Governing styles clash in Milton mayoral race

Nathan W. Bruce

Tom Chesmore

MILTON — Milton's mayor is facing a challenger for the first time since he won the position 10 years ago.

Councilman Tom Chesmore is challenging Mayor Nate Bruce for the position.

Chesmore says he believes Milton needs a change. Bruce wants another term to see the beginnings of the reconstruction of highways 59 and 26.

Here are the candidates' positions on a few issues:

Governing style

Chesmore: Chesmore said Bruce relies too much on the opinion of city staff.

"Their opinions are probably not going to carry the weight (with me) that they carry with Mayor Bruce."

City government has become more open in recent years, but the council needs to hear more viewpoints, he wrote in an e-mail to The Janesville Gazette.

"The council needs to see things from every point of view, not just the point of view that is put in front of them," he wrote.

Chesmore said as mayor, he would listen more to council members, especially on issues such as agenda items and committee placements.

Bruce: Bruce defended his style of government.

"You do rely a lot on city staff because they're there on a day-to-day basis where the elected officials are not. So you have to rely on them first. I always rely on elected officials to vote. That's the important function that they have. I haven't vetoed anything in all the years I've been mayor. I strongly believe in committees also and listen to what the committees recommend."

Bruce said he's good at handling problems, listening and compromising. He said city government has become more open since the city was sued by a group opposed to the United Ethanol plant agreement.

"You always think you're doing everything properly, but if there are some laws and ordinances that you have in the city that you are not aware of … when those are brought to light, that benefits everyone."

Priorities

Bruce: "The biggest issue facing anybody is the downsizing of the economy, loss of jobs and wages."

But the city still should focus on attracting new development, he said. "We should first of all take a look at getting more industry, getting more housing, getting more commercial, those kinds of things. It's a tough time right now, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways that you can do that."

The Highway 59 reconstruction, scheduled to start this year, will be an opportunity for the city to attract development.

Chesmore: "The budget challenges are going to get more and more every year, especially if we start moving toward the recommendation of doing something with our fire department, public works and so on. It's so hard to talk about things when you know you really can't tax for this stuff right now …

"The main challenges that are going to take place in the next three to five years is housing for our fire departments, housing for our public works and maintaining the same level of service our residents are used to."

Development

Chesmore: "Right now I don't think you're going to attract a lot of development. It'll probably take at least a good year or maybe two before things loosen up in the lending market."

As the state reconstructs highways 59 and 26, Chesmore would like the city to attract development along the Highway 26 bypass that will encourage people to drive into the city to shop.

"I'd like to see something that's more community-oriented, or something that will bring in the tourists from the campgrounds."

Bruce: The city should use incentives in its three tax incremental financing districts to attract development.

He hopes the city can find a single company to develop the area that will become the Highway 26/59 interchange.

"That's one of the main reasons I want to do another term is to ensure Highway 59 benefits the city to the greatest degree possible … We need a hotel or a motel kind of thing with a nice restaurant and a meeting place that's large. We don't have a meeting place. People have to go to the Pontiac Center (in Janesville) instead of going locally."