By Kris Leonhardt
Editor-in-chief
HOBART – Voters in the village of Hobart will see contested races on April 4, as Village President Incumbent Richard Heidel faces challenger, Jody Hakes.
Two incumbents and a challenger will also face off for two trustee seats.
The Press Times reached out to all five candidates to learn more about them.
Following are their responses:
President
Richard Heidel (Incumbent)
Bio
My family and I have lived in Hobart for more than 33 years. My secondary education consists of degrees from the UW-Madison and Marquette University in mechanical engineering and political science, respectively. I worked as a mechanical engineer for two utilities, a capital development organization and a Fortune 500 paper manufacturer. With 21 years of active and reserve duty as an Army officer, I’m the third of four generations of military veterans with one of my sons (and his family) currently serving as a US Army Green Beret. I’ve served for 19 years as a Hobart village trustee and village president, having been the first village president in state history to have recalled his predecessor. My leadership style is undergirded by communication skills, integrity and leading by example. Other activities include mentoring in Brown County’s veterans’ treatment court and volunteering for non-profits.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
My record stands on its own but there’s always more to accomplish. This record includes Hobart’s financial position as the healthiest it’s ever been with an S&P credit rating of “Aa” and the third lowest tax rate of all Brown County villages. I’ve succeeded in protecting our jurisdiction and tax base from the federal government on behalf of the Oneida Tribe. We’ve approximately quadrupled the equalized assessed value of the village, rendering it almost impossible to be dissolved by federal trust acquisition. We’ve spent approximately $1 million in legal fees over the last 10 years defending the village but have realized approximately $2.7 million in preserved property tax revenue by doing so. The village has never filed suit against the Oneida Tribe; it’s always been the defendant. The village has been ranked in the top 20 safest communities in Wisconsin for several years and, because of my leadership, we preserved our HLPD one-and-a-half years ago from dissolution by a narrow 3-2 Board vote. The HLPD costs are essentially the same as what the County Sheriff’s would be, but the intangibles of operating our own police department far outweigh any that might be realized from the County. These accomplishments double as being successes as well as being on-going goals. They are not discrete events with an “end date.”
What are the top three issues facing the village and how would you approach addressing them?
Our primary efforts will be directed at the 2023 construction of our new fire station with a first-ever ambulance service based in Hobart. The new station will also provide opportunities for cross training our public safety personnel, as a new polling place for our residents in the southern half of the Village, and as an emergency government facility. A second issue will be the responsible planning and decision-making regarding continued growth with an eye towards maintaining our neighborhoods, subdivisions, infrastructure and quality of life. The immense success we’ve had in expanding our tax base has been predominantly on less than 5% of the Village’s 33 square mile land mass. We need to maintain a balance between development that makes sense and the rustic atmosphere of our neighborhoods and rural areas. We will start planning for our updated long-term comprehensive plan. Finally, we need to continue to pursue a recreational trail along the abandoned railroad bed that parallels County Hwy J. The Village has persistently introduced initiatives to Brown County, Wisconsin’s DNR, and the Oneida Indian Tribe but with no results. We continue to believe in the potential for partnering with these entities and we will not relent.
My signature block is “Leading by serving/Serving by leading.” That’s always my biggest goal.
Jody Hakes
Bio
I have been an entrepreneur starting in my early 20s owning a vending business. I then began purchasing real-estate for residential and commercial rental which I continue to do today. In 1997, I responded to Hobart Fire Department’s request for volunteer firefighters which is where I began my training as an emergency responder in numerous specialties. I continued through the ranks on the department and expanded to being a member of the Green Bay Metro Hazmat Team and East Central WI Incident Management teams and continue today as a paid-on-call responder. Both my experience as a businessperson as well as my extensive public service career have offered challenges and opportunities that require a high level of critical thinking, the ability to find solutions, being forward-looking and being fiscally responsible. My background provides me a perspective that would be favorable in the role as Village President.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I have been a resident of the Village of Hobart for the past 30 years, and I feel we could benefit from a voice on the board from a fresh perspective. For decades the existing neighborhoods and taxpayers have been neglected while the current president and majority of the board have had tunnel vision toward new developments. I, myself, am pro-development and pro-business as these are important for maintaining a healthy and vibrant community. However, I believe a successful village exemplifies a balance of growth and preservation. Preservation nods to the importance and value that the character of our neighborhoods contribute to the village.
What are the top three issues facing the village and how would you approach addressing them?
I believe there are several issues our village board needs to address in the next few years.
We need to do a better job of collaborating and cooperating with our neighboring local governments for mutual benefit. Open lines of communication with respect for all.
As we continue to grow in population, we need to address the need for an increase in green space such as parks and trails to provide social and environmental benefits to communities. Develop a plan going forward with community input and closely follow the plan.
Our village must prioritize its infrastructure while considering best use of finances. Some roads within the village must be funded for repair, continually pushing these out are ultimately increasing repair costs and it certainly doesn’t advertise well with Hobart’s motto of “Greatness is Growing” as drivers use our roads.
We need to have emergency preparedness plans in place for the village in case of natural disasters or infrastructure failures. Work with village departments to have robust contingency plans in place to restore access and services timely to all residents.
