Candidates for District 6 City Council seat answer questions before primary
Metro Wir Staff
Three candidates will square off in the Feb. 20 primary election for the city’s 6th District.
Dale Steinmetz, Chris Tiffany, and Jason Behrendt are all up for election on the spring ballot. The top two vote getters will advance to the general election in April.
Incumbent David Plaisance decided last October that he would not seek a full term in the seat.
Stevens Point Council members serve two-year terms in staggered elections, with even-numbers seats up for reelection in even-numbers years.
Questions by League of Women Voters of the Stevens Point Area
Jason Behrendt
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that help you to take a leadership role serving as the District 6 City Alder.
I’m Jason Behrendt, and I am running for District 6 Alderperson. I attended Washington Elementary, P.J. Jacobs Junior High, and SPASH. I graduated from Northwestern University focusing on Learning and Organizational Change. I have worked in the fields of healthcare, transportation, sports, and hospitality. I have been a part of many committees, working groups and sat on many boards that included many hard decisions concerning strategy and finance and I excel at working with others. I love working together to find the best solution for all. A loving husband to my wife Jenn, A forever grateful father to Avett and Harrison, and a plan to spend the rest of my life in Stevens Point.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I cherish this city. There’s a need to grow in every direction while paying close attention to all residents and their respective stages of the life that they have cultivated here no matter how long they have called this wonderful city home. And at a pace that can satisfy their current and ever-changing standard of living while making changes that are fiscally responsible and offer return on investment.
What are the top three issues facing Stevens Point and how would you approach addressing them?
In my opinion you can’t pinpoint three top issues concerning all of Stevens Point simply because those would be widely subjective to different residents in different districts or neighborhoods. My strategy as an alderperson is a spiral with a starting point in the 6th district making sure those residents’ voices are heard, their needs are addressed, and they feel they have a safe outlet to express concerns and feedback.
For example, the neighborhoods on the Far East Side of District 6 have expressed strong interest in keeping that area strictly residential and I would fight to keep the promise the City Council made to them in not moving any of the city operations to a location within their quiet and friendly neighborhood that the city has identified as a potential area to build new city owned structures with the threat of becoming a parking lot to large vehicles. District 6, like all the other districts, is comprised of all walks of life from starter homes with and without families to retirees.
Another hot topic while speaking with my neighbors in the 6th district is the education and understanding of their new home assessments and how that can impact those on a fixed income. Some have felt that their assessments are fair and are impressed with the new value of their homes. But others show some distress and anxiety and feel they have been treated unfairly. I want to help those with a course of action. One retired household that I had a long conversation with was assessed as having a finished basement. She took me downstairs to show me that it was not finished, and she had questions on the next steps and how to appeal their assessment.
I want to be the one that helps my district answer those questions. My spiral agenda continues to spread to the neighboring districts while working closely with those elected representatives to accomplish the needs of those residents. Eventually the spiral encompasses all of Stevens Point with the greater good of the whole community. Stevens Point has several new projects in current discussion. These are expensive to the city residents who bear the burden of funding these projects and there is a responsibility to residents that these will result in tax revenue. I don’t believe in Field of Dreams and “if you build it, they will come” logic when it comes to making large commitments to building structures resulting in raised taxes. What I do believe in is “they have come so we need to build it.” I don’t think it is fair to use paid studies that compare our wonderful city to the likes of Madison or La Crosse. We are different than those communities with different needs. These large and expensive projects in the planning stages need to be of value to the entire community and each district deserves a strong voice for those projects. The revitalization of the old downtown Shopko property being one of those examples.
