Incumbent trustees have single challenger in April race

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the Hales Corners Village Board in the general election Tuesday, April 7.

The ballot includes Michael Stockinger and incumbents Donald Schwartz, Linda Teschendorf and Joseph Mesec.

Candidate David Adams withdrew from the race; however, he will be on the ballot.

Trustees serve two-year terms and are paid $3,600 per year. They also receive $25 per month in vehicle allowance.

Mesec

First elected to the board in April 2007, Mesec is running again partly because the past two years have been an education for the retired engineer.

"It takes a while to get up to speed about things that are going on in the village to make some intelligent decisions," Mesec said. "To be honest, I kind of enjoy knowing what's going on in the village and having somewhat of a say in it."

Mesec said, if elected, he will stress the need for improvements to deteriorating village streets and roads.

"In the years I've been on the board, we haven't done as much as I would have liked in terms of road repair and rebuilding," Mesec said.

Schwartz

Schwartz was first elected to the board in 2003. He said community service is his major motivation for running again.

"My board colleagues and me were able to get 80 percent funding for the (Hales Corners) pool back," Schwartz said, referring to Milwaukee County's decision last year to commit $50,000 to the cash-strapped facility for this summer.

Schwartz said, if elected, he would advocate getting a handle on recent annual double-digit increases in health care premiums for village employees.

"I think we ought to have a liaison to the state and federal governments," he said. "We need to have more dialogue with our state and federal officials because (health care expenses) are really out of control."

Stockinger

Stockinger is the father of former Trustee Robert Stockinger. The elder Stockinger, who ran unsuccessfully for the board a year ago, said he wanted to give it another try.

"Residents should serve their community, and I think this is the way to do it," said Stockinger, who is known to some residents as a vocal opponent of leaf-burning.

Stockinger said he is not focused on solving a particular problem or issue.

"A board member has to make decisions on what comes before the board at the time it does," Stockinger said. "Keeping taxes down is always a key, but you have to do it with keeping services in line."

Teschendorf

Teschendorf is seeking another term because "there are not enough people out there to fight for the rights of the citizens," she said.

"I believe that you cannot please all the people, all of the time," Teschendorf said. "But I also believe in listening to the people of this village regardless of my personal feelings on an issue."

A trustee for nearly 15 years, Teschendorf agreed with Mesec that street and road improvements should take a priority.

"For more then a decade, I have been fighting to up our budget for the roads," she said. "The board has been working toward a goal for accomplishing just that. I want to be there to see this goal become a reality."

John Neville can be reached at (262) 446-6609.

Joseph Mesec

AGE: 75

ADDRESS: 5311 S. Allenwood Lane

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: 48 years

OCCUPATION: retired

EDUCATION: bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, University of Notre Dame

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Community Development Authority, Labor Relations Subcommittee, Public Works Commission

CONTACT: (414) 425-5667

E-MAIL: jmesec@sbcglobal.net

Donald Schwartz

AGE: 49

ADDRESS: 5811 S. 121st St.

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: 18 years

OCCUPATION: college professor

EDUCATION: master's degree, Georgetown University; bachelor's degree, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Historic Preservation Commission, July 4 Committee, Community Development Authority, Awards Recognition Subcommittee, Leaf Disposal Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Hales Corner Pool

CONTACT: (414) 529-4821

E-MAIL: dschwartz6@wi.rr.com

Michael Stockinger

AGE: 64

ADDRESS: 10832 W. Rockne Ave.

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: 32 years

OCCUPATION: risk manager, bank

EDUCATION: degree in finance, Gateway Technical Institute

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Environmental Committee, Board of Review, July 4 Committee

CONTACT: (414) 529-1830

E-MAIL: micjstock@sbcglobal.net

Linda Teschendorf

AGE: 51

ADDRESS: 12033 N. Ridge Trail

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: more than 30 years

OCCUPATION: real estate consultant and mentor for new agents

EDUCATION: attended Milwaukee Area Technical College

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Senior Citizens Committee, Ecology Committee, Building Board, Community Access Cablevision Committee

CONTACT: (414) 425-2840

E-MAIL: ltsold@aol.com