Candidates: Budgets, mental health at forefront of issues By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle Brown County Sup. Jane Hansen is retiring from the position, and four candidates are in the running for her spot representing District 7. Carl Arnoldi, an electrician competing in his first political campaign, said he is running to fill the void left by the outgoing incumbent. "I feel that I would be able to represent the interests of the people in that district," he said. Arnoldi is a lifelong resident of Green Bay. He states the key issues as being Brown County mental health services, job loss in the county and using the downtown east- and west-side riverfronts, which he describes as assets to the community. Bernie Erickson, working in the field of electronic sales, is running on a campaign of responsible budgets, and is against mortgaging the future by heavy borrowing or creating a county sales tax. He favors making the county attractive for businesses and industries. A better local business climate would mean more people employed and a larger tax base formed. He believes the County Board can come up with a solution that benefits the taxpayer and individuals requiring mental health services. "Some form of the mental health facility is needed that both suits the patients and the community," he said. Tim Gilbert, a line lead with Services Plus Inc., said managed spending is a key issue facing the county. Yearly spending increases should not be higher than the rate of inflation, he said. "In my two years on the Green Bay City Council, we held the line on spending, maintaining a 0 percent increase in the assessed city tax rate," he said. He said he wants to achieve the same thing on the county level without jeopardizing the degree of current services. He is against an increase to the Brown County sales taxes, and believes significant issues, such as those surrounding the Mental Health Center, should have been put to a referendum. Gilbert said teamwork will help the County Board rise to challenges and intends to foster a teamwork atmosphere on the board. Jay Pennock, a warehouse foreman in the midst of his first political campaign, said he is running on a platform of controlled spending. Areas in need of spending control are the Brown County jail system and the Sheriff's Department. Pennock said he believes it is necessary that the Sheriff's Department function within a budget and that the county explore the possibilities of outlying areas contracting with the department. Pennock favors holding the line on property taxes. "I am a big supporter of improving inner-city neighborhoods, including the beat cop issue in the Fort Howard neighborhood," he said. He believes the Fisk Park pool is an important asset to Green Bay's West Side and advocates finding a solution to its closure. He supports progress on the On Broadway program, as well as a unified County Board able to discuss and concentrate on issues important to county residents. Carl Arnoldi Address: 817 Lincoln Age: 59 Occupation: Electrician Education: NWTC 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 Bernie Erickson Address: 868 Dousman St. Age: 56 Occupation: Electronic sales Education: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, B.S.degree Previous elected office: none Community activities: Vice president Neighborhood Association Past President and current board member of Green Bay Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, girls softball league Family: wife, Chris; three daughters Tim Gilbert Address: 1118 Lark St. Age: 42 Occupation: Line lead, Services Plus, Inc. Education: Southwest High Graduate Attended UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh Previous elected office: Green Bay City Council, 2002-present 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 Jay R. Pennock Address: 344 Gray St. Age: 42 Occupation: Warehouse foreman, Belson Co. Education: NWTC Associate Degree in police science Winona State Criminal Justice Previous elected office: none Community Activities: Optimist Little League Coach, member Green Bay Curling Club Family: wife, Jennifer