Politics & Government
Election Preview: Caledonia Village Board (Trustee No. 1)
Eddie Willing and David Prott are vying for a Caledonia village trustee seat in the April 2 election.
Eddie Willing will take on David Prott in the April 2 election in the race for Caledonia Trustee No. 1 seat on the Caledonia Village Board. (Click on link for biographical information on Willing and Prott).
The winner will replace Kathy Burton on the board, who decided not to seek re-election.
Trustees serve two-year terms and are paid $6,600 per year.
Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To provide residents with the most information about the election, Patch asked the candidates their views on the key issues facing the village. Here, in their own words, are the candidates' answers to those questions as well as some posed by Patch. Prott did not return the candidate questionnaire.
Why are you running for village trustee? Eddie WillingBecause I want my son to have a reason to stay in Caledonia when he gets older. That means continuing our low taxes, spacious greenspace and responsible growth along our designated development corridors.
We want to have young families moving here, older folks staying here and businesses asking to build here.
I am running for the purpose of representing the entire village, and balancing its needs against its wants. I believe there are four principles to sound government at the local level:
- Listen and acknowledge all perspectives; there is genuine truth on all sides.
- Civic government exists to address practical matters, but should do so with vision.
- LOCAL government, above any other, is to be the guardian of the common good.
- The best “government” is that which allows everyone to do so themselves.
I am running for the Village Board because I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for all Caledonia citizens. I like the Caledonia mix of rural and suburban features, as we as an appreciation of the challenges that such a mix can pose.
Here are some of my goals:
Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- To listen to the citizens of Caledonia and make sure their needs are being addressed and implemented for the betterment of the village and the citizen.
- To keep balance between the present rural and urban communities and promote future business opportunities.
- To make well informed decisions based upon all the facts.
- To hold the line on taxes.
- To maintain high quality of services.
- I am a straight forward type of person. I will not skirt an issue to maintain popularity. Instead, I will make the hard decisions when necessary.
The current biggest issue facing the village is the Land Use Plan... it is 7 years out of date, despite major changes to circumstances that affect it.
I would like the board to get the entire community involved in rewriting the land use plan and revisit it every 5 years. The current WalMart location controversy would likely have been averted with an updated LUP. Also, the new utility contract is presenting us with new opportunities to develop the corridor along I-94 and make it easier to preserve the central rural areas of Caledonia while serving the needs of a growing community.
Our unemployment rate is among the lowest in the state, but the Village has stopped growing in the last several years due to the recession. If we hope to create an environment of growing wages, expanding job opportunities and a future base for our children, we need to begin laying the foundation for infrastructure and future education needs. David Prott
Maintaining sustainable businesses.
If I was elected I would make sure there was continued dialog between business owners and the board to insure businesses have the tools to remain sustainable and have an opportunity of growth adding more employment opportunities. It is very important to attract new businesses, however, it is equally important to work with and hold on to the businesses that are currently serving, providing and supplying jobs in and for the Caledonia community.
My greatest strengths are creativity, pragmatism, and communication. I also dive into things, with passion.
In my real estate work, I was with two developers, one of which was an environmental remediation specialist, restoring Brownfields into productive and environmentally safe land. This experience gives me perspective on how development can be achieved in a way that protects what we want, while leveraging what we have.
I believe the village and parks commission could do more in social media and other communication channels to get the community more involved in regular affairs, and I would work to achieve that with my experience in digital media and marketing. David Prott
I would bring strong administrative experience coupled with ethical values to serve the people of the community in which I am committed to.
I have headed up a department with staffing exceeding 90 full time employees and the development and oversight of a 13 million dollar budget.
I have experience with the capital budget process along with developing and prioritizing a capital program.
I also direct day to day operations including maintaining business accounting processes.
My education and practical professional public service experience will all me to make good decisions based on all the facts and in the best interests of my constituents.
Honestly, integrity and ethical conduct are my promise to me as well as to the citizens that I will serve in the Village of Caledonia.
What kind of future development would you like to see in Caledonia, and how would you work to attract such development? Eddie WillingLight manufacturing, professional services, commercial office space and attractive retail would do well in Caledonia with the right plans in place to make it happen. Rather than the pass-through community, we could be a destination for businesses that bring responsible growth and ease the tax burden on the residents.
Right now, one of Caledonia's most attractive characteristics is our low taxes. As we grow, this may change, but economic activity and commercial growth will help ease this burden and keep them low. Residents have been clear that they do not want their taxes raised, but it's hard to but the horse before the cart sometimes. I would like to leverage the new water/sewer opportunities coming ahead to attract new development in responsible areas. David Prott
I am open to any business prospect that would like to inquire about making Caledonia their new home to set up a business. Further, I believe it is the responsibility of the Village Board to look at each business prospect equally and allow a process to take place to see if the business will be a good fit that would be sustainable in Caledonia.
Manufacturing business along the I-94 corridor is one of my top priorities. Corporate sustainability and the opportunity for skilled well paying jobs are a win win for the Village of Caledonia citizens as well as the whole of Racine County. Service and retain businesses is also important to attract. All businesses are welcome to investigate what the Village of Caledonia has to offer. The addition of businesses in our community will help add moneys to the tax base possibly alleviating the tax burden to Caledonia home owners.
How I would work to attract business is:
- Have discussion/debate if the village board supports the running of services out to the I-94 and have facts and estimates to share with the constituency of the tax dollar coast and return on investment.
- Have a study done to support the running of services to the I-94 corridors to see if it is viable or not.
- Work on establishing a marketing plan to promote business opportunities and that Caledonia is seriously looking for business prospects.
- Work with Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) to help bring in business prospects to the Caledonia area and promote our communities as a great spot to set up shop.
- Work with Racine County and other communities (intergovernmental cooperation) for possible business opportunities to move into the Caledonia area.
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