County

One candidate promised a “new vision.” The other pledged to continue the course charted by outgoing mayor Kurt Sonnentag and the majority of the current city council.

The voters have spoken, and the new vision has won.

District 2 alderman Gurdip Brar defeated District 7 alderman Hans Hilbert 51.8% to 48.1% on Tuesday in a tightly contested race to become the City of Middleton’s next mayor. Brar, a longtime critic of excessive spending, of what critics see as rubber stamping of staff initiatives, and of the status quo in general, said in a recent mayoral debate that the community was ready for a change.

Speaking from his home just moments after learning of his victory, Brar said he was “really pleased people put their faith in” him.

“I’m pleased,” he said. “The people of Middleton have spoken, and I’m going to do exactly what I said I would do during my campaign.”

How did a Leningrad street kid become one of the most powerful men on earth? Just what does he plan to do with that power?

Well, the answer – just like the kid and the hulking country he now rules - is complicated.

It does not help that the country in question is, to quote Winston Churchill, “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” But an upcoming lecture in Middleton will offer ample clarity and insight to help Americans understand the country that created Vladimir Putin, and the country Vladimir Putin is currently working to create.

One thing is certain: The City of Middleton’s seventh aldermanic district will have a new representative on the common council in 2017.

Whether it is John Orlikowski or Dan Ramsey II, both of whom are running for the seat being vacated by mayoral candidate and current District 7 alderman Hans Hilbert, will be up to voters when they head to the polls on April 4.

After their candidacies became official, both Orlikowski and Ramsey II recently took some time to tell the Times-Tribune who they are and why they are running for a seat on the council. While plenty more information about them – and about the contested mayoral race between Hilbert and current District 2 alderman Gurdip Brar – will ensue in the coming months, this provides an early opportunity to get to know the council candidates before they, or their supporters, knock on your door to ask for your vote.

The referendum questions will appear as follows:

1.) Do you agree that the City of Middleton, as a local sustainability leader, has a responsibility to mitigate the risks of global warming through its policy decisions and actions?

2.) Do you agree that the City of Middleton should endorse the national effort to implement a federal Carbon Fee and Dividend (CFAD) to slow the humanitarian crises and negative economic consequences caused by global warming? CFAD will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging conservation and make renewable energy more economically viable.

MIDDLETON-Middleton residents will have a chance to show their support for local sustainability practices and national climate change legislation on the November 8 ballot. They will be asked if they support the city taking steps to mitigate climate change and if they support federal carbon fee and dividend legislation. 

City officials have closed the Middleton Public Library for at least a week following the discovery of what city administrator Mike Davis called “substantial structural damage” to the trusses supporting the building’s roof.

In a message to city staff and elected officials, Davis said the problem was discovered on the south side of the building, where a visible gap had appeared in the roof.

“While structural engineer Mike Leiferman was visiting about the Library employee access project last Tuesday, January 19, he and [library director] Pamela Westby noticed a gap in the ceiling that had not existed previously,” Davis explained. “On Friday, Leiferman climbed into the area above the ceiling/below the roof to investigate and found substantial structural damage to the trusses. 

Leiferman advised Westby and building inspector Scott Ellarson to close the library to protect the public and library employees. Westby closed the building effective Saturday, Jan. 23.

A conversation with Russ  Feingold as he readies for a rematch with Republican Ron Johnson.

Middleton Times:  You’re considered a champion of Progressivism.  Some of Wisconsin’s more conservative voters have a negative impression of that word.  What would you like to say to those people?

Feingold:   I find that when I’m talking with people around the state, most of them understand the Wisconsin progressive tradition as a very positive one.  I think part of the problem is that the word progressive has a different connotation nationally than it does in Wisconsin. 

Here in Wisconsin, it’s always represented a sense of community, but also fiscal discipline. It includes honesty and anti-corruption.

I believe that those aspects of progressivism that are central to my view, are very appreciated by the voters in the state. 

There will be two contested Middleton-Cross Plains Area School Board races on the April 7 ballot. In Area 4, which includes the towns of Middleton and Westport, newcomers Todd Smith and Linda Yu will square off. In Area 5, the school board’s central district, incumbent Anne Bauer will be challenged by Tia Eady. In Area 1, newcomer Kelly Kalscheur filed to run unopposed. In Area 2, which includes Cross Plains, newcomer Sean Hyland filed to run unopposed.

Area 4 candidate Linda Yu currently serves as the Chair for the Finance and Business Law Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She has also worked at the State University of New York Institute of Technology. She earned an undergraduate degree in British Literature, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Ph.D in Finance. She holds chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation.