Politics & Government

Village President Candidates Focus on Pending Affects of Budget Repair Bill

Incumbent Barb Dickmann faces newcomer Mike Rintelman in Tuesday's general election.

Saukville village president candidates say the progress of the Budget Repair Bill will greatly affect the challenges that lay ahead for the board and its members.

Gov. Scott Walker's proposal is "going to be key in governing," incumbent Barb Dickmann said, "and I think its important that the government work with their union members to make sure that everyone is treated fairly."

Newcomer Mike Rintelman said while the budget brings positive change, the issue is going to be applying those changes properly.

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"I think the challenge is going to be, again with the Budget Repair Bill — is just really being able to do things differently," he said. "Yes … we’re going to lose some income, but the opportunity for saved revenue is great, too."

Rintelman said that challenges of the budget bill are fluid as municipalities wait for specific details on cuts to their areas, and several months ago it wasn't necessarily his biggest focus.

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"It's really changed," he said. "If you would have asked me two months a go — I think the big issue is transparency. If you’re not communicating your message … you really die on the vine — that’s really, really huge."

Both Rintelman and Dickmann have talked about the advantages would offer its residents.

Rintelman also hopes to work with the Milwaukee Area Technical College more closely, to see that the school doesn't continue collecting such a high rate of tax payer money without conversation.

"The next thing to do is work with MATC," he said. "The count-wide effort should say … we can’t just pay you whatever numbers you give us anymore."

Dickmann said it will also be important to see that the Highway 33 project be completed as planned. She also hopes to see more residential development in the area.

Dickmann and Rintelman will appear on the ballot for the general election on Tuesday.

More about the candidates
The Saukville village president makes $4,000 annually, and also earn $2,280 stiped for meeting attendance. They are allowed an excused absence from one regular meeting as well as a finance committee meeting before seeing deductions in pay of $85 per regular meeting missed, and $10 per finance meeting missed.

Barb Dickmann
"I will continue to maintain a very strict budget, I am very careful about the money that we spend."
Professional/educational background:
Graduated from Port Washington High School, attended some college with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, worked for 16 years at the Port Washington State Bank, then worked for almost 30 years as office manager for Elmer Winter the co-founder of ManPower International Inc., currently retired
Political experience: Saukville village president since 2003, appointed the the Saukville Village Board in 1999, also part of the Library Board in the 1990s
Community involvement: President of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, vice president and campaign chair for United Way of Northern Ozaukee County, board member at the Feith Family YMCA, member of the Port Washington Saukville Rotary Club, Member of FOCUS
Family: Married, four children
Age: 64
Address: 115 Friendship Lane, Saukville

Mike Rintelman
"If you’re not communicating your message … you really die on the vine — that’s really, really huge."
Professional/educational background:
Graduated with a bachelors degree in counseling and a masters of arts in counseling psychology, worked for 19 years in a nonprofit organization in Milwaukee, currently working at an outpatient clinic for rawhide
Political experience: Church board member for 12 years at Cornerstone Church in Grafton, on the Port Washington Youth Baseball Board for about five years
Community involvement: Coach little league
Family: Married, two children
Age: 43
Address: 130 Friendship Lane, Saukville

Patch will have more coverage on candidates leading up to the elections. Check this article to find out more information about who will be on the ballot, and check the site daily for detailed candidate information.


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