Building more affordable and market value housing, retail space, while creating new opportunities for food and beverage and new office space for small businesses that can generate new tax revenue is both important to the downtown and the entire Stevens Point area, and I will be the biggest champion for that each and every day. But before big taxpayer money decisions like that are made, there needs to be a more localized study to assess our city’s needs. One being traffic flow and parking. I am a small business owner and at one time I had an office downtown right above Main Street. I had to move from that office simply for the fact that I could not find a parking space within a reasonable distance to sustain my location. The two-hour parking rule and no vacancy in the city lots was an issue I could not overcome. I want to be a voice for those in the same situations. These seem like minor details, but it became a major influence on where I could work every day. Stevens Point must learn from previous endeavors. I think the Centerpoint Mall was constructed the same year Chris Chelios started his NHL career. Chelios retired after the mall was deemed unusable. So, when deciding on big projects like the revitalization of downtown, the whole city needs to come together through their elected representatives to create something that will last longer than a player’s career and far longer than 25 years. There needs to be additional focus on all aspects of life not confined to the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, etc. Bringing real life experience to these meetings is a good thing to share with other board members that may not have encountered the same experience and helps shed light on certain areas of development that can be overlooked and just assumed. I am asking for your votes in both the preliminary and major elections.
Dale Steinmetz
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that help you to take a leadership role serving as the District 6 City Alder.
Stevens Point is home to me. It is where I went to kindergarten through high school, where I learned to love servant leadership, and where I was taught the value of community.
My leadership journey began at Bannach Elementary when I became a member of the student council in 5th grade. I continued with student leadership through my senior year at Stevens Point Area Senior High, where I was the student senate president, class treasurer, co-founder of the theater club, founder of an anti-bullying organization, and a member of the Stevens Point Area Public School District strategic planning committee.
During these years I was also molded by resources outside the school system. I had the opportunity to be a part of Teen Leadership Portage County, two youth leadership camps, mission trips, and serving as a voting representative on my church’s ruling body.
In 2017 I went to Oshkosh for college. At UW-Oshkosh I majored in economics, connected with professors and peers, and worked with student organizations. Some of the things I’m most proud of from my time in college include being president of the economics student association, president of hall council, the volunteer coordinator for the National Residence Hall Honorary, liaison to United Students in Residence Halls, a community development specialist with Residence Life, a volunteer with the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade in Neenah/Menasha, a mission trip chaperone, and an economics tutor. Public Sector Economics was one of my favorite courses at UWO. The class was intended for juniors and seniors, but when my professor noticed me helping classmates as a sophomore, she recommended that I become a tutor for the department.
I moved back to Stevens Point from Oshkosh to be closer to my family and begin my career at Delta Dental. In my one and a half years with the company, I’ve worked hard to demonstrate my commitment to excellence in both internal and external interactions. My role at the firm has allowed me to hone and implement the skills I’ve attained, a practice I hope to continue as alderman of District 6.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
I believe in the power of fresh perspectives and dynamic leadership. Positive change within our community is possible. With a background in leadership roles outside of government, I bring a unique outlook that blends experience with youthful energy. I am running for alderman to ensure that our district has a representative that will champion their causes and concerns.
Having held leadership positions in various capacities, I understand the importance of constructive decision-making and informed planning. I am eager to leverage this experience to address the challenges our community faces. My candidacy represents an opportunity to inject new ideas and innovative solutions into the process of local government.
My youthful perspective is a valuable asset in understanding and addressing the concerns of a diverse and evolving community. I aim to bridge the gap between different age groups, so that policies resonate with the needs and aspirations of all residents. Strategically embracing technology and modernity, I plan to push for a more inclusive, transparent, accessible, and accountable local government.
Service to the community is at the core of my values. I have a genuine passion for making a positive impact on people’s lives. By actively listening to the concerns and ideas of my constituents, I hope to foster effective collaboration. Through town hall meetings, open forums, and multimodal communication, I aspire to create an environment where the voices of District 6 are heard and every opinion matters.
I am committed to being an alderman who not only leads but also listens, ensuring that our district and city thrive in the face of new challenges and opportunities.
What are the top three issues facing Stevens Point and how would you approach addressing them?
Stevens Point stands at a crossroads, and together, we have the power to sculpt a vibrant and resilient future. Three key areas that demand attention and action include: strategic development, responsible budgeting, and fostering community engagement.
Strategic Development – Let’s envision a city that grows with purpose. Development is challenging, and change is inevitable, it’s important that how the city changes align with the desires of those who live here. Stevens Point will need to engage in open conversations about where and how we want to see these changes unfold. Whether it is downtown, or in District 6, the input of our constituents matters. The more we can have transparent discussions and offer outlets to share our vision, the more collaboratively we can shape the blueprint for the city’s growth. By focusing on strategic development, we can rest assured that the future holds a blend of spaces that reflect our shared values.
