Esche, Reiland Face Off in April 5 Election

The two candidates for the District 13 aldermanic election have seen public concerns switch in the past few months.

Both Andy Reiland and Phil Esche said their neighbors originally were concerned with taxes, the city’s future water source and the west Waukesha bypass.

Now, as the budget repair bill battle continues in Madison and with massive cuts in state funding coming to local municipalities, the two candidates have seen a shift.

“Since everything that has happened in Madison the last few weeks, besides the water, it has been people wondering how the cutbacks (will impact the community and the city’s tax rate),” Esche said.

Both Esche and Reiland said they don’t want to see the city’s taxes increase. Under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2011-13 budget, city taxes would remain frozen unless there was new development to offset the increase.

“I am telling everyone, first of all, I do not want to see the taxes increase,” Reiland said. “I will fight tooth and nail to make sure the residents of Waukesha don’t see a higher tax rate.”

Esche said his extensive background in sales and advertising has taught him how to learn about people and their passions. He wants to use that same listening approach as an alderman.

“I understand how to put a team together,” Esche said. “I understand working with people. I understand being able to share. It is not my way or the highway. You have an idea or a thought of how things should be done.”

Esche said he doesn’t want to see cliques on the Common Council but wants to work together with the 15-member body and the mayor.

“We need to work together as 15 people working together for the good together,” Esche said. “Are we always going to agree? No, but we need to come up with a happy medium.”

Esche said he decided a year and a half ago that he wanted to get involved with city government and being an alderman is a way to do so now that his children have grown up.

“Some of the things that have happened lately that have been really pleasing have been the vitality and the revitalization of the downtown area,” Esche said.

Reiland said that as each day goes by, he becomes increasingly excited about the possibility of becoming the alderman who will replace outgoing Alderman Rick Tortomasi. He originally was asked by a few of his neighbors to run and as he watched the recent political climate in the past year, his decision was made.

“The voters really spoke out,” Reiland said. “You could tell the voters were excited. I think that some started to actually have faith in their government again. I want to take that to the local level.”

Reiland wants to use his website to increase communication and encourage area residents to vote in upcoming elections.

When it comes to working with the mayor and the Common Council, Reiland said he considers himself as a team player who knows what is like to work with others.

“We all need to be at least moving forward,” Reiland said. “Any personality conflicts need to be set aside so eth city doesn’t suffer … I am very positive on Waukesha. Waukesha is a great city to live, to raise a family.