Incumbent Bill Conway will face challenger Tony Sherfinski for the District 16 seat on the Marathon County Board in the April 7 election.
County Board supervisors serve two-year terms.
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The Wausau Daily Herald asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position. The following are Conway’s responses. The Daily Herald reached out to Sherfinski multiple times and did not receive a response.
Bill Conway
Municipal residence: City of Schofield
Age: 57
Occupation and education: Operations manager at Northern Valley Industries, bachelor’s degree in English
Relevant experience: Candidate did not provide a response.
Campaign website/Facebook page: N/A
Why are you running for office?
Conway: I have worked hard to earn the trust of my district. I led the efforts to clean up the abandoned trailer park on Grand Avenue, provided a cost-efficient and practical policy plan to mitigate the growing homelessness issue in our county and also voted for the largest reduction in the county’s tax rate in 23 years. For over 30 years, I have given back to our community by providing work and training for individuals impacted by serious challenges through my position at Northern Valley Industries. It might sound like a cliché, but serving the community is all I’ve ever known.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Conway: My skills and experience, together with my focus on practical results are what I feel makes me worth the voters’ consideration. On the County Board, I have a proven track record of solving problems head on, protecting our core services and the public library, and supporting responsible budgeting that keeps Marathon County’s taxes the lowest in the region. My approach is simple: listen to residents, work with others to find solutions and focus on what strengthens our communities rather than political noise.
What is the most pressing issue facing the Marathon County Board and how would you address it?
Conway: The rising cost of literally everything has impacted the lives of everyone, and we need to continue prioritizing tax relief for our people. For the last two years, I was able to help bring down the county’s tax rate by record amounts and also shrink the footprint of county government by 15 positions. We also reduced the number of delinquent properties held by the county by 65%, putting them back on the tax rolls so we’ll be able to lower the tax rate even more in the future. I will continue to focus on fiscally sustainable policies like these.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues and how would you address them?
Conway: The three complaints I hear from residents the most are potholes, potholes and potholes. County roads may not be as bad as the City of Wausau’s, but road maintenance is one of the core services we need to keep a good handle on. This year, we were able to pass a resolution to pressure the governor and state legislature to enact a comprehensive, sustainable transportation funding model so that we can finally retire the wheel tax that was supposed to last only one year. I will continue to work to pressure the state to live up to their obligations.
How will you balance providing essential services with rising concerns of affordability and cost of living?
Conway: Balancing essential services with affordability starts with careful budgeting and clear priorities. I believe county government should focus first on the services people rely on most: public safety, health and human services, and maintaining infrastructure, while looking for efficiencies wherever possible. During my time on the County Board, Marathon County has maintained the lowest tax rate among all the surrounding counties while continuing to support critical services with no new borrowing. Budgets reflect values, and through disciplined policy work I will always put the well-being of people in my neighborhood first.
How will you work to address housing and infrastructure needs in the county?
Conway: I start by using practical, common-sense policy approaches to the involvement of public-private partnerships. Last year, we strengthened the requirements for TIF proposals by Marathon County’s representative on the Joint Review Board, and I made sure all of our current TID’s are under thorough review. Responsible development means encouraging housing growth while protecting taxpayers and existing neighborhoods. I support investing in the infrastructure that makes housing possible so communities can grow sustainably. By focusing on smart planning, accountability and cooperation with local municipalities, we can expand housing opportunities while keeping Marathon County a strong, affordable place to live and work.
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Meet 1 of the candidates vying for Marathon County Board District 16
Reporting by Erik Pfantz, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
