McDonald, Voskuil, Rashkin fill council seats
Podcast Episode
WCLO's Beth Wheelock talks with Janesville City Council candidates Tom McDonald and Yuri Rashkin.
Podcast Episode
Photo
Candidates and their supporters crowd into the Rock County Courthouse and watch the results of the election come in on Tuesday.
Photo
Janesville City Council candidate Kathy Voskuil beams as she watches the results come in at the Rock County Courthouse on Tuesday. Voskuil was one of three winners.
Photo
Janesville City Council Candidate Tom McDonald keeps an eye on the election results at the Rock County Courthouse on Tuesday. McDonald won one of three seats on the council.
Photo
Tom Lemmer watches the results come in in his losing bid for one of three seats for the Janesville School Board at the Rock County Courthouse on Tuesday.
Photo
Yuri Rashkin smiles as he watches the results come in at the Rock County Courthouse on Tuesday. He was one of three winners for City Council.
JANESVILLE — The three novice council members to be seated later this month—Tom McDonald, Kathy Voskuil and Yuri Rashkin—will be charged with one of the most important jobs council members will ever face: hiring a new city manager.
No incumbents sought re-election.
The three were the top vote getters from a field of six Tuesday.
Today, a consultant is interviewing community members on what to look for in recruiting for the top spot. The process had been on hold until the new members were elected. Now, it will kick into high gear.
City Manager Steve Sheiffer will retire this fall.
Two of the new council members—McDonald, 27, a lawyer, and Rashkin, 32, the owner of a mortgage business—have no experience in the city’s government. Kathy Voskuil, 48, served for seven years on the plan commission and was chair during the contentious Wal-Mart Supercenter development.
“We’re basically going to be hitting the ground running,” McDonald said. “Now, we’re gearing up for hiring the city manager.”
For him, a second immediate priority is the city’s potholes: “Getting them fixed up after the tough winter.”
McDonald didn’t attribute his win to any one thing, but said he had a “good support group” that got the word out.
Voskuil said the results showed that voters were informed and took the time to learn about the candidates in the various forums.
She believes the voters valued her past years on the plan commission, which decides such important issues as land use and development.
She, too, is gearing up for the intensive process of choosing a manager.
Other priorities include economic development and the 2009 budget.
Rashkin, who came in fifth out of 11 candidates in the primary, said he got out in the community to campaign and figures that nudged him up the needed spots.
“I know so many more people in the community than I did three months ago,” he said.
Rashkin said he’s made a lot of friends and has learned a lot during the campaign.
He said he is “humbled” by the “trust that’s been placed in me by the voters. Now, it’s up to me to justify that trust.”
Rashkin said he’s looking forward to the process of hiring a manager.
“We’ve got to make sure we have the best city manager in Janesville. Period.”
Another issue will be the 2009 budget, as well as considering the ideas that Rashkin hopes residents will bring forward.
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
This was a good crop of new, smart council members. Congratulations to the winners!
Apr 2, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Congrats to our new city council members in the election yesterday. Now that the decision has been made i would like to see the city council put this on the agenda for the next time they meat.What were gonna do to bring more jobs into the comunity.An this should be on the mind of this city manager an on the mind of the next person who will be the city manager. An it is my hope that this will be a prioity of the new city council.
Apr 2, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
If you don't deliver all that in 30 minutes, is it free?
Apr 2, 2008 at 11:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Congratulations to Voksuil, McDonald, and Rashkin. Kudos also to Mark, Bishop, and O'Brien. It takes courage to run for public office, and I hope all of the candidates remain actively concerned for the Janesville community. That no incumbents sought re-election speaks volumes about the time and energy required to serve on city council. Each candidate ran a positive campaign. Good luck to all.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.