Responsible Budgeting – Our city’s financial health is a shared responsibility. I’ll advocate for responsibility in budget management. As alderman I will stay informed, participate in budget discussions, and make sure the input of District 6 residents is taken seriously. Offering sensible incentives to see desired changes falls under the category of Responsible Budgeting and Strategic Development. By aligning our priorities and making informed choices, we can ensure that our budget reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.
Community Engagement – Stevens Point thrives when we’re all actively involved. Making our city a place where everyone feels heard and valued is important to me. The unique tapestry of Stevens Point is composed of individuals. If a constituent of District 6 brings an issue to my attention, that issue must be important to them – I will treat it as such. Whether it’s a park or pothole that needs tending to, or the city’s development plans, as alderman I will attend to their needs to the best I can. I want every constituent of District 6 and citizen of Stevens Point to be empowered, and proud to call this place home.
Chris Tiffany
Please share a brief biography of your education, background and life experiences that help you to take a leadership role serving as District 6 Alder.
Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Chris Tiffany, the second oldest of six children, and I was homeschooled from K-12, primarily in the Stevens Point area. However, I moved 14 times before I turned 16, living all over Wisconsin and Montana. I had the pleasure of attending UWMC in Wausau and MSTC in Wisconsin Rapids for business and IT, where I founded what is now Sprinter Business Solutions.
For the last 15 years, I’ve had the honor of serving local and regional community members, gaining insights into the struggles, challenges, and successes of many people. Whether it was from behind the counter in one of my retail stores on Business 51 fixing a broken cell phone, or now working with businesses to overcome the challenges of operating in today’s climate. I’ve had the privilege of employing hundreds of individuals over the years from all over the region, growing through the challenges of economic and environmental changes with the success of those who I’m responsible for at the forefront of all that I’ve done. My vision for business is to be a craftsman of technology, and my vision for serving my community is to be a craftsman of the future, doing the right thing for the desired end results. It’s not always the fastest or the cheapest but the best choice for the long term. Bringing my passion for people and long-term success to the City Council, I believe, will help this community and the city continue to grow in the right direction.
Why are you running for this office and what do you hope to accomplish?
When my wife Jenna, a UWSP graduate, and I bought our home in the 6th district in 2021, I knew I wanted to serve the community in more than just a business aspect. Working with the Mayor and various departments, I joined the Administrative and Zoning Boards of Appeals and was also appointed to the Department of Public Works Board. In running for Alderperson, I hope to bring my experience in business, leadership, people, and growth with an outlook on long-term success to my community and the city as a whole. I will be a voice of reason, committed to action, and always open to constituent input with open communication paths for all. I hope to help the 6th district and the city continue to be better today than we were yesterday.
What are the top three issues facing Stevens Point and how would you approach addressing them?
Many of these items are currently being addressed by departments and city personnel. However, as an Alderperson, it’s critical to get constituent input and represent the district and city for success.
- Transportation infrastructure: This encompasses projects like Business 51, continued road rebuilding and maintenance on secondary streets, public transportation, charging infrastructure for future growth, and designing communities for a better tomorrow. Striking the balance between cost and results is always a tough thing, but if Stevens Point has learned anything in the last 20 years, it’s that kicking the can down the road doesn’t lower costs. I’m a firm believer in well-planned and executed decisions backed by science and data.
- Housing: There is a shortage of housing at all levels. Encouraging and managing housing growth is critical to meet the needs of all, be it affordable housing via subsidies or new houses of high quality opening the door for older, lower-cost housing to enter the market. Allowing smaller footprint housing to be built in the city on smaller lots, like we have, is an option that I personally support to aid in the challenges of housing and homelessness.
- Job growth: Continuing to recruit and build for business growth will allow continued future success. Things like TIF districts and other community development initiatives, as well as our continued efforts in national and global business recruitment, must continue to build a successful job base for our future.