Incumbent Kathy Lefebvre faces challengers Paul Boucher and Steven Campbell in District 6 for County Board primary
Editor's note: This story has been updated to included Steven Campbell's responses.
GREEN BAY - Three candidates are on the ballot for the Feb. 20 primary for the Brown County County Board District 6 seat.
The district is made up of part of Green Bay's northeast side and includes Wards 20-23.
Incumbent Kathy Lefebvre is running for reelection against challengers Paul Boucher and Steven Campbell, who is the current City Council member for the district.
The February primary determines which two candidates will advance to the April 2 election. The winner of the April election will serve a two-year term on the board.
Information about your polling place and registering to vote can be found on the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
The Press-Gazette asked all three candidates to answer three questions with a word count up to 150 words and provide their background information.
Here is what the candidates had to say. Their responses were edited lightly for clarity. (i) denotes incumbent.
Kathy Lefebvre (i)
Address: 1731 East Shore Circle, Green Bay
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired
Highest education level attained: Door-Kewaunee County Teachers College, Algoma
Relevant experience: Former small business owner; former president of East Shore Drive Neighborhood Association; CCD leader at Saints Peter and Paul Parish; former member of DNR Areas of Concern Citizen Advisory Committee for the Lower Green Bay and Fox River; participated in three "Woman Build" housing programs for Habitat for Humanity; former member of Brown County Education and Recreation committee; current member of Brown County Administration committee; former Green Bay alderperson; served on Green Bay Protection and Policy Committee; previously on Green Bay Board of Park Commissioners' Finance and Wildlife Sanctuary Advisory Committee; Nicolet Federated Library System board member for Brown County.
Paul Boucher
Address: 1120 Elizabeth St.
Age: 57
Occupation: Social researcher and reformer
Highest education level attained: Bachelor of science in sociology
Relevant experience: I have been conducting independent research studies for years in the community finding out how to make the community better and the government more responsive to needs of all its residents.
Editor's note: Boucher was convicted of lewd and lascivious behavior in 2011 after a female caseworker reported that he exposed his genitals to her. He was also banned from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus in 2013 because of complaints that he was harassing female students.
Steven Campbell
Address: 1207 N. Danz Ave.
Age: 63
Occupation: Business owner
Highest education level attained: Machinist degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Relevant experience: Brown County foster care provider emergency placement home (1994-1997), 28 years as a successful business owner, Archery Trade Association member, National Federation of Independent Businesses member, professional archery instructor in schools, involved in hunter education, Green Bay city deer hunt proficiency administrator, current City Council member serving on Parks and Improvement and Services committees.
Why are you running for office?
Lefebvre: Although the 0.5% sales tax has helped many Brown County projects, some came in over budget. I would like to see them come to completion. One of special interest is the Brown County barns at the fairgrounds. It is always good to have continuity, as long you are working diligently for your district.
Boucher: I am running for board supervisor in order to improve attitudes by showing people how government can respond to community needs and make the environment that we live in a better place including things like building indoor parks.
Campbell: With my experience and the knowledge that I have learned while serving a term on the Green Bay City Council for District 6 along with attending several meetings in the past couple of years and working on related issues with other county supervisors, I feel I can meet the challenge of handling both offices since the needs are somewhat related with my goals on working to get both departments of government to work more efficiently together as it did several years ago. I also might add that a few county supervisors have reached out to me to encourage me to run for the seat that recognize my common-sense values and commitment to engage in the process and the energy that I possess and the recognition of a prominent businessman and the resources that I can bring to the table.
What makes you the better candidate?
Lefebvre: I have lived 53 years in the district and 52 years in the same house. I know and love my district, defending it when people disparage it. I have gained a lot of knowledge serving eight years on the County Board and four years on the City Council for District 6. I voted for the 0.5% county sales tax, as it makes financial sense, saving the county taxpayers $100K in debt so far. I will continue working to spend tax dollars wisely while providing the services that advance the well-being of the community.
Boucher: I have a greater comprehension of how elected officials can use their election mandates to better the community that we live in. Too often elected officials have been less than aggressive in using their abilities to help the community grow. I will not be slothful.
Campbell: Developments on issues that I would prioritize are I would like to see the county make keep doing what they are doing. I really think that our County Board for the most part are doing a great job and that is why I would like to be part of that with all the resources that I have with my 28 years of business. If I had to pick something specific, I would like to see the county drug task force and the Green Bay Police Department work more closely together to pool their resources better when it comes to drug rehab education and enforcement. Also advocate and ensure proper funding to support to hire quality district attorneys to fill the backlog of cases that are causing our crowded jail. I would also like to see the continued investment into our park trail system and waterway boat launches.
What do you believe are the top two issues that need to be addressed, and how would you address them?
Lefebvre: Hiring and retaining employees: I along with the County Executive, staff, and county board recognized this need. I worked with the County Board on raises with steps for our employees, which meant cuts in our budget to meet this goal. The next two years, I will work on healthy budgets that also retain our employees.
County 0.5% sales tax: I will work to fulfill the projects yet to be completed, making sure the tax money is well-spent.
Boucher: The community spends a lot of resources on flood cleanup and flood insurance. This money would be better spent on flood prevention. Building a pipeline to drain the lower bay faster would be a much better allocation. When Lake Winnebago and the Fox River basin flood, they send all excess water down the river to the bay. The county is defenseless.
In 1973 Brown County was inundated with a tremendous amount of water. We are still rebuilding the Cat Islands, which were washed out. A similar flood today could cause over $1 billion in damages and generations to repair.
We need to build a bridge across the Fox River at Allouez Avenue. It will unite the Allouez-Ashwaubenon communities with auto, bike and pedestrian pathways. Creating jobs is the best way to help community spirit. People who have full-time jobs, money in their pockets and good credit have no time or motivation to commit crimes.
Campbell: I feel that my experience and the partnerships of the different organizations and schools that I have worked with over the 28 years of doing business that are directly related to the outdoors, aligns with many of the county resources. I would love to engage and be more involved in the access to our fisheries and parks as I do on the city parks committee. That would be the same as for my involvement in the county’s road structure and highway systems being familiar with the Public Work Department as in the county Highway Department. I truly think I can be active and valuable asset to the Brown County Board.
Key 2024 spring election dates
Feb. 12: Spring pre-primary campaign finance report due.
Feb. 20: Spring primary election
March 13: Last day for voters to register online or by mail.
March 25: Spring pre-election campaign finance reports due.
March 29: Last day to register to vote in the clerk's office.
April 2: Spring general election and presidential primary. People can register to vote at their polling location on election day.
More: Here is who's running for Brown County Board, Circuit Court in the spring election
Benita Mathew is a health and county government reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her at bmathew@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Incumbent Kathy Lefebvre faces challengers Paul Boucher and Steven Campbell for District 6 County Board primary
