Voters in Monroe County have several contested races to decide in the Nov. 4 election. Monroe News sent questionnaires to the candidates in contested races.
Below are the responses from the candidates for mayor of Milan: Laura Russeau and Edward Kolar
Laura Russeau
Age: 56
Occupation: Licensed builder
Spouse/kids: I am married and we have one child.
Government experience: My experience is limited to working with local government in planning special events, acquiring permits, licenses and coordinating with law enforcement for road closures, for example. I have also maintained a community presence in raising visibility for issues concerning the disability community.
Volunteer/community service experience: For the last several years, I have participated as a volunteer to support various nonprofit efforts initiated by Moving Milan Forward, a local nonprofit. In the past, I worked at Milan Seniors for Healthy Living which gave me some great insight on our community’s aging population and the resources available to local seniors. Recently, I have received training to volunteer for Aid In Milan, which provides emergency food through the food pantry and mobile pantry programs.
Why are you running for this position? Aside from what I mentioned above, the selfish reason for running for a local office is that it helps me to keep my focus on our community. Here, I can effect change, even in small ways.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Milan, and what should be done about it? Beyond roads, the cost of living and a heavy tax burden, Milan needs to find its voice. There are a lot of residents who don’t feel that they are represented in decision-making. As a city, we represent a microcosm of the same divisiveness that exists nationwide. I would like to be part of a solution in encouraging civil discourse amongst residents. It’s easy to dislike people and ideas when so much of our interaction is over social media. We need to engage in more in-person dialogue where individuals are forced to remember that we are more alike than different.
Why should people vote for you? If a voter wants to be represented by a person who will genuinely try to advocate for their needs, I am a good choice. I believe whoever makes up City Council after this election will be willing to work with me. I am not interested in working towards some personal vision or agenda but one that is inclusive of many voices and reflects a wider range of community perspectives.
Edward Kolar III
Age: 56
Occupation: Owner/Broker, Workhorse Realty LLC
Spouse/kids: Wife Denise 27 years, two boys Evan 23 and Edward IV 19
Government experience: Milan City Council 4 years, Milan City Mayor 3.75 years
Volunteer/community service experience: Originator of Milan Cares – a volunteer group that organizes two city wide clean up days each year to clear litter from our city highway entrances and city perimeter, Milan Beautification volunteer – plants and weeds flower beds a dozen times a year in downtown and the city entrances, Parks and Rec volunteer
Why are you running for this position? Running for re-election to continue the incredible improvements to the city in the past four years. Park improvements, street improvements, wastewater plant improvements and overall city finance improvements I’ve been a part of have been amazing and I still have more irons in the fire that I want to see through completion.
What do you think is the main challenge facing Milan, and what should be done about it? Milan is an old city and infrastructure improvements are our biggest challenge. Retaining our great employees and improving the quality of life for residents, all while financing new infrastructure improvements, is an unrelenting challenge the city staff and council are constantly working on. Paying off old debt, new grant funding, and financial responsibility are the reasons we have been so successful. This strategy has to be continued.
Why should people vote for you? The results the city residents can see and touch in the past four years have been transformational. I am asking for one more term as Mayor of Milan to finish what I’ve started, in partnership with an incredible city staff and councils, and to get Milan even more organized and prepared for financial success for decades to follow my service to the city.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Two running for Milan mayor in Monroe County 2025 election
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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