Robert Larson, Matt Moldenhauer and Zack Sowieja will compete for the open District 10 seat on the Stevens Point Common Council in the Feb. 17 primary election. Current District 10 Alderperson Dustin Buse filed a statement of noncandidacy in the race.
Alderpersons on the Common Council serve two-year terms. The two candidates that receive the most votes in the primary will advance to the April 7 spring election.
To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin.
The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position.
Robert Larson
The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Matt Moldenhauer
Age: 24
Residence: City of Stevens Point
Occupation and education: My title is “Field Support Engineer, IE&O US.” My role mainly consists of IT support and maintaining infrastructure. I have an Associate of Applied Science degree in IT security specialist.
Relevant experience: Most of my experience is related to customer service. This gives me experience that will help with listening to constituents and understanding their point of view. My experience in IT gives me problem-solving skills and experience with policies, resource management and governance.
Campaign website/Facebook page: Matt Moldenhauer for Stevens Point on Facebook
Zack Sowieja
Age: 38
Residence: City of Stevens Point
Occupation and education: Human resources business partner at Delta Dental of Wisconsin. Graduated from UW-Madison with degrees in political science and sociology.
Relevant experience: Bachelor’s degree in political science, have interned in the office of a state representative and have over 15 years of professional HR experience.
Campaign website/Facebook page: N/A
Why are you running for office?
Larson: Candidate did not respond to this questionnaire.
Moldenhauer: Primarily I’m running to increase affordable housing and make our government more transparent. I’d like to see our zoning code modernized to allow for more diverse and affordable housing options. I’d also like to make sure we’re making the most of our resources so we can provide the best services we can while avoiding property tax increases.
Sowieja: I want to ensure the Citizens of Stevens Point are represented in what I view is a crossroads for the future of the city. We need to ensure we embrace growth while maintaining the things that make our community great.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Larson: The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Moldenhauer: I have experience solving varied and complex problems working in IT. I’m often tasked with finding solutions that work for multiple different stakeholders that have different needs and priorities. I’m also often tasked with working on projects for areas I don’t have experience in. In those situations I find leaning on the subject matter expert is vital to ensure you’re making a positive impact and seeing the whole picture.
Sowieja: I will fight to ensure the voices of my district are heard. I am not running so I can force my agenda on the city, rather I want to make sure District 10 feels heard and represented.
What is the most pressing issue facing Stevens Point Common Council, and how would you address it?
Larson: The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Moldenhauer: Transparency. The city government should make it clear when meetings are happening, what will be discussed and what actions residents may take if they want to get involved. The city needs to do a better job explaining how and why decisions are made along with proactively updating residents on events and changes.
Sowieja: Embracing growth while ensuring citizen voices are heard. I would work to make sure that Stevens Point is a place that embraces business growth while listening to the concerns of those who may be affected.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them?
Larson: The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.
Moldenhauer: Affordable housing. We need to modernize our zoning code to allow for more diverse housing options. I’d like to see things like row houses, cottage courts, tri/quad-plexes and smaller detached homes. These options would be more affordable and provide more options than just luxury apartments or very large homes. There’s also the matter of property tax increases. I want to make sure we’re making the most of the funding we already have and stop creating new TIF districts, which reduce city revenue often with little public benefit.
Sowieja: Right now I know that the pending Kwik Trip on Hoover is a large issue. I would ensure that everyone is heard and work toward a decision that is beneficial to our community. I have also heard that citizens would like more quiet crossings at railroad crossings and would explore grants, funding, etc. to make this happen.
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 Stevens Point Journal: Meet the candidates running for Stevens Point District 10 in primary
Reporting by Erik Pfantz, Stevens Point Journal / Stevens Point Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
