District 7 council candidates say neighborhoods, larger tax base important An incumbent is chased by four other candidates By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle Taxes, open communication and the community policing program are some of the issues being addressed by the five District 7 Green Bay City council candidates competing in the upcoming primary election on Tuesday. Carl Arnoldi, an electrician making his first attempt at securing a position as an elected representative, is among those running. "The reason I am running for alderman in District 7 is because I don't feel that District 7 has been properly represented in the last two years," he said. The key issues he identified are jobs, affordable housing, absentee land lords and the changing of single family homes to multi-family homes. He cites the revitalization of the West Side business district as a model for what private investment can do for other areas in the city. Mark Collier, a field sales representative, is seeking a victory after running for Brown County supervisor in 2002. He said he is running because Green Bay has fallen behind in development, redevelopment, community growth and job creation. He believes the present council is failing to represent the people. "I stand for stable communities, a strong economy and a representation of all persons in District 7," he said. Leanne G. Cramer, a quality analyst/financial recovery employee for Humana who ran for City Council in 2002, said she believes the major issues are cuts to the community policing program and keeping neighborhoods safe. She also believes a balanced budget needs to be developed while at the same time attracting businesses to the city so as to increase the tax base. Cramer said she believes crime and drug usage will increase in the inner city because community police officers have been reduced from 18 to 12. She wants to regain funding for community policing and raises the question of cutting some higher-paid police department administrators. Tim Gilbert, current District 7 alderman, said he was against reducing the community policing program and will work to reinstate the six officers whose positions had been cut. "I have attended numerous neighborhood association meetings and I know full well the value of the beat cops," he said. He supports the Green Bay Fire Department and cited his participation on the Park Committee and the Improvement and Service Committee as instrumental in keeping neighborhoods "beautiful and clean." He said he plans to budget the city's spending at or below the rate of inflation and intends to maintain a zero percent increase to the assessed city tax rate while maintaining the quality services. Keith Mrozinski has lived in the district for more than 3 years and is a stay-at-home dad who believes a good alderman will be accessible to the public. He said the city council needs more "creativity" so that taxes are kept down but services are protected. "We need to remember that these services are there to help the community and not there to aid in holding the taxes down by being available to cut," he said. The community police officer positions should not have been cut, Mrozinski said. The key issues are ensuring that elected officials are available to the public and can dedicate time and effort to their positions and monitor spending and taxation. He said if local government officials have "high standards, accountability, good planning and forward thinking," other issues will fall into place. Green Bay City Council District 7 Wards 26-29 Carl Arnoldi Address: 817 Lincoln St. Age: 59 Occupation: Electrician Education: Preble High School, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Electrical, classes in arbitration from University of Illinois, classes in Advanced Arbitration University of Indiana, Diversity Training, Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship. Previous elected office: none Community activities: Northeast Wisconsin Telecommunication Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee Family: wife, Barb; three children Mark Collier Address: 605 Melrose Ave. Age: 34 Occupation: Field sales representative Education: UW-Green Bay, BS degree policy and administration, NWTC Computer Science/Natural Gas Systems, Lakeland College Business Program Previous elected office: Ran for county supervisor 2002 Community Activities: Freemasons of Wisconsin and affiliated bodies Family: wife, Jessica; two children Leanne G. Cramer Address: 871 Elmore St. Age: 42 Occupation: quality analyst/financial recovery-Humana Education: B.S. degree in elementary education from UW-Oshkosh Previous elected office: ran for city council in 2002 Community activities: member of Trinity Lutheran Church Salvation Army volunteer Family: husband, Jodie; two children Tim Gilbert Address: 1118 Lark St. Age: 42 Occupation: Line lead at Services Plus, Inc. Education: Southwest High School, Attended UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh Previous elected office: Green Bay City Council, 2002-present; member of Park Committee and Improvement and Service Committee; Plan Commission; Board of Directors of Downtown Green Bay, Inc. Community activities: 6th grade religious education, St. Jude/Annunciation Parish Religious Education Committee Chair Past activities: adult leader and treasurer for Boy Scouts, Green Bay Head Start Policy Council member, Independent Order of Foresters, officer Family: wife, Brenda; three children Keith Mrozinski Address: 1194 Desnoyers St. Age: 40 Occupation: stay-at-home Dad Education: Hubbard High (Chicago, Ill.) Previous elected office: none Community activities: President of Neighborhood Watch Program, Chicago, Tank Neighborhood Association and Mutual Housing Board member Family: wife, Charlene; five children