Election preview: Howard trustee candidates say businesses are key to future By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle The two candidates competing to represent Howard's 11th and 12th Districts as village trustee believe attracting business to the area and running an efficient government are important. Ellery Gulbrand, incumbent for Wards 11 and 12 and resident for 38 years, is being challenged by Kelly Crouch, a Pierce Manufacturing employee who studied marketing at Fox Valley Technical College. He has lived in Howard for 14 years and is running for trustee to offer voters a different choice on April 6. Crouch said he would not have voted to spend $16,000 on a new water tower logo and he would have supported an advisory referendum from voters as to whether the village president's term should be increased from two years to three. Crouch referred to two Howard businesses, Anamax Corporation and Woodman's Food Market, that have sued the village and said he would avoid such tension between local government and businesses. "I will work to make the village a place that businesses want to locate, not a place where our business owners feel compelled to sue," Crouch said. Gulbrand said designing traffic controls, educating residents about implementing a new water source, preparing infrastructure for the new water source and designing traffic controls in the growing area are key issues in Howard. "We have to keep wise planning in mind as we remember that with smart planning and growth our resident's cost for public services will be better controlled" Gulbrand said. Keeping taxes low while communities are experiencing cuts in shared revenue is also an issue. Gulbrand said he believes monitoring new development is important. "Howard residents have made it known that the village should continue to be business-friendly as we have in the past; yet, we need to strive for well organized, eye pleasing developments which will serve our community while having good traffic flow," he said. Howard trustee candidates, wards 11 and 12 Name: Ellery E. Gulbrand Address: 2591 Lavender Lane Age: 60 Occupation: Computer aided draftsman Education: Kewaunee High School graduate, Hamilton Manufacturing/Manitowoc Tech School Draftsman Apprenticeship Political experience: Howard trustee, 1998-2000, 2002-2004; Howard trustee candidate 2000-2002 Community activities: Howard Plan Commission; Howard Tree Board; Howard Garden Club, volunteer/chairman; Weidner Center for Performing Arts, volunteer; Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, financial secretary; Square Dance Association of Wisconsin, president Family: Wife, Karen; three children Name: Kelly Crouch Address: 2769 Riveridge Lane Age: 46 Occupation: Pierce Manufacturing, 17 years in metal fabrication Education: Fox Valley Technical College for marketing Political experience: Howard trustee candidate in 2002 Family: Wife, Mary; one adult child