Portage Co. District 3 candidate: We need to improve community divisions, jail facility
Metro Wire Staff
Voters head to the polls on April 5 to decide the outcome of several races including the Portage Co. Board of Supervisors. All 25 seats are up for election simultaneously and there are two candidates for each seat.
The spring election is on April 5. Voters can register, and check their registration status, at myvote.wi.gov.
In District 3, newcomers to local government Kevin Flatoff and Lionel Weaver will vie for the seat. Flatoff did not submit answers to the League’s questions.
Questions by the Stevens Point Area League of Women Voters. Verbatim answers from Weaver follow:
What background and experience do you bring to the position of County Supervisor?
Professionally, I’ve been an attorney for 20 years. It’s exposed me to a broad range of challenging business and legal issues. It’s taught me how to really listen to people and provide them with advice on difficult problems. It’s also taught me how to think critically and carefully examine situations in a balanced and thoughtful way so I’m in a position to make informed decisions.
On a personal note, I’m married to Danielle, an educator, and we have a son, Cormac, who’s in first grade at Jefferson Elementary. Being a father and husband regularly serves as a helpful reminder of what really matters in life.
What do you see as the most important issues facing Portage County and how would you address them?
Economic development is always an important issue to consider as we look to the future, particularly given how the disruption caused by the pandemic has shifted the ways people work and even their views on the role work play in their lives. We have economic development programs at the municipal level, and organizations like the Portage County Business Council that are very active in fostering economic growth, but I’d like to see if there are opportunities for the county to play a larger role in local economic development initiatives.
I think the divisiveness we’re seeing in our community is another important issue that needs to be addressed. We all have different views, backgrounds, interests, and values. Rather than embracing this diversity and using it to our collective advantage, it seems like there are times we’ve become more focused on the issues that divide us at the expense of being aware of what we all have in common. Let’s be more open to the views of others. And when we disagree with each other, let’s find ways to do it more respectfully.
Do you support the Portage County referendum to raise tax levy limits by up to $ 4.5 million to construct and operate a new modular, more energy-efficient Health Care Center? Why or why not?
I support the referendum and am hopeful residents will give it a yes vote. Residents in our community who are elderly or have disabilities deserve access to suitable health care, and the county has a long history of providing these services. But, our current facility is no longer adequate, and the county has spent the last five years evaluating various options for its future. With voter approval, the county will be in a position to move forward with plans for a new modern facility that will keep health care available for those who need it.
A 2018 study found that 24% of the wells tested in Portage County exceed safe drinking water standards for nitrates. How would you work with state and county officials, farmers, and private well owners to help ensure all wells in Portage County meet safe drinking water standards?
Having access to safe drinking water is essential, and I think we need to involve all stakeholder groups to hear and understand their views and concerns, evaluate possible ways to move forward, and collectively develop practical mitigation strategies that will help us reduce contamination levels. Increased education on the issues, expanded testing resources for private well owners, and possible state funding and resources for mitigation efforts should all be explored.
Jail and courthouse space needs are an ongoing problem. What are the barriers to resolving this issue, and how could they be addressed?
Deciding on the future of our aging courthouse and jail facilities is an important issue, and I think finding the means to fund needed improvements and reaching a consensus on the future location of the facilities are the primary barriers to a pathway forward. There are always going to be competing needs for funding, and being a responsible steward of our taxpayer dollars is critical. So I think we need to make a decision on the priority for addressing the current state of the facilities as it relates to other needs and contemplated projects in the county. As part of the calculation, I think we should weigh the possible consequences of not improving the facilities (for example, a significant injury or death) and the negative impact those events could have on the county. Assuming improvement is a priority (and I believe it should be), working to evaluate funding options would be the next logical step.
As for the location, I understand there are two competing viewpoints—keep the facilities downtown where they are today or move them out to the east side of Stevens Point. Reaching an informed decision on the location is essential to moving forward, and as part of any effort to make that decision, I would want to hear from both sides. I would also want to evaluate and understand what impacts a relocation of the facilities would have on Steven’s Point downtown and its businesses.
How do you see the role of the Diversity Affairs and Inclusion committee fitting with your vision of Portage County in the next 5 years?
The committee is relatively young, having only been in existence since 2020. We also know that the committee will be made up of new Board Supervisors after the election so I think it’s going to be a critical time to build on the important foundation the committee has established and look for ways to grow and mature the county’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. I hope we’ll see the committee’s role expand as part of continued efforts to promote and foster a culture of openness in county government, and more generally in the county as a whole. There will be opportunities to collaborate with the business sector, our municipalities, the university, and other interested organizations (like CREATE Portage County), and I think it’s important to explore ways to coordinate our efforts.
