Neenah council: Rezoning of Shattuck school property remains at issue in District 1 race
NEENAH - The redevelopment of the Shattuck Middle School property lies at the center of the April 4 election for Common Council representative in District 1.
Incumbent Cari Lendrum voted in favor of rezoning the 27-acre property to allow Northpoint Development Corp. to turn the school building into 89 apartments and to develop the land as single-family homes and parkland.
Challenger Alex Collins has been outspoken against the rezoning.
The rezoning failed to pass in December, but the issue could resurface because Northpoint has until May 1 to act on its offer to purchase the property from the Neenah Joint School District for $500,000.
"I'm absolutely convinced that was the highest and best use," Lendrum said. "So far, we have not had any (other) developers come forward. I have a bigger concern with the building staying empty."
"If the building is not worth an investment to keep it as a school," Collins countered on his campaign website, "why is it worth the investment to build 89 apartments inside a building that should be torn down?"
The winner of the nonpartisan race will earn a three-year term on the council. Lendrum has held the seat since 2011.
District 2 incumbent Tami Erickson and District 3 incumbent Scott Weber are unopposed on the ballot.
As part of The Post-Crescent’s election coverage, Lendrum and Collins were asked to complete a questionnaire to explain why they're running for office, what makes them the better candidate and how they would address the most important issues facing the city. Their answers are published below.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
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Cari Lendrum
Address: 419 11th St.
Age: 61
Occupation: Neenah Common Council member, YMCA building supervisor, landlord, property manager, real estate investor
Highest education: College credits toward a bachelor's degree in liberal arts
Relevant experience: I have been representing the residents of District 1 since 2011. As a small business owner, YMCA employee and a resident for 32 years, I have a clear perspective on city issues.
Facebook page: Neenah Alderman Cari Lendrum
Alex Collins
Address: 331 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Age: 56
Occupation: Cyber security vice president at Citizens Financial Group based in Rhode Island
Highest education: Law degree from George Mason University, master's degrees in industrial and operations engineering and in business administration, both from the University of Michigan
Relevant experience: Licensed as a professional engineer, attorney and certified public accountant; served as an engineer/officer in the U.S. Navy's nuclear program
Campaign websites: alexforneenah.com; www.facebook.com/AlexForNeenah
Why are you running for office?
Lendrum: In 2011 when I was asked by several people to run, I realized I’m well qualified for local office. My time is flexible, and I’m very approachable. I have been active for 32 years in volunteer and service organizations. I really enjoy problem-solving for our residents, organizations and businesses.
Collins: Our community task force showed that the central premise for the Shattuck rezoning proposal was deeply flawed. Despite this, my opponent voted for it rather than denying the proposal and asking the school district to properly market the property. We need people with experience vetting proposals and making critical decisions.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Lendrum: Feedback from residents shows me they appreciate how promptly I respond to their calls, and I have been able to resolve 99% of their concerns. My vision for the city's future includes a senior center along with recruiting and supporting small and large businesses as well as nonprofits.
Collins: Unlike my opponent, before I’d approve a rezoning or any other proposal that could have extreme repercussions for Neenah’s future, I’d demand a detailed financial analysis of projected future cash flows along with a cost and risk analysis of secondary effects, as is commonly done in the private sector.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them?
Lendrum: Residents tell me the most important thing is that they be heard. My expertise is in listening carefully to the resident and responding personally to his or her individual concerns. Each resident's issues are unique to them, and I enjoy hearing from them and then seeking a solution. I was raised to help others and be of service to the community, so this comes naturally to me.
Collins: Transparency and continued growth of Neenah. To facilitate business growth, I would prioritize creation of a business-friendly climate, such as by eliminating onerous rules. For example, one oddball ordinance, that gas stations can’t sell liquor, has impeded efforts to establish a convenience store on Doty Island. Additionally, to drive both business and housing growth, I would champion efforts to have the Community Development Department market Neenah directly, rather than waiting and hoping for developers to come to us. More importantly, I would ensure any housing development is done transparently with community involvement, including having myself host meetings with the community.
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.
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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah candidates take opposite stands on rezoning Shattuck property
