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Five candidates seek two seats on Williams Bay board

WILLIAMS BAY — Two seats are open on the Williams Bay School Board this spring.

Board President Peter Miller is not seeking re-election, and incumbent Jim Pfeil is trying for another term. Challenging for the seats are Bill Myers, Kevin Thomas, Lynne Landgraf and Richard Chroust.

The primary is Tuesday. The general election is April 5.

Thomas, Landgraf and Myers could not be reached for a response to the Gazette's questions. The other candidates' responses to those questions follow.

Is it possible to balance the budget without cutting staff or services?

Chroust: I want to do my homework. I want some information, (and) I want to do investigations as to what the possibilities are. I have no real answer and anybody who says they have one is just kidding themselves. I'm not trying to say we're not going to do something. Certainly some decisions are going to be difficult to make, and I want everybody to realize there is no simple answer.

Pfeil: Unfortunately, there are only two directions we can take—staff and program cuts or additional revenue through a referendum. It will be most likely a combination of the two.

Would you support a referendum asking to exceed the revenue cap?

Chroust: That depends on the options that we have, (and) if the options are going to be positive and are going to reduce or eliminate the deficit. If the options prove to be a good plan for the next five or eight years, it all depends upon what the referendum is asking for and what changes we are willing to absorb.

Pfeil: Yes, but with appropriate reductions. The current state statutes don't allow many options.

Besides the budget, what's the second most pressing issue facing the school board?

Chroust: It would have to be the grade school and the high school—whether we repair the existing grade school (or) build a new grade school or whether we can make an attempt to combine the grade school and high school.

Pfeil: We need to search for a new high school principal and determine a course of action in regard to the elementary school facilities. Rebuilding trust, confidence and communication in the community will also be critical.

BIOS

Richard Chroust

Age: 82

Address: 29 Cedar Point Drive, Williams Bay.

Job: Industrial engineer, retired, from Rockwell International.

Education: Attended North Park College, Chicago.

Elected posts: Seven years as alderman, Warrenville, Ill.; 14 years as village trustee, Williams Bay.

Major campaign issues: "Everything associated with the governments of the school district."

***

Jim Pfeil

Age: 42

Address: 5165 Bailey Road, Delavan.

Occupation: Account manager, Airgas.

Education: BBA in management, UW-Eau Claire; MBA, University of Phoenix.

Major campaign issues: Budget, curriculum development, contract negotiations, communication, accountability.