Campaign info

• Position sought: Village Board
  
• E-mail address: lwishau@wi.rr.com
• Phone: (262) 639-7562
• Address: 8345 Foley Road
  

Personal info

• Family: Spouse, Marla Wishau
• Education: B.S. Business Management - Finance and Accounting
• Occupation: Accounting Manager
• Related experience: 32 Years of business experience in a broad range of disciplines including financial management, operations management, marketing, public speaking roles, product development, budgeting & forecasting and managing diverse staff.

Candidate Questions

Why are you running for office?

I initially ran for a Caledonia trustee position 6 years ago when Caledonia opted to become a Village. I was extremely concerned about seemingly never ending tax increases and well intentioned but inexperienced and/or unqualified people that would be in over their heads when it came time to actually taking responsibility for a $12 million dollar budget.

I felt then, as I do now that there are always opportunities to run the Village more efficiently and at less cost. My goal is to hold the public sector accountable for it's actions and be held in check on programs and spending. In my first 6 years I have driven a number of changes including consolidated services to reduce costs (Utility districts, dispatch, parks department consolidation, etc), cut "nice to have" but not necessarily required staffing, insisted on competitive bidding, reduced legal expenses and stopped other discretionary spending to focus our limited resources on core services.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

Safeguard limited taxpayer resources by implementing business management practices that I have used in the private sector while protecting the land use plan and other long range plans and goals.

What is the biggest problem you see, and how will you address it, if elected?

This is the worst economy since the depression and there's no end in sight. Assessed values are falling, economic development is at a standstill and many in the private sector are just hanging on, hoping to survive. Many government leaders fail to recognize the detrimental impact of excessive spending, taxation, regulation and interference. I plan to continue to a) seek shared services to reduce costs b) reduce operating expenses through greater efficiencies c) encourage industrial development to increase the tax base.

What is your favorite thing about the school district, village or city where you are seeking elected office?

Caledonia is a unique community and has diverse offerings. Rural living has always been attractive to me and the proximity to lake Michigan and it's varied recreational opportunities have played a large role in my life.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I am here to do what's necessary to represent the interests of taxpayers that have had enough of tax and spend policies that have led us to the economic mess that this country is in. I am opposed to all attempts expand the role of government. I have 32 years of broad based business management experience.

In my opinion, experience is everything. My goal is to lend assistance to the board and the staff in all areas that I am experienced in and to learn from other board members that have experiences that I don't have.