BY KRIS LEONHARDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
GREEN BAY – Two candidates are seeking a spot on the Ashwaubenon Village Board representing Wards 7-8, while two candidates vie for a seat on the village school board during the spring 2024 election.
Following are the responses to questions posed to the candidates ahead of the April 2 contest:
Ashwaubenon Village Board
Wards 7-8
Chris Atkinson (Incumbent)
Atkinson was traveling and unable to respond to inquiries.
Drew Kuehl
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
I am a product of the Ashwaubenon community and school system. I attended Valley View Elementary School, Parkview Middle School and Ashwaubenon High School. My first direct experience with the community was working for the village of Ashwaubenon in the Street Department after graduation. I then obtained a bachelor of business administration from UW-Platteville and later an MBA and master of science in finance from UW-Whitewater. The early stages of my career led me to the Madison area; however, I always knew I wanted to return to Ashwaubenon, which my now-wife and I accomplished four years ago.
In my professional experience, I currently work in capital management for a large insurance company. I previously worked as a credit analyst for a credit union, a housing market analyst for a consulting firm and served as a sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. My time as a housing market analyst inspired me to get involved in my community and I joined several committees for the city of Sun Prairie including the Downtown Steering Committee, the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Workforce Housing Committee.
The committee involvement, along with my professional roles, has given me in-depth experience when it comes to the biggest issue Ashwaubenon faces: how to manage the sustainable redevelopment of the village while preserving its character. I am positioned to take on this issue because I am aware of the challenges, I know how developers think, the financial process and how to collaborate with local governments.
What developments would you like to see the village make over the upcoming term:
One of the more pressing issues for Ashwaubenon is that we have an aging population in a land-locked area. These two issues combined snowball and lead to higher housing prices, a lower number of new/young families, lower levels of school enrollment and a declining tax base. In order to improve this situation, there are three areas that need to be addressed: housing solutions, village services and re-development of the Stadium District.
In terms of housing solutions, we need to encourage the development of additional options that fit the village’s needs and character. This should include housing developments that fit seniors’ needs for both independent living and assisted communities as well as developments targeted toward young families to attract them to the area.
Additionally, the preservation of village services, the overall character of the village and support for the school district is a priority. All developments would need to be carefully balanced alongside these items to maintain or improve their functionality.
Finally, the redevelopment of the Stadium District, specifically the area east of Lambeau Field, is a priority because it gives the village an opportunity to thoughtfully reshape this area. The community should consider transitioning away from light industrial uses toward more pedestrian-friendly spaces that are inviting and attractive to young professionals and families. This aligns with the City of Green Bay’s intent to redevelop this area and presents an opportunity for our communities to work together.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process:
The village has been successful with its’ online presence via Facebook in terms of both outward communication and gathering commentary from the community. I would like to build upon the village’s social media success by creating a designated space on Facebook to further interact with constituents. This could be through a Facebook page specifically representing the village trustee or a page for residents of Wards 7 and 8. Constituents can then provide direct input on major issues from the comfort of their home or anywhere with a smartphone or internet connection.
Face-to-face interaction, however, is just as important as our digital footprint. We can also generate constituent involvement by leveraging existing year-round neighborhood and village events such as national night out, food truck rallies, school district events, etc. At these events, we can speak with residents, hear their thoughts or concerns and encourage them to become further involved in the decision-making process of their local community.
Ashwaubnenon School Board
Brian Anderson
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
I am a lawyer at the Everson Law Firm in Green Bay, northeast Wisconsin’s oldest firm. Before returning home to Wisconsin, I worked as a law professor at a law school in Ohio, and worked overseas in developing democracies, starting with my first job after law school at the Supreme Court of Rwanda. I received my bachelors degree from the UW-Milwaukee and my JD (law) degree from Ohio Northern University. In addition, I have a Masters in Library and Information science from the University of Illinois, and a masters degree in democratic governance and rule of law also from Ohio Northern. I currently work representing individuals and businesses in legal disputes in state and federal courts.
Locally, I have served on the Brown County Library Board since 2019, including three years as President. This role has taught me about board leadership and the importance of fiscal scrutiny when with limited government funds and the legal restrictions on public financing. At the state level, I was appointed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin as a member of the Board of Bar Examiners and also serve on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel – the professional association of civil defense lawyers in Wisconsin. Most importantly, I have a daughter in the district and have been involved in her education as much as I can be. Her teachers have been amazing, as have other staff members and administrators. I want to ensure other children are able to have such a great experience, by helping ASD advance their efforts.
