Manitowoc city council District 3 candidates share views ahead of April 4 election
MANITOWOC - Michael Cummings and Angela Myers are competing for the District 3 seat on the Manitowoc Common Council in the April 4 election.
The seat holds a two-year term and represents an eastern portion of the city that includes the downtown district and runs along the shore from Columbus Street to Waldo Boulevard.
The Herald Times Reporter asked both candidates to fill out a questionnaire before the election explaining why they are running and their positions on issues.
Here are the responses from Cummings and Myers. Some responses are edited for clarity and brevity.
For more about registering to vote and polling locations, visit myvote.wi.gov.
Michael Cummings
Age: 39
Occupation: Owner of MCM Products, LLC, and security training instructor at Point Beach Nuclear Plant
Highest education level: Bachelor's degree in business management
Relevant experience: I have served on the city council for the past two years, have an excellent attendance record and have been very active with the council over my term: current chairman of Public Infrastructure Committee, two years on Personnel Committee, two years on Community Development Authority, two years on Manitowoc International Relations Association, one year on Finance Committee and one year on the Downtown Holiday Decorating Committee. Two things I am proud of are getting additional funding for public park upgrades and helping constituents resolve many issues. Please visit on Facebook @CummingsForManitowoc or https://MikeCummings.net for video explanation on my responses.
Angela Myers
Age: 51
Occupation: Business office manager for a local manufacturing company
Highest education level: Bachelor of science in teaching mathematics and an associate's degree in accounting
Relevant experience: I have spent the last two years as a board member of the Rahr-West, which has given me invaluable experience on how a city committee works. I am the treasurer of Acoustic Fest and for our event we worked with Parks and Recreation and the Special Events committees to get permits and supplies for our event. As an office manager, I have worn a multitude of hats. I am the go-to person when something needs to be done that my boss does not have time to do. I will bring organization, financial knowledge and time management to the city council.
Why are you running for office and what makes you the better candidate in this race?
Cummings: I am a husband, father of five children and have lived in my residence for the past 16 years. Additionally, I have been actively involved with the city council and various non-profit organizations to ensure the community we live in is the best it can be to live, work and play. I am running for re-election again because even though I have helped a lot of my constituents during my first term, there is much work to still accomplish. My combination of council experience, community involvement and character is why I’m the best candidate in this race.
Myers: I grew up in Manitowoc and have seen very positive changes; I want to show my children that positive change starts locally with us and spreads out in a ripple effect. As a single mother of three boys and a full-time office manager, my time management skills will be an asset to the council. My open-mindedness and ability to converse with a diverse group of people make me a top candidate for this office. I am able to listen to find out what someone is concerned about and inquire what they feel could be options to resolve their concerns.
Do you feel our downtown area is healthy and prosperous? Why and how would you change or maintain it?
Cummings: Our downtown becomes healthier and more prosperous each passing year with a continual positive projection. There are many economic development loan and tax credit programs businesses are taking advantage of and I encourage more to do so in the future (https://www.manitowoc.org/296/Economic-Development). As a member of the Community Development Authority who oversees those opportunities, we need to find ways to ensure potential investors in our downtown are aware of the resources available and encourage their use. That, paired with the recent two-way conversion and further development of the River Point District, will only make the downtown further prosper.
Myers: The downtown area is thriving. The conversion of the one-way streets has made stopping downtown easier. Some businesses have seen reduced revenues in its early days, but it is beginning to rebound due to new curiosity about and ease of movement in that area. But with increased traffic comes issues like parking. The downtown area has always had an issue with parking. Attempts to build some sort of parking structure have been met with resistance. That is something the city council needs to take a new look at; perhaps finding a parking lot that could be converted into a structure.
As a council member, how would you support tourism and economic development in Manitowoc?
Cummings: There currently are legal proceedings against the city with the start of Visit Manitowoc and the MAVCB (Manitowoc Area Visitor and Convention Bureau). The city council should fully support whichever entity we have representing the city, or both; if that’s the end outcome after legal proceedings. Regarding economic development, the city council needs to ensure we don’t act as a roadblock for investment and do what we can, in a smart way, to ensure Manitowoc is an attractive place to either expand into or start a new business. If we get both right, then Manitowoc will continue to attract new visitors and businesses alike.
