ELECTION: Six candidates vie for seats on Hammond Board

Talk about it

Two incumbents and four challengers will be on the April 3 ballot in the Village of Hammond. Three open seats will be filled in the election. The following is a list of candidates and their responses to a survey.

Name: Mary E. Rivard

Position seeking: Village of Hammond trustee

Family: Husband John, 5 grown children, 5 grandchildren

Municipality of residence: Village of Hammond

Years living in community: 40

Occupation: Retired. Administrative assistant at a local medical clinic and previous to that the business office manager at a local nursing home.

Public Service experience: St. Croix Central School Board 12 years, Village of Hammond Trustee 1976-1980, 2001-2009. Village of Hammond “Planning Commission” member, Chair-person for the Village of Hammond “Board of Appeals. Member of “The Hearts of Hammond” community oriented group helping families in need.

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for:

1. Strict adherence to budgets by all departments and the village board itself. There is a need to live within budget constraints, just because there is money in the general fund or left over in departments it does not mean that money has to be spent — there is always another day or another year to plan for. There are ways to be innovative in finances. Now is the time for restraint and to use the word “NO,” “not now” or “at a later time.”

2. Developing open communications with residents of the village and gaining back their trust. Trustees are elected by the residents and there is a great need to responsibly represent the residents who elected you.

Why did you decide to run for office: I have experience working with people and finances. I feel I can make a difference. Residents need to be heard not ignored, they need to be part of the governing process. There is no suggestion or idea that is too small or insignificant to consider.

Please vote Tuesday, April 3, 2012.

Name: Brenda Monroe

Position seeking: Village Trustee

Family: Husband, Nickalas, and three children

Municipality of residence: Village of Hammond

Years living in community: 10 years

Occupation: Quality Assurance Analyst

Public Service experience: Village trustee, 2006-2008

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for:

1. Budget: It took several regular and special meetings for the board to approve the 2012 budget. The board needs to be aware of the “soft” dollars (trustee wages, cost of facility use, and overtime wages for employees that are required to be there) they are spending and find creative ways to keep the budget balanced while maintaining the high standard of service we, as residents, expect from our village employees - including trustees. The board needs be better prepared to discuss issues and make decisions in a timely manner at scheduled meetings wherever possible.

2. Personnel issues: It’s no secret there has been controversy around employees, and board members. Ranging from wages, to potential layoffs and accusations of unethical behavior of the board. This all needs to be handled with more discretion and professionalism. The board is elected to perform a duty, not all of it will be popular. The bar needs to be raised and everyone should remember that it is a “job” and should not be made personal. This applies to residents, board members and village employees. The board’s role in this should be that they will lead by example – period.

Why did you decide to run for office: I can provide an immediate impact with my previous board experience and can offer some out-of-the-box thinking when creative solutions are needed.

Name: Wally Graf

Position seeking: Village trustee

Age: 52

Family: I’m married to Debra and we have a son, a daughter, a son-in-law and a granddaughter.

Municipality of residence: Village of Hammond

Years living in community: 33 years

Occupation: Service technician for Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork

Public Service experience: Just finishing my second term, previously served five terms in the 1990’s

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for: I feel the top issue for the board is always the money (budget). It is not simply passing a budget every year and forgetting about it. A board needs to follow the expenditures monthly. Just because there is money in the budget, it doesn’t mean we have to spend it. Things can and do change throughout the year. Also, the sewer and water departments need to be followed monthly to watch expenses and revenues.

The second issue would be phase one of the Davis Street Project that is scheduled to start this summer on the south portion. This has been pushed back many years and will be a major project for the village. It involves replacement of the oldest sewer and water lines in the village, and it will be the start of improving the appearance and functionality of our business district. This will have the board making decisions that will affect the village for many years to come.

Why did you decide to run for office: I enjoy being involved in local government and giving back to the community.

Name: Mark Benton

Position seeking: Village of Hammond trustee

Age: 36

Family: Kari

Municipality of residence: Hammond

Years living in community: 3.5

Occupation: Quality Engineer

Public Service experience: Volunteer for Hammond area activities, library volunteer committee

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for: Recovering from our budget deficits and growing the tax base. We need to get the former in check to prevent further burden on the existing tax base and prevent eroding of the community. This will occur if people deem it is too expensive to live here, there is no value in living here, or perceive this as a dying town.

The second item needs to be started while addressing any budgetary issues but then needs to continue to grow the village. We need to make the village attractive to people and businesses. We need to sell our strengths and assets to make Hammond a desirable destination.

Why did you decide to run for office: I/we volunteer for the community events (Heartland Days, Running of the Llamas, library events). I was appointed to the sewer committee prior to it being disbanded after my appointment. I decided to take it further and go the next step higher. We have an issue with the sewer funding that I wanted to be a part of the solution to address and fix. We really like the area and the people. I want to share in improving and helping our community.

Name: Vince Trudell

Position seeking: Village Trustee

Age: 35 years

Family: I have many good memories growing up in Hammond, and that is why my wife, Rachel and I are proud to raise our three young children in this community. One of my many dreams is that one day my three children will choose to live and raise their own families in Hammond.

Municipality of residence: Village of Hammond

Years living in community: I am a life-long resident of Hammond (35 years).

Occupation: For the past 15 years, the Heating and Air Conditioning industry has helped provide a normal middle class living for me and my family. I currently work for Genz-Ryan Plumbing and Heating out of Burnsville, Minn where I am a Field Technician. This line of work has taught me good customer service skills and the importance of following strict budgets. These are some of the skills that I believe are important in being a Village Trustee.

Public Service experience: I have served three terms on the Village Board in the past, 1 term as Trustee and 2 terms as President. I have served four years on the Village of Hammond Planning Commission. I am also a member of the newly founded Hearts of Hammond organization, which is a group developed to give a helping hand to residents in times of need.

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for:

#1 – Budgeting. This past year, the Village Board voted to slash funding for the Hammond Community Library, while leaving all other budgets virtually the same. The board needs to be more creative in their thinking throughout the year and not rely on last-minute number crunching.

#2 – Sewer Deficit. The village has recently had some deficiencies in sewer funding and the solution to this was a $14.75 charge to your monthly utility bill. This is not a permanent solution to preventing this from happening again. More insight into the monthly sewer plant operations could have prevented this whole issue.

Why did you decide to run for office: I have attended many meetings this past year and have noticed how key employees are missing when important decisions need to be made, board members consistently leaving early or using their cell phones, and disrespectful behavior towards each other as well as towards people attending the meetings. The board needs to remember that they are looked upon as leaders in our community and should conduct themselves in such a manner. Get out and vote for me on April 3rd to help put the “trust” back in Trustee.

Name: Steve Peterson

Position seeking: Hammond Village trustee

Age: 62

Family: Wife_ Jean / Daughter_ Tammy Jean / Son_ Matthew

Municipality or school district of residence: Village of Hammond

Years living in community: 37 Years

Occupation: IT Site Manager for Loparex

Public Service experience: Served on the Hammond Village Board for the majority of years since 1978.

Two top issues facing the board or council you are running for: The number one issue that I see is to maintain current levels of service to our residents while at the same time staying within our budget. The many changes at the state level have shifted a much larger burden onto local governments which makes the job of the Village Trustee much harder.

Secondly, I see growing animosity toward local governments ….residents seem to be laying the blame for what they see as spiraling costs back on the local boards. The general public needs to be better informed as to how their tax money is being spent …and why.

Why did you decide to run for office: I enjoy being part of the decision making process.

Tags: local government, communities, politics, hammond