Jonathan Zamaites is challenging incumbent Dixon Wolfe for the Brown County Board seat in District 23, which is made up of eastern Howard.
The Press-Gazette asked both candidates to provide their backgrounds and answer questions ahead of the election. Their responses were limited to word counts. Here are their responses, which were trimmed lightly for grammar and clarification. (i) denotes the incumbent in the district.
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Dixon Wolfe (i)
Jonathan Zamaites
Why are you running for County Board?
Wolfe: I’m running for a second term on the County Board because I believe our local county government should reflect the values of the people who live here in Howard – those focused on fiscal responsibility, safe streets, and common-sense leadership. Families in our district work hard for every dollar, and they deserve a County Board that treats their tax money with the same level of care. I want to continue to cut taxes and debt, fully support our law enforcement and emergency services, and make smart investments in road repairs and infrastructure without growing the government unnecessarily. Brown County is growing, and the decisions we make now will shape our future. I’m running to make sure those decisions stay responsible, transparent, and aligned with the conservative priorities of the people who call Howard home.
Zamaites: I want to make a difference in local community. I moved to the Green Bay area for better economic opportunity and to be with my fiancé, Olivia. Brown County has given us an ideal place to call home and I want to make sure that I do my part to pay that back.
What makes you the best candidate?
Wolfe: I’ve worked to deliver measurable results while staying engaged in the community. Over the last two budget cycles, we cut the county mill rate from $3.04 to $2.66 per $1,000 of assessed value – the lowest rate on record – and reduced county debt by approximately $15 million. We did this by passing responsible, balanced budgets without cutting core services like law enforcement, emergency response, infrastructure, or quality-of-life services. I’ve also maintained over a 92% attendance record at regularly scheduled board and committee meetings, while staying active in Howard – knocking doors, attending events, and listening to residents. I take seriously the role and responsibility of representing our district and want to continue serving District 23 well with transparency, integrity, and respect.
Zamaites: I feel that my experience as a scientist and now an engineer allows me to understand complex problems and find reasonable solutions. My education in social sciences gives me insight to how the local governmental processes work and how to best address topics in the most effective manner. Finally, I do not care what side of the aisle someone is on. This is a nonpartisan position and I will treat it as such. If a constituent has a problem that needs to be address and I can do something about it, I will try my hardest to find a solution or find the correct path they can take for any issue big or small.
What two issues do you feel most need to be addressed in Brown County, and how would you address them?
Wolfe: Two issues I believe most need continued focus in Brown County are affordability and strengthening our court system.
On affordability, I will continue supporting responsible, balanced budgets that control spending and prioritize property tax cuts and debt reduction. If the county sales tax exists, it should lessen the burden on property taxpayers, not expand bureaucracy. Families and businesses manage their budgets carefully, and the county government should do the same. We have seen what happens when local governments are mismanaged and spending grows without discipline, like what has occurred in the city of Green Bay. I will work to ensure Brown County does not follow that path and remains financially responsible and focused on taxpayers first.
Second, our court system needs additional capacity. Jail overcrowding and case backlogs increase costs and delay justice. I will continue working with the state Legislature to secure funding for additional judges and court staff so cases move more efficiently, reduce jail pressure, and strengthen public safety.
County government should be run carefully, responsibly, and with respect for the taxpayers who fund it. That is the standard I will continue to uphold.
Zamaites: The first issue is the sustainable growth of the county. Brown County has seen an average growth rate of 3.5% from April of 2020 to January of 2025. With this growth comes more people to house, cars on roads, utilities use, etc. The county has the luxury of still being relatively small with a lot of options to promote the growth it sees. However, we could be doing a better job on items like affordability, public transportation, and responsible government spending. We as a county need to ensure that regardless of where a someone lives, they have the means to thrive and live their American dream.
As for the second issue, that would be the public infrastructure itself. These are touchpoints that every resident of Brown County interacts with daily. Roads need resurfacing, water mains need to be replaced/repaired, and bridges that need to be maintained. These aren’t small projects either. Looking at Shawano Avenue for example — they are doing an emergency resurface on it. Howard has seen its far share of issues with county highways C, FF and J, which all need repair, too. Yes, these roads are on the docket to be repaired, but it’s clear the timeline isn’t fast enough.
Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Meet the candidates running for Brown County Board District 23
Reporting by Benita Mathew, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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