Silver Lake trustee candidates 2015 questionnaires

Silver Lake voters will be able to cast a ballot in a contested village trustee race on April 7.

Voters will be able to vote for three at-large candidates out of a field of six.

The same questionnaire was submitted to each candidate, by email or by mail.

Here is their biographical information, followed by their question responses:

Pat Dunn — Age: 61. Education: Some College. Occupation: Fire Investigator. Previous elected and/or governmental experience: Served nearly two terms as Village Trustee.

Eric Ericksen — Age: 55. Education: Wilmot High School Graduate, attended Gateway Technical College and MATC. Occupation: Electrician. Previous political experience: None.

Sandra L. Folgers — Age: 60. Education: Doctorate in Psychology. Occupation: Psychologist. Previous elected and/or governmental experience: None.

Eldon Johnston — Age: 68. Education: Gateway diploma plus some college. Occupation: Retired Chrysler Milwaukee National Parts Depot UAW 75. Previous elected and/or governmental experience: Four terms as Village of Silver Lake Trustee, 1986-1994. Served on almost every board committee.

Sabrina Moran — No response.

Doug Randolph — No response.

1.) Why are you running for Silver Lake village trustee?

Dunn — The majority of the current Board has not been very responsible with the Village funds and this has got to stop.  I am seeking the position of Trustee to protect the assets of the Village and the Citizens.  There has to be more done to ensure that the Village government continues forward and not slip back into the ways of backdoor deals and no bid contracts, as what just occurred with the refurbishing of the Village meeting hall.

Ericksen — Silver Lake’s last reassessment was before the housing market crashed. Those who have gone to open book/board of review have had a reduction in assessments and subsequent tax reductions. The tax burden then gets pushed off onto residents who have not gone through the open book process. In my opinion, the entire village should be reassessed to distribute the tax burden based on current property values (I approached the board with this issue two years ago). Budget reserves also need to be built for repair and replacement of aging infrastructure within the village. We cannot be burdened with the cost to repair and replace infrastructure without budget reserves on hand.

Folgers — I am seeking the office of Silver Lake Trustee in an effort to become significantly more involved in the governance and future of our Village. As a staunch supporter of the Anti-Dissolution movement, I became aware of the need for concerned citizens to devote their time to create a more positive attitude in the community, and reclaim the reputation of Silver Lake. Our Village has sustained negative attacks and publicity of late, and I am dedicated to restoring the positive image that Silver Lake so richly deserves.

Johnston — I decided to run for Village Trustee because of the dissolve movement in the village. I am against any and all attempts to dissolve the village and turning everything over to Salem. Most of the Townships around here, including Town of Salem, are trying to incorporate,so why would we as a village want to un-incorporate? I want to keep our own protective services within the village.

Sabrina Moran — No response.

Doug Randolph — No response.

2.) What do you see as the way forward with village emergency services: fire, rescue and police?

Dunn — The citizens of our Village deserve the best quality protection that we can possibly provide for them.  Ideally I would like to see combined services of Fire and Rescue.  I would like to continue with our own Police protection but all possibilities need to be explored.

Ericksen — The fire department needs to be funded appropriately as the village cannot be without a functional, operating fire department. Our current board is in negotiations with the Kenosha County Sheriff for police protection. I would like to see what is on the table with the negotiations and go from there.

Folgers — At present, our emergency responders have been a focal point of dispute in the Village. Rumors and misinformation about our Police, Fire, and Rescue Squad have run rampant, and hard feelings among our community members have resulted. The goal of any elected official should be to provide the citizens with honest, forthright answers to their questions- not fan the flames of discontent and panic. If elected, I will strive to put these destructive practices to an end, once and for all. The Village Board needs to present a united front to our citizens, and guarantee our community that we exist only to serve the betterment of Silver Lake. The dedicated personnel who serve in our various branches of public safety deserve our unified support.

