Left, Sam Levin (left) is being challenged by opponent Jerry Walters for the 17th District Seat. Levin is also currently running for a spot on the Stevens Point School Board. (City-Times photo)

By Donnelly Clare

While all 25 seats on the Portage County Board of Supervisors are up for reelection, only three seats are being contested.

Incumbent Stan Potocki of District 11 is being challenged by newcomer Lyne Kawleski of Stevens Point. Incumbent Sam Levin and challenger Jerry Walters will square off for District 17, while Matthew J. Jacowski of Plover will challenge veteran Jerry Piesik in the 22nd District.

Tony Patton, center, also serves on the Stevens Point Common Council.

Districts 8 and 18 both have single candidates. Stevens Point Alderman Tony Patton is running for the District 8 seat, which is being vacated by Scott Winn, who filed non- candidacy paperwork earlier this month. Patton is also running unopposed for City Council.

District 18 Supervisor Leif Erickson also filed non-candidacy paperwork, who along with Winn cited family as their reasons for not running again. Junction City resident Larry Raikowski is running unopposed for that seat.

The Stevens Point League of Women Voters provided questions and answered from the candidates running against a challenger. They follow:

County Board Candidate Lyne Kawleski

Lyne Kawleski did not provide answers to the League questions.

County Board Candidate Stanley Potocki  

What background qualifies you for this position?

I started serving Portage County as a Conservation Warden in 1963 after serving 4 years in the United States Marine Corps.  I have served as a Stevens Point Police Officer and as a Deputy Sheriff and elected Sheriff for 37 years.

In 2006 I was elected as the District 28 County Board Supervisor and represented the Towns of Dewey and Eau Pleine and the Village of Junction City.  In 2010 after the State changed the Districts, I became the District 11 Supervisor representing the Town of Dewey and the Town of Hull Wards 1, 2, & 3.

I am presently a member of the Highway Committee, Justice Coalition Committee, Vice-Chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee and Judicial General Government Committee and Chairman of the Transportation Coordinating Committee.

I believe that my background in law enforcement and the number of years that I have served on these committees has helped me to make informed and advantageous decisions not only for the districts that I represent but for all the Citizens of Portage County.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the County Board?

Serving Portage County for the 45 years and listening to the concerns of the citizens and county employees has given me the insight to make decisions that have and will continue to improve the quality of life for all of the county residents and visitors.  My main strengths are being vocal on the county board floor and not being satisfied with the status quo but always looking for ways to improve services and at the same time keeping taxes at an affordable level.

The County Board successfully budgeted for county programs even with reduced funding from the state. What are some of the successes and how would you build on this foundation?

The success of the 2014 Budget can be linked to several reasons. These are:

1.The willingness of the department heads and employees to do more with less.

2. The co-operation of the County Board, Department Heads and the County Executive.

3. The Financial expertise of the County Finance Director.

4. And last but not least the input and support of private citizens into the County Budget Process.

I believe that if these 4 points stay intact the present budget process will continue to be the foundation of all the future budgets.

The County Board addresses most of their work in committees. In which committees would you like to participate based on your interests and abilities?

The committees that I serve on presently, with the responsibility for the policy guidance and legislative oversight, have given me a great insight into the departments day to day operations.  If re-elected I would like to remain on these committees.  The committee that I have not served on yet, but would like to, is the Public Safety/Emergency Management Committee in which I believe I have most of my knowledge and expertise.

County Board Candidate’s Name: Samuel Levin

What background qualifies you for this position?

I have represented District 17 as their County Supervisor for the past 4 years. I have experience as a County Board member and have made myself very accessible to the people that I represent. I believe that this makes it easier to present their views in my duties as their County representative. I believe that my voting record over the past 4 years shows that I represent the district fairly and am fiscally responsible.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the County Board?

I bring my strength as a facilitator to the County Board. I am a person that listens and also speaks on the subject with knowledge and insight. I believe in being fully informed on a subject so that I can understand and help others to understand the finer points and merits of every proposal.

I try to bring the views of the people that I am elected to represent into the board room with me, and I am always open to talking with the Citizens of the 17^th district.

I believe you need to be as good of a listener as a speaker in order to make the best decisions for the district.

I also possess the needed leadership qualities to make people around me feel that that their views are important and to include everyone in the final decision making process.

The County Board successfully budgeted for county programs even with reduced funding from the state. What are some of the successes and how would you build on this foundation?

We have come a long way with the amount of funding made available to Portage County from the State. We have managed to reduce costs while at the same time retaining programs without additional County Levy.

One area that has been very successful for the County has been the Health Care Center. In the past 3years we have reduced County Levy to the Health Care Center from over $1,000,000 in 2012 to $750,000 in 2013 and down to $500,000 for 2014.

With the discussions of restructuring the Health Care Center in the works now, we can further reduce that number to a workable number by making the center work for us rather than against us.

