Meet the candidates running for Portage County District 6 supervisor in the April 2 election
Incumbent Shaun Przybylski will face challenger Timothy Johnson for the District 6 seat on the Portage County Board in the April 2 election.
Portage County supervisors serve two-year terms. All 25 Portage County Board seats are up for election this spring.
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The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the county and why they are running for the position.
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Timothy Johnson
Age: 45
Residence: Stevens Point
Occupation and education: IT support analyst; associate degree in computer information systems/programmer analyst
Relevant experience: This is only my second campaign.
Shaun Przybylski
Age: 45
Residence: Stevens Point
Occupation and education: Library assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; bachelor's degree in American history from the University of Minnesota in 2001
Relevant experience: Fifth generation Portage County resident. Current first-term County Board incumbent in the 6th District, member of the County Parks Commission, Health Care Center Committee and Justice Coalition. Citizen member of the Stevens Point Board of Park Commissioners, board member for the Stevens Point Youth Baseball Association and member of Friends of 90fm.
Campaign website/Facebook page: Shaun Przybylski for Portage County Board on Facebook
Why are you running for office?
Johnson: A strong desire to make a contribution in my community and serve my fellow citizens.
Przybylski: I’m running for reelection because having seen how our county government works from the inside for a couple of years now, I know how vital it is to make sure we keep supervisors on the board who are committed to listening to their constituents, voting with science, acting with integrity and transparency, and holding current leadership accountable for their actions. There’s a lot of work to be done right now, and I want to keep at it.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues in the county, and how would you address them?
Johnson: The justice center, health care center and road repairs.
Przybylski: The three largest issues in front of the county, and the ones I hear the most about whether by email, phone, or in person, are the exact three issues listed below: the Justice Center, the Health Care Center, and groundwater pollution, so I’ll address those individually. However, there’s one major, overarching problem that ties these issues together, along with many other less-visible issues that committees and the board deal with on a regular basis: A pervasive and fundamental lack of transparency, and a lack of respect for (and sometimes even outright hostility toward) the public by some individual supervisors.
The future of the Portage County Justice Center and the need for a new jail has been discussed for decades? What would you like to see happen with a new jail, justice center and courthouse?
Johnson: I toured the jail to get a firsthand view of the situation and safety concerns. The juvenile center was a highlighted safety concern.
Przybylski: I think everyone agrees on two basic facts: We desperately need a new jail, and our courthouse needs to be more functional and secure. The sticking points are too complex for 100 words, but to summarize, personal motivations and unwillingness to compromise continue to doom this project, and egos and resentments need to be put aside to find a solution. That said, I’d consider voting for a plan that keeps a renovated courthouse downtown and moves a jail/law enforcement center to a green site, but would look very closely and critically at the details and design of such a planned facility.
In 2022, Portage County residents approved a referendum to build a new Portage County Health Care Center. Due to a variety of concerns and issues that has not yet happened. What would you like to see happen with the county-owned Health Care Center?
Johnson: Find the best option to both lower the tax burden and reduce or eliminate the annual financial losses the county is experiencing.
Przybylski: As a member of the Health Care Center Committee, I’ve been seeing this process play out firsthand for the last two years, and our current situation is disheartening in so many ways. Leadership and some supervisors have blocked the additional referendum we were hoping to put before the voters of the county in April to gauge support for continuing to run the facility as a Portage County operation. But the last referendum we had showed overwhelming public support for the county home. For that reason, I’ll continue to represent the voice of the voters and oppose any sale of the Health Care Center.
Clean drinking water is a top concern for many in the county. If elected, how would you work to ensure safe drinking water for all residents?
Johnson: We need to take any and all measures to ensure proper drinking water. I too find myself filtering my drinking water and not everyone can do that. Listening to all points of view on this topic is crucial. We cannot dismiss a viewpoint if we disagree with that person. All perspectives must be considered. Safe and clean water is the primary concern. Monetary needs and reducing costs are a secondary concern. We cannot place finances above safety.
Przybylski: Counties are mandated to safeguard our natural resources, so this shouldn’t even be up for debate. Much needs to be done that’s unfortunately being blocked in the LAWCON committee: We need to help our farmers find ways to address methods and reduce contamination without impacting their bottom line, we need to help families dealing with the impacts of this pollution, and we need to look at all the data to even know the full extent of the problem. I’ll keep listening to the experts and pushing to make these things happen. Quite simply, our current leadership continues to fail all of us on this issue.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: April 2024 election: Portage County Board District 6 candidates