Johnston — The Silver Lake Rescue Squad does a great job for the village at a very reasonable cost. We can not allow our rescue to be used as a “cash cow” for the fire department. The Fire department does need some updating and needs to start an active recruiting and training program and not sending volunteers to Salem. Funds for maintenance and upkeep of equipment needs to be budgeted better in the future. The Police department needs to have a contract so they know that they have a job. The whole village needs to come together so that there will be no unfounded investigations or harassment with their jobs.

Sabrina Moran — No response.

Doug Randolph — No response.

3.) What will be your top priorities if elected to the board? 

Dunn — To rein in the unauthorized spending and bring back cohesion between agencies.

Ericksen — My top priority is to develop a budget that will build reserves for aging infrastructure and to maintain emergency services that the village needs without pushing a higher tax burden on to our citizens/property owners.

Folgers — If elected to serve the citizens of Silver Lake, I will dedicate my efforts to rehabilitate our downtown region, grow our Village through annexation, and hold the line on taxes to the best of my ability. I will devote myself to restoring the good name of our community, and concentrate on our future- not past disagreements and pettiness. I stand with the Village Team: President Gerber, Eldon Johnston, and Sabrina Moran. We share the same vision for Silver Lake. Our citizens deserve no less.

Johnston — My top priorities are keeping us as the Village of Silver Lake and not part of Salem.  Keeping our protective services and to grow our tax base through annexing more property so that Silver Lake has room to grow. Encouraging businesses to expand in Silver Lake and to relocate in Silver Lake with updating zoning and possible incentives.  I would like to see the Village Board start working with the property owners along Lake Street to develop a plan to revitalize the downtown area.

Sabrina Moran — No response.

Doug Randolph — No response.

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5 Comments

  1. Bernard Punsley says:

    Question for Eldon Johnston: If we” cannot allow or rescue squad to be used as a ‘cash cow’ for the fire department”(your words,not mine), does this mean Silver Lake Rescue Squad will get to continue to be a “cash cow” for themselves,and their profit margin? Please explain your rationale.

  2. SINCE WHEN says:

    is it totally necessary that any employee” needs to have a contract so they know that they have a job.”

    Eldon’s logic escapes me. But then, didn’t he think that garbage pickup was free?

    When did the village get their own Rescue? There is no OUR RESCUE. Rescue is theirs, not ours. Ditto Punsley’s ‘cash cow”.

    Folgers? Apparently she thinks that people in Salem are going to ask to be annexed into to our village! Why? Why would anyone willingly want to pay more in taxes? It is clear that she doesn’t understand annexation and that the village cannot annex willy nilly. Owners need to ask to join. We haven’t seen anyone adjacent to us, jumping to annex to our highly taxed, poorly served commune, have we?

  3. Bernard Punsley says:

    Eldon…since I am the one that coined the original “cash cow” term for the “mountain of cash” that the Silver Lake Rescue Squad generates for THEMSELVES, I feel somewhat complimented that you have chosen to use the term in your campaign platform. However, “mountain of cash” is also intertwined with the term “cash cow”, so feel free to use that as well. By your own admission, you now PUBLICALLY recognize that Silver Lake Rescue Squad DOES generate money, most of it from village residents(via their insurance policies), with basically NONE of that money going back into the village coffers. Dispute that all you want Mr. Johnston…I would encourage you to review the SLRS annual tax returns, before you send out one of your “shoot from the hip” posts!

  4. Bernard Punsley says:

    Question for Sandra Folgers: While your belief that our emergency services(police, fire, rescue) need to be supported, how do you justify the continued vilification of our fire department on the SilverLakeStrong website, including repeated bashings by your “running mate” Eldon? Talk about “fanning the flames of discontent and panic”(your words, not mine)…….go ahead, read their posts. Talk is cheap.

  5. Due to the proximity to the election, and that assertions are surfacing in unapproved comments that may not be able to be answered before the election, I am closing further comments on these posts. An exception will be if the candidates themselves want to reply to comments already approved.

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