By either remodeling or rebuilding the Current Health Care Center we can make this valuable County asset available to the citizens of Portage County for the next 50 years, at a reasonable cost.

The County Board addresses most of their work in committees. In which committees would you like to participate based on your interests and abilities?

I currently sit on the board of the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, and the Portage County Health Care Center, I am the Vice Chairman of the Board of Health and Human Resources, and the Chairman of the Portage County Housing Authority. I like the committees that I am currently on and I would also be very interested in being involved with the Human Resources Committee.

County Board Candidate’s Name: Jerry Walters          

What background qualifies you for this position?

For 12 years I had the honor to serve as a Village of Whiting Trustee, the last five of them as President. Having created ties with the surrounding communities and the County gives me a pretty fair background in political views, residential and municipal needs and intergovernmental workings to be of value to the County. In addition I have spent time serving on and being part of working with the Portage County Towns and Villages Association, Stevens Point Area Sewer and Water Committee and a few years of service to the Little Plover River Group.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the County Board?

As a leader one needs to know when to lead and when to follow, this will work out well in the County’s Committee format. I’m pretty level headed, logical and do my best to put principles before personalities on all issues. I have a renewed desire to be of service to the residents of Whiting, the Village of Plover’s Ward 1 and on behalf of the residents of Portage County.

The County Board successfully budgeted for county programs even with reduced funding from the state. What are some of the successes and how would you build on this foundation?

One of the things I appreciate about our County’s Budget process is what I refer to as “Backward” budgeting – where each Department is given the amount of funding upfront whereas they have to work within by budgeting backward from the amount given. It is important to know what you have before you start so you can appropriately allot funding for projects, wages, fees, etc. It also gives a Committee an opportunity to request funding for Specialty Projects when they have shown in detail where their original funding has been spent and or cut. I think it would be imperative to continue to work within and assist in any way to get myself and others improve on this platform.

The County Board addresses most of their work in committees. In which committees would you like to participate based on your interests and abilities?

I think the County Executive and present Chairman are aware of my strengths and weaknesses therefore I will work on or lead whatever Committees they feel I can be of assistance to benefit the County.

County Board Candidate’s Name: Matt Jacowski          

What background qualifies you for this position?

I am a lifelong resident of Portage County involved in many volunteer organizations.  I am the Vice-Chair of the Portage County Wisconsin Conservation Congress, member of the Portage County Farm Technology Days Executive Committee,  member and past secretary of the Almond Rod & Gun Club where I have volunteered  as a Hunters’ Safety Instructor for the past 16 years. I am actively involved in our family farm in southeastern Portage County.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the County Board?

I am very involved with the youth of Portage County and hope that they have the opportunities to live and work in the County.  I have a Bachelors Degree in Technology and Engineer Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.  I am eager to listen to my constituents and research all issues thoroughly before finding the best resolution.  My wife Kimberly and I hope our children can grow up safely in Portage County and continue the farming tradition of both of our families.

The CountyBoard successfully budgeted for county programs even with reduced funding from the state. What are some of the successes and how would you build on this foundation?

The county has been able to maintain high quality basic services, while keeping the burden on the taxpayer to a minimum.  The county should continue to look at what services are vital and important to the residents of the county, while continuing to find ways to reduce costs without reducing essential services.

The County Board addresses most of their work in committees. In which committees would you like to participate based on your interests and abilities?

With my extensive agricultural and engineering background I feel that I would be best suited to serve on the Planning and Zoning Committee, the Highway Committee, and Land Conservation.

County Board Candidate Jerome Piesik                      

What background qualifies you for this position?

Being a lifelong resident of Portage County I understand the values of our community.

What strengths and interests do you bring to the county board?

Running a business for 40 plus years gives me practical business experience. I also am a supervisor for the Town of Stockton.

The county board successfully budgeted for county programs even with reduced funding from the state. What are some of the successes and how would you build on this foundation?

The budget starts at the department level with directives from the county executive, with input from the various committees associated with each department. Just as we all did during this last recession, we are very careful not to spend money unless needed. No one person can take credit for the budget, as it is a joint effort.

The county board addresses most of their work in committees. In which committees would you like to participate based on your interests and abilities?

This last term I have served on the following committees: Capital Improvements/Economic Development Committee, Health Care Center Committee (Chair), Highway Committee (Chair), Land Records Modernization Committee, Planning & Zoning Committee (Chair) and Risk Management Committee. I feel the County has put my talents to good use in the committees assigned.

I have been in office for several terms now representing my district and the citizens of Portage County. The first term was a learning experience just to figure out how things work. Since then I have earned the respect of the other supervisors to be able to chair some of the committees. I, as a business owner am fortunate to have a flexible time schedule to be able to leave my business role to take care of the business of the County as the need arises. I pride myself with the ability to listen, investigate, and then make an informed decision that would benefit the county as a whole even if the result does not benefit me personally or professionally. I hope voters of my district have found my past work satisfactory and will vote for me again to represent them.

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