County supervisor joins race for mayor
Town elections have yet to draw candidates
Dec. 22, 2009 | 0 comments
And then there were six.
Waukesha County Supervisor Thomas Schellinger, a former Brookfield alderman, is the latest resident to announce his candidacy for mayor. He joins a crowded field that includes the incumbent mayor, past and present aldermen, and the city's longest-serving municipal judge.
Schellinger joins Mayor Jeff Speaker, 4th District Alderman Steve Ponto, former municipal judge Richard Steinberg, former School Board member and alderman David Marcello and longtime Brookfield resident Roger Bielinski in the race.
The field of candidates will be trimmed to two in the Feb. 16 primary election. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April 6 general election.
Schellinger, who was re-elected to the Waukesha County Board in 2008, also will be running to keep his supervisory seat.
He served as an alderman in Brookfield from 2000 to 2006, and said he is running for mayor on the strength of his platform - his goals include making "strong, safe neighborhoods" and practicing fiscal responsibility - as well as his experience and his desire to serve as an advocate for Brookfield residents.
Government should "mirror the private sector" in cutting back on spending given the current economic climate, he said. He said if elected, he would propose no increase in the city tax bill for the 2011 budget cycle, a move that likely would mean cuts.
"There are going to be some budget sacrifices that are going to have to be required," he said.
Schellinger also said he wants to maintain the quality of life in Brookfield's neighborhoods by "making them safer and more kid-friendly."
The mayor serves a four-year term and will make $99,149 a year through 2012, with 2 percent increases scheduled in 2013 and 2014.
Half of the city's 14 aldermanic seats also are up for election this spring. As of Tuesday, all seven incumbents had announced their intentions to run for re-election, and challengers had either announced their intention or had filed the needed paperwork to run for office in districts 4, 5 and 6.
Aldermen serve four-year terms and are paid $9,911 annually.
Town of Brookfield
Town Clerk Jane Carlson said Tuesday that no one had filed the paperwork necessary to have their name appear on the ballet in the races for the two town supervisor seats up for election. The incumbents are John Schatzman and Patrick Stroebel, and both have indicated their interest in recapturing their posts.
Town supervisors make $5,000 a year and serve two-year terms.
Nomination papers are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 5 in the city clerk's or town clerk's office. Incumbents have until Dec. 28 to declare they will not seek re-election.
AT A GLANCE
Half of Brookfield's mayoral candidates have set up Web sites:
David Marcello: marcelloformayor.com
Steven Ponto: pontoformayor.com
Thomas Schellinger: schellingerformayor.com
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