Ron Hardy for Oshkosh Common Council

Editorial: Tower, Herman
best bets for council

April 2, 2010

Oshkosh voters on Tuesday will send at least two
new faces to the Oshkosh Common Council from a
field of six solid candidates.

The campaign has been generally short on
controversy and contentious issues and long on
general agreement about big picture issues like the
need for the council to be active in long-range
planning, its relationship to the city manager and
economic development.

All of the candidates agree that the city stands at the
cusp of big changes with the reconstruction of
North Main Street and U.S. Highway 41, the long-
awaited start of the river walk, a developing bicycle
and pedestrian plan and a host of riverfront
development opportunities awaiting developers as
we emerge from the recession.

But through the primary election and the debates,
four candidates stood out as most worthy of
election to three council seats.

Our strongest recommendations go to incumbent
Councilor Burk Tower and political newcomer Steve
Herman.

Tower, dean of the University of Wisconsin College
of Business, is seeking his fourth term on the
council. In the past six years he has quietly brought
a well-reasoned approach to council decision
making and has shown the ability to be a leader and
a mediator for an often fractious council, recognizes
the council ought not be involved in the minutia of
applying policies, and is committed to the council
taking a central role in long-term planning and
setting the direction for the city.

Herman, a retired Winnebago County Sheriff’s
Department deputy, recognizes that he faces a steep
learning curve if elected. However, he brings to the
table a background in developing and finding
funding for community policing programs that he is
eager to apply to other city initiatives. He also
recognizes the need for flexibility in planning in
response to the city’s economic constraints and the
need to strike a balance between core services such
as police and fire protection and quality of life
initiatives. His understanding of the role of the
council as a board of directors in the city manager
form of government is encouraging and will help
the council become more efficient.

Two other candidates are worthy of voters’
consideration, although each may appeal to
different interests and sensibilities of the electorate.

Steve Cummings, a Realtor and former business
owner, would bring a business perspective to the
council. He is strongly pro-development, believes
the city’s role is to set the stage for development
and then let the private sector take over. He also
recognizes the important role the appearance of the
city and effective marketing play in economic
development, and is committed to improving and
maintaining quality customer service at City Hall for
residents, businesses, landlords and others who do
business with the city. Cummings also correctly
points out that the council meetings often drag out
far too long because of a mix of councilor rhetoric
and a lack of preparation.

Ron Hardy, a librarian at UWO, is a strong
proponent of incorporating sustainable practices
into city planning and development, and is alone in
pointing out that doing so opens new avenues for
winning grants and other funding to help defray city
costs. While some voters may be concerned about
having an imbalance of councilors affiliated with
UWO or the Green movement, others will be attracted
by Hardy’s commitment to neighborhoods, a more
sustainable city and enhancing the life of the city
and the engagement of residents in it.