Myers: The advent of entities like Coolest Coast and Visit Manitowoc are helping tourism in Manitowoc in a positive way, welcoming guests to the downtown area. Manitowoc is on Instagram and TikTok, bringing us to a new generation. However, we miss people traveling along the highway. We need to grab those people who stop to eat, get curious about our town and wish to know more. Get them to stay a bit longer. The council needs to work again with the Visitor and Convention Bureau to reach those people. These three groups in conjunction with each other will help our whole city thrive.
Manitowoc’s homeless population is increasing. What do you believe the council’s role should be in addressing that issue?
Cummings: The council’s role should be to continue to encourage investment into affordable housing, work with non-profit providers to continue to expand help offerings and work with the Police Department to ensure our homeless are getting help as they are often the first ones interacting with them on the street. Over the past two years on the Community Development Authority, I have voted for the refurbishment of Southfield Townhouses, supported the Manitowoc Warming Shelter, viewed Police Department homeless policy/materials and supported low-income housing investors coming to Manitowoc while in meetings. Those investments should be announced in 2023.
Myers: The appearance of the warming shelter in in the downtown area has put our homeless population in the front of everyone’s minds. All you have to do is travel down Eighth Street and you can see people waiting. The need that was hidden has come to light. The temporary shelter is a start. I applaud the city council for this start. The council needs to look into how we can create a more permanent shelter for the homeless population. Something that is centrally located so they can access the services that will help them become more independent.
What are the two biggest challenges for the city council right now, and how would you overcome them?
Cummings: First, we have an aging infrastructure that we need to stay on top of as our city grows. Construction costs have risen dramatically over the past year, which means we either will be able to do less or have to find creative ways to fund what we have been doing. Second, we took from reserve funds for the 2023 budget to limit the raise of taxes. Being able to provide a quality 2024 budget without raising taxes or excessively drawing from reserve funds will be another major challenge for the 2024 budget season. I am up for the challenge.
Myers: We need to make our neighborhood school areas safer for our kids and adults. This could be achieved by more police presence during drop-off and dismissal. Adding more adult crossing guards near the school on busier streets is another option. Lack of information about what is happening with the city council is a big issue. Finding information on the city website is difficult. Use of email lists, more posting on social media, publishing minutes in the paper are all good ways to get more information to the residents of the city. This is something the council definitely needs to work on.
What is your vision for Manitowoc?
Cummings: Manitowoc has amazing, hard-working and good-hearted residents. We are officially a city but have a small-town feel. It’s not perfect and has things we can improve. However, it’s beautiful and a great place to raise a family. My vision for the future is to continue to improve our infrastructure so businesses want to continue to bring high-paying jobs to our city, families want to raise their children here, and youth can thrive because they have multiple avenues to stay engaged while they grow their potential. We are on the right path, but far from done.
Myers: A Manitowoc where everyone feels welcome, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity or social status. Where everyone feels heard and acknowledged when bringing an issue to the city council. One that has a thriving economy and all are paid a living wage. One where neighbors look out for each other.
What are your thoughts on the current budget for the city?
Cummings: This year's budget ensured the city had the ability to compete for personnel against the private sector while improving some of our infrastructure. Insurance rates, astronomical fuel cost rise in 2022 and uncertain economic outlook provided a major challenge during the budget process for the 2023 budget. I supported doing what we could to give the city the ability to retain their employees, which helps us all via the work they do. I am also proud we were still able to fund improvements of roadways, alleys, parks and more, which helps the quality of life for our residents.
Myers: I applaud the idea of increasing our city employees’ wages. It is definitely important for retaining employees and remaining competitive to hire new employees. We need these people to provide essential services. Road improvements are needed, so road repair funds are a good start. Yes, the city has to concentrate on what it can fix; the city has to unfortunately wait longer to fix Washington Street until the state releases funds for it (which unfortunately polarizes us at times). Updating and fixing our parks will definitely help the enjoyment of our city.
More election coverage:
Council District 1 candidates: Manitowoc city council District 1 candidates share views ahead of April 4 election
Manitowoc County voters' guide: Here's your Manitowoc-area voters' guide to the Wisconsin spring election
Wisconsin Supreme Court race: Janet Protasiewicz, Daniel Kelly advance in high-stakes, high-spending Supreme Court race
Contact reporter Alisa Schafer at aschafer@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @AlisaMSchafer.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc election: District 3 council candidates on downtown, tourism
