The PAC has interviewed incumbents and candidates that responded to our invitation.  In a very brief these are the answers given.

Gale Morgan:

Lived in the Village: 23
Single/Married/ Children married, 2 girls
Schooling BS business, information
Job/Business background programmer

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Board of conserves. Keep green space.

What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
Ordinances need to be changed. Get rid of curb and gutters.

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
Lost income. Look at PD cuts.

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see?
Like to see it around I-94 and Hwy K

How would you increase tax revenue for the village?
Commercial development south and west to I-94.
Douglas Ave - Slush fund for business to build there

Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
Mixed feelings - people are more against unified

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
Turn into a up-scaled community like the suburbs of Chicago

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community?
NA

We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?
Float bonds. Maybe in the future try with TIF districts

Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
Yes
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond?
Hoping on retirements.


Wendy McCalvy
Lived in the Village: 25 yrs
Single/Married/ Children Married, Larry spouse
Schooling HS - Appleton, Masters at UWM in Education
Job/Business background Teacher at Unified for 2 1/2 Years, Mary Kay 12 yrs Farm owner

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Neighborhood planning, water corridor, open space, and feels land trust not working

What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
Parks, open space, more space

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
The Town meetings started it with the $500,000 cut. - Layoff police, not fill AC Cut positions

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see?
More business, land use plan to be followed, study not finished, business ?? more community feeling. Take sewer and water out to I94

How would you increase tax revenue for the village?
Business, referendum


Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
Yes if people want it, but can’t afford it

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
NA

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community?
Don’t know the Fire or Police Dept

We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?


Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
yes
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond? yes

Shawn Olley

Lived in the Village: Lived Whole life here
Single/Married/ Children single
Schooling Paralegal
Job/Business background Own a paralegal business - started own business @29

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Contribute, deep roots in Caledonia

What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
No reasons, Best people

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
People don’t want to spend money to save money

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see? Need to bring in.


How would you increase tax revenue for the village?
Raise taxes, commercial business


Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
No

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
Decide what Caledonia wants to look at

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community?
AC

We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?
Cost of doing business

Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
Don’t Know
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond?
No
Nick Sollazo

Lived in the Village: 2
Single/Married/ Children Married 2 girls
Schooling BS in Human Resources
Job/Business background US Bank - Wealth Managment

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Want to take charge

What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
PFC improvements, I-94 Development, Improve infrastructure

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
Taxes to low

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see? Business to bring in other communities
Improve Douglas Ave.

How would you increase tax revenue for the village?
Business and taxes


Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
Yes, involved in it. Taxes

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
Sense of Community

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community?

We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?
Need to be improved. Tax base

Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
Yes
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond? No




Duane Michalski

Lived in the Village: 13
Single/Married/ Children Single, 19 y.o girl, Engaged
Schooling High School
Job/Business background Truck driver, snow lowing business in the Village

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Loves Caledonia, wildlife
Feels we are moving backwards
Make Caledonia special
What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
Plan of action, best for Village, not best for you.

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
Lack of business, change of thought on letting business build here

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see?


How would you increase tax revenue for the village?
Business


Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
Yes, if justified

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
Moderate growth for families, more business, Douglas Ave like Door County

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community?


We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?
Needs to be replaced, but no money right now.

Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
Bare mins. Need full time mechanic - AC?
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond?
No

Tom Weatherston
Lived in the Village: 60 years, racine county
Single/Married/ Children Married with children
Schooling Air Force, BS
Job/Business background Self Employed construction, Modine, Vet

Why have you decided to run for this office?
Asked to run for County board (McRenolds), but chose to run for Village. Think ahead, pro development

What ideas/agenda would you bring to the board if elected?
Sewer, water, development to I-94 and Douglas Ave

Do you know why Caledonia is in its budget problems and how will you try to solve it?
Leadership, bad decisions, Fighting WE energy

Caledonia is seen as a bedroom community, with a reputation for not having a lot of business. Would you like to see commercial growth, and if so, what types of business would you like see? Business


How would you increase tax revenue for the village?



Do you support Caledonia having their own school district and how would you pay for it?
Support idea, more info needed

What is your vision for Caledonia’s future?
Make the plan move forward, need to be balanced

What would you like to know about the fire department, and the services we provide the community? Friends with Chief, shift, OT, projects


We have two fire stations out of three that are getting older, and eventually will need to be replace. How would you plan for this, and come up with the revenue?
Replace or remodle - AC should be filled

Do you feel we have enough police and fire personnel?
NO
Do you feel layoff of protective services is needed to balance the budget for 2010 and beyond?
NO

Monday, January 4, 2010 Caledonia Primary Election - February 16th - UPDATED UPDATE 01-05-10 A fourth individual has turned in their nomination papers to run for Trustee seat #4, bringing the total to eight citizens running for three seats. ---------------------------------------------------- In response to what I can only surmise is dissatisfaction with the way things are going in this village, we have a slew of candidates vying for trustee seats this year. Citizens interested in running must first file an intention to run for a particular seat with the Village Clerk, then collect a minimum of 20 (maximum of 100) nomination signatures from voters in the village and file those papers with the clerk to be considered an official candidate. Thus far, ten individuals have taken out nomination papers for three open seats, seven of those have filed the needed paperwork to be on the ballot. What this means for voters is there will definitely be a primary election on February 16, 2010 to narrow the field before the April 6th general election. I am only going to name those that have officially filed...if additional citizens file their papers, I will update this story. Trustee #2: Four individuals have taken out papers, three have actually filed the paperwork. Wendy McCalvy (incumbent) 5400 6 Mile Road Duane Michalski 4715 N. Green Bay Road Gerard Griswold 3518 Twin Lane Trustee #4: Four have taken out papers, four have filed. Gale Morgan (incumbent) 6951 Beechnut Drive Tom Weatherston 5300 Santa Anita Drive Nick Sollazo 9917 Prairie Crossing Drive (Franksville) Shawn Olley 3726 Haymeadow Road (Franksville) Trustee #6: Two have taken out papers, one has filed. Lee Wishau (incumbent) 8345 Foley Road The deadline to file nomination papers is tomorrow, January 5th, at 5 p.m. Posted by Caledonia Unplugged at 3:40 PM 0 comments