By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — The seat for District 9 Alderperson is up for grabs, which will see a three-way primary election on Feb. 19.

The Portage County Gazette asked the candidates pertinent questions relating to their potential spot on council, and why voters should pen them in on Feb. 19. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in April.

At a Glance: Brian Beaulieu

“I am currently 34 years old, born and raised in Stevens Point with my ancestors settling in the Stevens Point area around the 1840’s, I am unmarried and have no children possibly making me Stevens Point’s most “Eligible Bachelor”.  I am the younger of 2 children born to Cynthia M. Beaulieu & Alfred G. Beaulieu (deceased July 2018).  I attended both the local Catholic and Public Schools graduating from SPASH (Stevens Point Area Senior High).  After High School, I attended and graduated with Honors from Mid-State Technical College, with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement; although I chose not to pursue a career as a police officer.

After graduating from Mid-State I went on to work for Sears Holdings Corporation as a Mobile Service Technician working on household appliances, lawn & garden and fitness equipment.  I left Sears Holdings in May of 2017 to work at the Expera Mosinee Paper Mill and transferred to the Verso Stevens Point Paper Mill in May of 2018 where I currently work as a Broke Pulper Operator in the Stock Prep Department.  I have lived in District 9 since June of 2005 when I bought my home on Elk Street.  I have a passionate hobby for collecting and working on classic & antique automobiles and like most Midwestern folks I enjoy engaging in pretty much all outdoor activities including fishing, boating, camping & hunting.

Do you have any background in local government?

“I do not have a background in local government, but I am familiar with committee and council procedures as I’ve attended & continue to attend the meetings periodically and I have participated in groups and clubs that followed the same parliamentary procedure using Robert’s Rules of Order.  Even though I do not have a background in local government, I do meet the requirements to be a candidate and potential district alderperson as I am over 18 years of age.

I live in the district that I would be representing, and I have no criminal or felony convictions.  The way I see it the best way to gain experience in local government or any job in general is to do the job itself.  Having a degree in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement I feel will be helpful and beneficial because I am more familiar with federal, state & local laws and the implementation of those laws more than other people might be.”

What changes, if any, would you like to see come to Stevens Point?

“Although change is inevitable, I would like to see the City of Stevens Point stay true to having its own unique identity.  People come to Stevens Point because it’s unlike any other city in Wisconsin.  I know the City of Stevens Point is and will continually evolve as time goes by, but I would like to see Stevens Point hold on to its sense of community, togetherness, its heritage and continue to be a great place to live & work.  As far as changes go I  would like to see Stevens Point focus on continued revitalization of downtown with new developments conforming to historic features of surrounding buildings, and I want to see a greater effort put into bringing businesses & developments back to the stalled east side by Fleet Farm.

The city also needs to focus on bringing jobs in that fit more than one demographic; there are many city residents that don’t have a 4 – year degree or even a technical degree.   I feel we’ve missed opportunities in the past that would’ve filled in the wage gaps, and people wouldn’t have to work multiple low paying jobs to make ends meet because they are “Unqualified” for other jobs.  If the city had gone after, and had been more appealing to a larger field of business developments in the past our residents may not have been hit so hard when places like Woodward Governor, Joerns, Lullaby Furniture and The River Division Whiting Paper Mill shuttered and closed.”

What changes, if any, would you like to see come to common council and local government?

“I would like to see more diversity on the common council with the alders having varied dissimilar backgrounds.  Contrary to popular belief having too many likeminded people sitting on a council is probably a bad thing.  Considering the position of District Alderperson is a Nonpartisan position the councils are designed to be centered, not left or right but centered to a certain extent. Obviously there will be some sway in either direction but the council should always come back to center and make logical decisions that the community and city residents will support.  Council decisions should not be driven by personal agendas proposed by the alders; but do a better job at listening to & seeking input from the community on new proposals & developments that are brought to Stevens Point.  It is your job as an alderperson to represent your constituents not yourself.”

What are your thoughts on some of the more controversial local projects? (Stanley Street, Roundabout, New City Hall)

“I feel the way the city and common council handled the implementation of these projects was poorly done and executed.  Decisions on projects such as Stanley Street, the Roundabout and a New City Hall and even at the County Level with the new “Wheel Tax” should have been put on a Public Referendum during regular election cycles.  If these projects had been put on a Public Referendum and had the citizens vote on them, there may or may not have been so much opposition and hostility toward the common council and county board members.  No matter how you pitch a new idea or new change in something you cannot force it down the throats of your constituents, and not expect an abundance of backlash.

Major decisions especially ones that affect major thoroughfares into and out of a city that will impact people’s daily lives, possible evacuation routes in cases of an emergency and fast response times by local police/fire/ems to accidents, fires and critical situations should be put up to a public vote not just an advisory question.  If projects like Stanley Street and a New City Hall were to come up again I would have to vote for what my constituents want, not what I want.”

If elected, what do you promise to do with the power of your position?

“Although I am hesitant to promise anything I would promise to be a fair and honest representative for the constituents who reside in District 9 and the citizens of Stevens Point.  I am not going into this with any personal agenda; rather wanting to be a better representative who will look at things logically.  I know there will be things that I may vote on that may not be what everyone agrees to, but if the majority is satisfied then I will have made an honest attempt toward my conclusion.

Many residents have expressed concerns to me that proposed special projects are taking priority over slated projects that keep getting put off especially with current infrastructure.  I would like to get the things fixed that need to be fixed first before we allocate funding towards new proposals that will prevent fixing and repairing items that have been put off year after year.  Many residents have asked me to be mindful of the city budget & project proposals and to make sure we are getting multiple bids on projects so that they don’t go over budget costing the tax payer more than initially estimated to be sure the city is being fiscally responsible every chance it has.”

For more information on Beaulieu’s campaign, please visit https://www.facebook.com/BrianBforD9/