Politics & Government

Election Preview: Waukesha Common Council (6th District)

Alderman Adam Jankowski and challenger Marga Krumins are running in the April 2 election to represent the 6th District on the Waukesha Common Council.

Alderman Adam Jankowski and challenger Marga Krumins are running for the 6th District seat on the Waukesha Common Council. (Click on link for biographical information on each candidate).

Map of 6th Aldermanic District

To provide residents with the most information about the election, Patch asked candidates for their positions on key issues facing the city. Here, in their own words, are the candidates' answers to those questions.

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Why are you running for alderman? Jankowski

Because I believe I can have an impact upon this city that I call home. I can help guide the city towards greater security and prosperity as other cities around us struggle to stay afloat. 

I do this because my neighbors are worried about their taxes, and if they will have enough to pay the taxes. 

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But, most importantly, I do this for my kids. A parent is willing to move heaven and earth to provide for his or her kid. I am willing to do this for this city to ensure that this city remains a great city to live in for my kids.

Krumins I've lived here in Waukesha either in or just south of this district for several years and have followed events closely.  This district needs someone who has broad experience, an ability to to listen to, analyze, and concentrate on resolving the issues that come before the council.  I think I'm the best person to listen to the needs of people in this district, as well as the city, and work to bring the city in accord with those needs.
What is the biggest issue facing Waukesha, and how would you address it, if elected? Jankowski

The biggest issue facing Waukesha is the yearly budget. For 2012, it went up 0.17 percent, not a large increase, not even a full 1 percent, but it still went up. What will happen this year? Will people begin to say "we cut here and here, and we struggled for the last four years, but now we need this in order to work". If a couple departments make this statement, this will push a tax increase over 1 percent. I know that the department heads worked diligently towards saving taxpayers money, but now it is time to do the hard work. We need to look into other areas, other aspects, to save money for the citizens. I hear about cities in other parts of the country and their unique ways of saving money while maintaining the same level of services to the city. 

I know a referral has been made to the city administrator to look into applying lean techniques to departments, but that isn't the only way to save money. There is money saving potential in sub-contracting city services, but if these avenues are not explored, then the citizens of Waukesha will never know about the potential savings that could be gained. It behooves not only myself, but my fellow alderpersons to look into all cost saving revenues.

Krumins Given that most of the decisions regarding our water supply and the West bypass have already been made, I would say the biggest issue facing Waukesha is the condition of its roads. Although the biggest issue facing my own district is probably the higher incidence of crime in our neighborhood. I would push for less new road construction paid for by the city and concentrate our tax dollars on maintaining our existing roads in a way that doesn't for example, have us resurfacing a street only to cut holes in it to make other infrastructure improvements. The crime issue would have to be dealt with through bringing more jobs into the city, diversifying our lower income neighborhoods, and for example, making a police presence more visible in the "hotspots" in ways that cannot be anticipated by potential criminals. Do you support the Waukesha West bypass route moving forward and why?
Jankowski

Yes, I do. As Waukesha expands throughout the rest of this century, the need for a high speed expressway that goes around the city will become more evident. By having this expressway in place, people will no longer have to drive through the city to get to Interstate 94.

Krumins I, grudgingly, have to support the Waukesha West bypass route, insofar as it's really no longer a matter of if, but exactly how.  I question its necessity given current traffic flows and am not convinced that we should be planning for higher traffic, given that Wisconsinites are driving less miles.  However, after both talking to residents along, for example, Grandview Boulevard, and observing the high levels of traffic in what is a residential area, I have to give the bypass my reluctant support.  However, moving forward I would like to see us concentrate on re-developing in already developed, vacant properties; find ways to provide fast, nimble, size-appropriate transit that could both reduce our tendency to sprawl, have to account for and pay for that sprawl, while winning us all back the time we spend on our commutes.
In light of the recent problems with the BID Board, what role does the Common Council have in restoring peace in downtown Waukesha?
Jankowski

I think the duty of the Common Council in this situation is to let the BID residents know that we, the Common Council, do listen to their concerns and needs, and we support the position of the BID Taxpayer. The BID exists at the behest of the BID taxpayer, and the taxpayers proved that by signing a petition to dissolve the BID district. If the taxpayers feel this strongly about it, then the Common Council should listen.

Krumins The Common Council needs to act as a citizen's voice on the board, act as a facilitator, and if necessary, arbitrate disputes.  At this point, we need to get at the bottom of the differences, behind closed doors if needs be, and negotiate a path that can leave us with a downtown that continues to, in many ways, be a model for the "thriving" downtown in a Wisconsin city.  What is your position on the city's quest for Great Lakes water and to what level have you researched the issue?
Jankowski

I think getting the water from Lake Michigan is a great idea, and I am glad that we are pursuing it through Oak Creek. This is the best course of action that the city can take, and I support it 100 percent.

I have attended the water information meetings from last year, and I have spoken with the Waukesha Water Utility Manager, Dan Duchniak concerning this issue. While I am not a subject matter expert on this, I will say that I know what is going on, and the efforts that the water utility is doing to secure water for the city.

Krumins

My own preference would have been for Milwaukee water, given the upgrades their facilities undertook after their cryptosporidium outbreak, the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Milwaukee, and what appeared to be simpler infrastructural requirements.  However, I can live with contracting with Oak Creek.  I am concerned, in general, with our being subject to rate increases and if the costs of infrastructure maintenance have been included in all the comparisons.

I have been keeping abreast of the issue for the past several years through both online and print sources, including looking at the presentations that were made to the Common Council.

With city budgets being extremely tight each year, what are your top budget priorities? Jankowski

Finding more ways to save money, in other areas for consideration.  Can a service be subcontracted out, and if so, how much will it save the taxpayers of Waukesha? Can overtime be reduced? Or eliminated?

Krumins My highest budget priorities fall under public safety. However, one of the things I want to look at is untying our water utilities charges for sewer from those of water.  It's no longer either safe to, or I think desirable to, assume that all water delivered returns into our sewers.  Too many people are making a concerted effort to retain water on their properties, whether it was delivered by the water utility or from the skies.


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