What developments would you like to see the school district make over the upcoming term:
Our schools are on the right track, and we are fortunate to have experienced school board members, administrators and dedicated teachers working with our kids. I have no plans for drastic changes in the short term as a member of the School Board.
As a board member I will support and raise awareness for the mental health and wellness of our students. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear how students’ mental health (often manifesting as disruptive behaviors) can impact a classroom. While the immediate concern is for the welfare of a student who is suffering, there is a broader concern for other students in the classroom, as well as teachers and staff. Understanding and addressing the mental health needs of our students is essential to ensuring academic growth for all students. I am pleased that this is in the forefront of efforts already and continued support is critical for the wellbeing and success of our students.
I would also like to increase community participation in education. Teachers have the required expertise to direct their classroom, but they need the support of families and the community to reinforce their efforts to shape future leaders and good humans. Our community is very supportive, but we can always do more. Part of this is to recognize that not all families have the resources they need to be as attentive to their child’s education as they may like. The Ashwaubenon Cares program is a great example of a bridge program to help the families in our community.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process:
Transparency is a key element of local democratic governance. As a School Board member I will ensure that we follow all laws and ethical guidelines in decision-making in a way that is transparent to the public. Records of meetings are currently available online, and I will work to identify and remove any barriers people may find in understanding what the school board does, and the decisions that are made.
Many community members, including myself, participated in the District’s Community Conversations strategic planning process last year. For individuals who are not able to participate in these types of events, school board members are an essential connection to the community. As a school board member, I will be available to hear thoughts and concerns, both positive and critical, from our community members, and when appropriate, act on important issues that impact our schools. I will not take lightly the faith of our community in electing me to serve on our school board, and I will honor that support by pledging to listen critically and respectfully to anyone who contacts me about our schools and leadership.
Scott Kirst
Please provide your background, education and experiences that qualify you for the position:
Since 1978, I have lived most of my life in the district. I attended Cormier elementary, Pioneer elementary, Parkview middle school and graduated from Ashwaubenon High School in 1990. My son, my brother, sister, nieces and nephews, have also all been part of our school system and community.
I have been a part of the Ashwaubenon community for many years. I was a baseball coach and youth player. I worked with the Ashwaubenon swim team as announcer, and judged for Ashwaubenon in their forensics and debate teams. Most recently, I have been part of the Ashwaubenon Community Conversation for strategic planning and listened to many community members laud the strengths and give solutions to the challenges within the community. As vice president of the Ashwaubenon Optimist Club, I volunteered to the benefit of Ashwaubenon students. As my son progresses through the schools, I have been the president of the PcTO at Pioneer elementary, and I am currently vice president of the Parkview middle school PFC.
My experiences with education started when I graduated from UW-Green Bay with a degree in mathematics, physics and secondary education. I then received my master’s degree from St. Norbert College in Science Education and received my Ph.D. in Education at Walden University in Education in 2008. I was a physics teacher at the Oconto Falls School district for 10 years, an educational consultant for 2 years, an assistant professor of education at St. Norbert College for 13 years, and I am currently an alternative education teacher in the Green Bay Area Public School District.
What developments would you like to see the school district make over the upcoming term:
First, I will support Ashwaubenon schools’ continued level of excellence in northeast Wisconsin. I want to showcase solutions to timely issues with forward thinking and positive outcomes for students while recognizing fiscal responsibility as part of the school board role. Secondly, I support a solid foundation of school board policies to benefit future generations. I believe that policies should not focus on short-term solutions; rather, focus on long-term stewardship. I will add my expertise to these solutions, by collecting data and analyzing information from others’ expertise as well. Thirdly, I will provide resources to continue to produce critical thinking, college and career ready, and inquisitive graduates. I would like to assist in providing more opportunities for students to link with the community (colleges, companies, volunteer opportunities, etc.) during their time in the schools in which they see the various connections between their education and our supportive community.
What means would you use to further involve your constituents in the decision-making process: All voices in our community deserve to be heard. As a potential school board member, it is my responsibility to increase the ways in which all people and their ideas are honored. As a school board member, I need to have courageous conversations with those who know so that I can learn and disseminate that learning to others in the community with those concerns. Through thoughtful discussions with community members in-person, online or via the phone, I will be available to all community members to receive their valued input in district matters. Just as important, I will use this position to inform and disseminate the appropriate information gathered from the schools and district back to the constituents so that we provide as much transparency and fluidity as possible.