Manitowoc District 8 council candidates talk affordable housing, tourism ahead of April 2 election
MANITOWOC — Incumbent Bill Schlei is running against challenger Bradley Barnes for the District 8 seat on the Manitowoc Common Council in the April 2 spring election.
The seat holds a two-year term and represents a northern portion of the city that stretches north of Waldo Boulevard and a discontinued portion of the Canadian National rail line to the northern edge of the city's boundaries.
The Herald Times Reporter asked all candidates to fill out a questionnaire before the election explaining why they are running and their positions on issues.
Here are the responses from Barnes and Schlei. Some answers are edited for clarity and brevity.
For more about registering to vote and polling locations, visit myvote.wi.gov.
Preview the full ballot: Here's who's moving on to the general election after Tuesday's primary in Manitowoc County
Bradley Barnes
Age: 51
Occupation: Forklift operator at WGR mattress factory and part-time associate at Kay Jewelers in Green Bay.
Highest education level: Did not answer
Relevant experience: Did not answer
Bill Schlei
Age: 66
Occupation: Retired, works part-time for Ascend Services, Inc.
Highest education level: Did not answer.
Relevant experience: Public Safety chair for two years where I spearheaded efforts to get more electronic crosswalk signals in areas where children are present (examples include Citizens Park Aquatic Center and Boys & Girls Club). Recommended to council that we appropriate funds to replace the Fire Department’s 22-year-old snorkel truck with a new, safer and more efficient unit. Worked in concert with other council members and the city directors to bring new industries with high-paying jobs, filling the industrial park and taking unemployment from over 15% in 2020 down to 2.8% in January of 2024.
Why are you running for office?
Barnes: The main reason I am running, I wish to bring a fresh perspective to the common council. Being a first-time candidate, I offer a view from a working-class ordinary citizen.
Schlei: I am asking for one more term to finish projects that I have been championing for the last four years like more, better and affordable housing, fully staffing our police and fire departments, and bringing something new and great to where Mirro and the malls once stood.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Barnes: Not having previous political experience, what I bring to the council along with a fresh point of view is extensive experience with team building, management and leadership training. I wish to use these skills to keep our city moving forward with its current projects and complete the projects we have already started, like the vacant mall properties, and the unfinished Mirro building project. I am looking forward for the opportunity to serve and represent District 8 and bring a fresh viewpoint to City Hall.
Schlei: I’ve spent two terms in this office working diligently on behalf of my constituents in the best interests of our city. I have listened to my constituents, some of the senior council members and the mayor to learn parliamentary procedure and how to network with the city directors and city attorney to get legislation drafted and passed. With the experience and knowledge gained, I feel I can use one more term to accomplish even more than I have for the betterment of the city and our residents.
What are the two biggest challenges for the city of Manitowoc right now, and how would you overcome them?
Barnes: We need a stronger middle class with higher-paying career opportunities. Our young families also need more affordable housing options. We could do that by sharing the efforts spent on promoting the downtown area with attracting larger companies from the outside of our community. Housing development should also include affordable options in the districts that surround the downtown. With a stronger middle class, more investment would come from within our local community and, in turn, promote the growth and retail downtown. Tourism is not our only option to promote growth, and retail needs a strong local population to survive.
Schlei: The biggest challenge is housing, of all kinds. The current council has projects approved for further development of townhouses on the River North peninsula and more developers in the wings who want to follow suit. Currently, there is an approved plan for a 55-unit apartment complex for low-income residents on the former Mirro site and plans are in the works for possible apartments, single-family homes and retail on the old mall sites. Public Safety is always an ongoing challenge and the one thing we as alders truly owe to our constituents. Job one should be getting our police and fire departments fully staffed, which, unfortunately, they are not. So we need to remove mileage restrictions for new fire and police officers.
What is your vision for this community?
Barnes: I want the city of Manitowoc to be known as a first choice for young families to settle and raise their children. I believe we can do that by promoting a strong and prosperous middle class. A strong middle class requires employment opportunities, educational opportunities, affordable housing and affordable child care. I feel that although the downtown area looks great and there are signs of growth, we need to shift our efforts as a community from being on tourism and festivals to focusing on making this city attractive for our next generations to stay here and raise their families. That will promote investments from that group which will keep our city and its downtown growing.
Schlei: My vision is to put our city in a position to attract new residents, preferably young people, to live, work and play here. I’d like to see our population exceed 40,000 by 2030 and expand the tax base so that our large senior community will be shouldering less of a tax burden.
What are your thoughts on the current budget for the city?
Barnes: The city budget needs to stay in alignment with the needs of the city. Keeping in mind that there are always greater needs just around the corner. Needs such as our aging ladder trucks for the fire department, wage increases for our public employees to keep pace with inflation, and aging buildings and parks. Referring to my previous answers, growth among our middle class will promote a larger tax base which in turn will give us the opportunity to keep our tax rates in line with the needs.
Schlei: The current city budget was constructed by a council that I affectionately call a “band of rivals.” There were months of spirited debate, discussion, some hand-wringing and a lot sleepless nights. But in the end, the council approved, by a majority vote of 8 to 2, a compromise budget that keeps Manitowoc moving forward but within its means.
Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Bill Schlei, Bradley Barnes battle for Manitowoc council District 8
