By Press Times Staff
GREEN BAY – With longtime incumbent John Vander Leest not running for reelection, two new names are on the April 5 ballot.
Melinda Eck and Michael Poradek are vying to fill the seat that represents parts of Green Bay west side.
The Press Times emailed each candidate the same question and gave them 200 words to respond.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the City of Green Bay and District 11, and if elected, how will you address it?
Melinda Eck
A: What I’ve found in my talks with Green Bay residents is that they are very concerned with the increase in crime within our city limits.
As someone who was born and raised here, I’ve felt the concern myself.
I’ll achieve safer communities by strengthening and supporting the Green Bay Police Department and holding other local officials accountable for creating a safe and secure city for all residents.
I want my children and grandchildren to find the same security in this city as I had when I was growing up.
A second concern for many residents of Green Bay is the state of our roads and infrastructure.
It is the responsibility of elected officials to address those issues in a systematic way, and they must be prioritized in the city’s budget.
Spending tax dollars in a manner that benefits all residents of Green Bay should be the primary duty of all of our elected officials.
Michael Poradek
A: Over the past several months, I’ve talked to neighbors about several key local issues that I’ve based my campaign on: focusing on public safety and crime prevention, improving our infrastructure (including streets, bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways), economic development and common sense fiscal responsibility and community engagement with our neighborhoods and nonprofits.
But one central, important issue that is key to all of these, and other local issues, is focusing on communication and transparency between the City Council and residents.
As a member of this community and a neighborhood leader, I know the frustration neighbors sometimes feel when they do not know the status of infrastructure projects, where funding is going and new challenges facing our community safety.
Furthermore, the way people are communicating and how they prefer to communicate is changing.
As an alderperson, I’ll work to be available for residents when and how it’s most convenient for them, whether in-person, phone, email or social media.
I also want to continue to host the meet-and-greet opportunities I began as a candidate, as well as to be present for and support our neighborhood associations in District 11.