Trustees
Dave Dillenburg (Incumbent)
Bio
My wife, Alice, and I have lived in Hobart for more than 30 years. We have two children, Shane (deceased) and Tina, and five grandchildren. I’m a graduate of Shawano High School with a two-year associate degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and attendance at numerous seminars and professional courses. I’ve been a business owner for 36 years and retired from the Brown County Sheriff Department after 37 years. Experience in serving Hobart include being a town supervisor/village trustee for 22 years, site review committee chairman, public works & utilities advisory committee chairman, planning & zoning commission vice-chairman and volunteering for the Green Bay Community Church as well as the annual USMC PFC Ryan Jerabek Challenge. My hobbies include farming and flying.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
With my past business and local government experience I would like to continue to serve the citizens of Hobart and would like to continue with our successful history of building a strong community and keeping our property taxes among the lowest in Brown County. This is the recipe for our future: allowing our residents to remain living in Hobart during their retirement as well as drawing new residents and commercial businesses. This deliberate and thoughtful planning of our residential and commercial properties will enhance our tax base and protect our property values along with our two successful TIF districts.
What are the top three issues facing the village and how would you approach addressing them?
Top three issues
Hobart Lawrence Police Department
Fire and EMS services
Road repair and replacement funding
I always have supported, and will continue to support, our high-quality and cost-effective Hobart/Lawrence Police Department. My 2021 vote to preserve the HLPD is testimony to this fact. Our officers’ community involvement, K-9 units and school liaison programs are second to none and remain accountable to our Village’s taxpayers.
Our Hobart Fire Department recently purchased a new fire truck as well as state-of-the-art respirator and radio equipment. We will be breaking ground for a new, sorely needed fire station on April 3rd, which will house ambulance services and provide a new polling place as well as emergency government offices. Continuing to enhance the services provided by these public safety personnel is the most important job of local government.
Funding for road replacement and repairs is never enough for our satisfaction. Budgeting was increased again this year to address our ever-present needs as well as recent inflation and petroleum costs. Prioritizing our road repair and replacement projects is continuously subject to review and, when necessary, altered in the 10-year plan. Funding will need to be increased, monitored and controlled with competitively bid projects and available state road aid and grant applications.
Tim Carpenter(Incumbent)
Bio
Lived in Hobart for 28 years with my wife we have raised two adult children. I have served Hobart for four years on the Brown County Board of Supervisors and the Hobart Village Board for 14 years.
I was diagnosed with cancer in 2016,spent eight months in the hospital in 2020, have had both of my legs amputated and am confined to wheelchair.
When I’ve had to miss a meeting, I’ve participated by telephone when possible or was briefed by staff or by colleagues.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
Continue to build a first class police department. Keep village property taxes low and flat as possible. Protect our village’s property tax base. Provide for our infrastructure in a responsible manner.
What are the top three issues facing the village and how would you approach addressing them?
1. Build a state of the art fire station
2. Secure more commercial development in our north and south TIF districts
3. Continue road improvement and reconstruction projects throughout the village
Donna Severson
Bio
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and had a wonderful 21-year career in the telecommunications industry holding various positions as Director of Technology Development, Revenue Assurance and Systems/Reporting. I also graduated from River Rock Electrology Institute and for the past 15 years I’ve been a successful small business owner in Green Bay. My prior board experience includes serving as a Trustee on the Hobart Village Board for three full terms from 2009 to 2015, stepping down to allow someone else the opportunity to serve.
My professional career and volunteer work provided me the opportunity to manage very large and very small budgets, with the smallest budgets requiring the most creative solutions. I have experience with cost/revenue analysis, as well as system development to increase operational efficiency; and I’ve successfully managed multiple wide-audience, large-scale business projects from request-for-proposal (RFP) through market launch, managing both people and technology along the way.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I am running in this election because Hobart has been my home for more than 22 years and I want the village to thrive, not only while I live here but also for future generations. I’m committed to the hard work necessary to preserve our neighborhoods and make our community more than just beautiful, but also the very best place to live, work and raise a family.
What are the top three issues facing the village and how would you approach addressing them?
One of the immediate issues we face is underrepresentation on the village board. Unfortunately, public record shows a four-year history of an incumbent Trustee, who is running for reelection, attending fewer than half of the scheduled village Board meetings – either in person or via telephone. For closed sessions, where some of the most critical issues are discussed, this person’s attendance is even lower because Village ordinance does not allow participation via telephone. Village residents deserve full participation from all of their elected officials and this election provides an opportunity to restore full representation.
Budgeting for roads is another looming issue, which has serious consequences for the future. We need to plan well and then follow the plan. In the past, the village has been able to pay for road maintenance in cash, but the Board stopped adequately funding its Capital Improvement “Catch-Up” Plan in 2016 – a plan intended to get us back on track fixing roads rated as the most in need. Village Administration has now advised that future road projects will require bonding. I do not believe that bonding is the appropriate vehicle for ongoing, predictable and calculable expenditures like road maintenance. It incurs future debt for current, recurring projects. Following a sound Capital Improvement Plan does not strangle future budgets, and requires the Village to budget in the same way we must in our individual households. Bonding for capital projects also falls outside of the tax levy limit, so it creates an opportunity to raise future taxes more than otherwise would be allowed.
I am also concerned about transparency in the budget that is presented to the public. While I’m certain the current format meets the letter of the law, some budget items are impossible for the public to easily discern. An example is the amount of money taxpayers are paying for employee health insurance. The 2023 budgeted cost for health insurance is $407,334, nearly 20% higher than the average amount of money the Village allocated to road repair each year for the past three years ($341,108). The budget document provides detail on the road expenditures but there is no good way for the public to decipher the cost for the larger ticket item of health insurance, much less formulate an intelligent question about it.
There are plenty of opportunities to spend money coming down the pike, including the construction of a new police station and additional village office space, so full Board representation, proper planning and transparency are more important than ever.