focused on the vital city issues to help our city to grow and prosper.
Jennifer Grant
A: Rising crime rates, including assaults, theft, shootings and homicides affect all aspects of our community.
We can’t reduce crime if we don’t make it our top priority.
Our city continues to spend taxpayer dollars to address public safety, but we need to do more.
When we are given the opportunity to spend extra funding, helping our police department should be at the top of our list.
We need to work directly with the police department to identify key problem areas and develop specific programs, protocols for crime prevention and bring back community policing.
It is critical to properly equip our officers, so they are protected in the line of duty.
There are many other important issues to address in our community, but if Green Bay is not a safe place to live, work and play we will continue to lose residents to other communities.
This also affects businesses, current or future, whether to stay or go.
We need to act wisely to address crime problems.
We know temporary Band-Aids don’t work.