|
NAME: Mark A. Huesmann ADDRESS: N7012 PHONE NUMBER: (608)
526-2881 E-MAIL: mark@huesmannlaw.com AGE: 39 NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN FAMILY: Wife, Sonja (married 13 years) and two
boys, Ryan (7) and EDUCATION: B.A.—History from UW-Milwaukee, 1991; Juris Doctorate from the OCCUPATION (if retired,
former occupation): Attorney, licensed
in ELECTED OFFICES HELD
(include years served): Holmen Area
School District Board of Education:
2002 to present. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND
MEMBERSHIPS: Member of the Adjunct professor, UW-La Crosse. I teach one section per semester—Business
Law (205). La Crosse County Court Commissioner, Branch III. Board member and past president of the Holmen Area
Foundation. Board member and past vice-president of the La Crosse
County Historical Society. Member of the state bar association for both
A. Why do you want to
serve on the La Crosse County Board? As a two term
member of the B. What are the two most pressing issues facing 1. As a current member of the Holmen board of
education, I am keenly aware of the need to bring more industry to the area
in an effort to reducing mounting property taxes on residential home owners. Unless we mount a concerted effort, now, in
terms of bringing more industry to the area, particularly Holmen, residential
taxes will continue to increase. 2. Government needs to work smarter and more
efficiently. As growth continues,
there will be a greater melding of the communities of The next several
questions will ask your feelings about past and future actions by the county
board. Please answer by putting an “X” next to the statement that most
closely reflects your view. Then, please explain your reasons in writing 1. Do you support or
oppose reducing the size of the county board by half? Strongly Support Support No opinion Oppose X Strongly Oppose Reason: With certain exceptions, the county board
operates effectively and efficiently.
I have seen nothing demonstrative of the need to reduce the size of
the board. 2. With the switch to a
county administrator four years ago, how satisfied are you with the county
board’s new role as a board of directors that makes policy decisions rather
than operational decisions? Very satisfied Satisfied No opinion X Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Reason: Frankly, this is an
issue that I would have to be on the board to truly assess. I think a board needs to be careful not to
delegate too much of its leadership and decision making roles to paid
staff. The county administrator and
board should, of necessity, work closely together but also be cognizant of
each other’s position and limitations. 3. How satisfied are you
with the county administrator's new four-year contract? Very satisfied Satisfied No opinion Unsatisfied X Very unsatisfied Reason: Like many others, I was
a bit shocked at the salary that was contained in the contract. 4. How satisfied are you
with the proposed “smart growth” comprehensive plan scheduled for county
board approval in coming months? Very satisfied Satisfied No opinion X Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Reason: The concept behind
“smart growth” is wise. Considering
the extensive growth that 5. Do you support or
oppose having the county board hold a referendum before borrowing money for
buildings or other capital projects? Strongly Support Support No opinion Oppose X Strongly Oppose Reason: I presume that when the
electorate sends someone to the board, they are doing so with a degree of
trust that he or she will make wise decisions. Local government is an interesting mix of
direct and representative democracy.
However, the board has to have a certain degree of latitude in terms
of spending money. Referendums are
important, but should be used, sparingly.
They should be held on a limited number of issues, only, lest the
importance of the referendum, as a concept, gets watered down. 6. Do you support or
oppose Strongly Support Support No opinion Oppose Strongly Oppose X Reason: I don’t believe
government should have involvement in what is a private venture project. If the county wants to sell the property to
assist with the budget or long terms projects, I am fine with that. But we don’t need the county competing
against private developers or others in a for- profit venture. That is a line I do not think government
should cross. 7. Do you support or
oppose Strongly Support X Support No opinion Oppose Strongly Oppose Reason: As a lawyer who
has represented many criminal defendants over the past thirteen years, I am
keenly aware of the complex problems that some in our society face. There are times when someone wrongs society
and needs to go to jail. Many other
cases, however, are not that easy. The
Justice Sanctions program has been successful in terms of reducing jail costs
to the county while at the same time addressing the ills behind those crimes,
such as drug and alcohol abuse. I
support any program that keeps the community safe, reduces costs, and
ultimately helps the offender. Justice
Sanctions seems to do all three. 8. Do you support or
oppose spending more of the county's budget reserves to reduce the property
tax levy? Strongly Support Support No opinion X Oppose Strongly Oppose Reason: I will need to learn
more about this issue. On the one
hand, I could argue that wise planning and budgeting should not result in the
county having a reserve fund. In
other words, if the county will not use it, then give it back to the taxpayers. That being said, I am a business owner and
understand the need to have reserve funds available because no one can
predict the future. I will need to
take a look at the hard numbers on this.
But, I don’t believe that our current county board has been
irresponsible with the taxpayer’s money. 9. Do you support or
oppose the state of Strongly Support Support No opinion Oppose X Strongly Oppose Reason: I understand the
need to keep property taxes in check.
But, I believe we are more than capable of taking care of our own
local matters. We don’t need to take
our marching orders from 10. Do you support or
oppose the county's plans for a $29.5 million jail expansion? Strongly Support Support X No opinion Oppose Strongly Oppose Reason: Actually, what I support
is looking at why, only ten years after the jail was built, we are expanding
again. Could these things have not
been projected? After all, was it wise
to build a new courthouse and jail in 1997 without considering that the
women’s jail across the street was inadequate? I think this was poor planning. That being said, and despite the progress
of the Justice Sanctions program, the need is there. |
|
|