Q&A: Downtown theater owner Tarl Knight takes on two-term council member Brian Johnson
GREEN BAY - Voters in District 9 will have the opportunity April 5 to vote on their next City Council representative, a race that pits two downtown business moguls, Brian Johnson and Tarl Knight, against each other.
But only one of them, Johnson, has twice defeated Guy Zima, the former council member whose longstanding tenure ended in a 2018 ousting.
Johnson is executive director of On Broadway, Inc. His latest venture, the $30 million Green Bay Public Market and a new 92-unit residential development, uses federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and funds from On Broadway, with an eye toward completing the projects in the next two years.
Before redistricting shifted him to District 9, Knight unsuccessfully ran for District 11 in 2020 against council member John VanderLeest. Knight owns and operates The Tarlton Theatre and is the director of The Shipyard District, Inc.
During his run for District 11, the Press-Gazette reported that Knight was accused of physically abusing his business partner and a friend, according to court and police documents.
Knight has denied any wrongdoing.
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District 9, largely a west-side downtown district that hugs a small portion of the east side until South Monroe Avenue, houses the Shipyard Redevelopment Project and the future Green Bay Public Market.
As part of the Press-Gazette's election coverage, the newspaper has reached out to candidates to answer questions about their qualifications, why they're running, and how they plan to center constituents' concerns in City Council discussions in a nonpartisan manner. Below are their answers, limited to no more than 100 words, with each candidate listed alphabetically.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
Brian Johnson
Address: 516 Hubbard St.
Age: 45
Occupation and highest education level: Executive Director, On Broadway, Inc. Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Relevant experience: I have been a member of the Green Bay City Council representing District 9 for four years. In that time, I have served as the vice chair of the Improvement & Services Committee (roads and infrastructure), Parks Committee, Finance Committee, vice chair of the Personnel Committee, Economic Development Authority and Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Recently, I was unanimously appointed by my peers as the chair of the Ad Hoc Facilities Committee, a committee I proposed to address long-term facility needs including City Hall, Green Bay Police Department, Fire Department and Municipal Court. I routinely attend and participate in other subcommittees including Protection & Policy, Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission because I believe active participation is a strong indicator of effective representation. I also serve on the board of the Fort Howard Neighborhood Association — which was recently named the neighborhood association of the year by Green Bay Neighborhoods — Greater Green Bay Chamber Downtown Taskforce, and the Hope Center, which houses the St. Patrick’s Pantry.
Tarl Knight
Address: 335 North Washington St.
Age: 25
Occupation and highest education level: Owner, The Tarlton Theatre, Director, The Shipyard District, Inc. Graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Relevant experience: Currently own and operate a District 9 business, The Tarlton Theatre (West Theater), formed the 501(c)(3) nonprofit The Shipyard District, Inc., with 50-plus business owners to revitalize The Shipyard District on the west side along South Broadway and State streets. Currently, I serve as director of The Shipyard District, Inc.
Why are you running for office?
Johnson: When I first ran for office, I had a strong desire to restore civility and decorum to local government and achieve better results for my district. Working together, we’ve accomplished just that. I immediately went to work on advancing an initiative to relocate the coal piles, which just received a $15 million grant from the State. City Council authorized $10 million to invest in the Shipyard, and an additional $1 million in the residential neighborhoods. We have made progress on the Ashland Avenue viaduct and abandoned railyard. But most importantly, our district is now receiving the most significant portion of the city’s capital improvement plan for streets and flood mitigation.
Knight: As a local, working-class resident and business owner, I know the struggles and priorities of our working-class community. I know what it’s like for homelessness to be only a paycheck away. As we continue to attract redevelopment to District 9, I’ll represent you and people of all incomes so we all have a seat at the table and the same opportunity to live and work downtown. My heart is with District 9, and I’m running to improve the lives of my neighbors and protect their interests because they’re my interests, too.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Johnson: Leadership and experience matter when advancing complex projects that will have the most dramatic impact on our district and city. I’m achieving great results for our neighborhoods because of my unique ability to work with people of all backgrounds and ideologies. My colleagues on the council frequently seek me out for my knowledge, expertise and studied approach to issues. I demonstrate a strong willingness to compromise on policy to advance the greater good without compromising my core values of respect, honesty, integrity, accountability and ethical behavior. I have worked very hard to earn the trust of the residents in our district and I don’t take that for granted.
Knight: For years, I’ve lived, worked and run a business downtown. I was appointed by District 9 business and property owners to direct our new Shipyard District and revitalize our westside business community while preserving our industrial, manufacturing history and blue-collar spirit. I’m not connected to wealthy developers or investors — instead I know what really matters to local residents and businesses.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how are you addressing them?
Johnson: Roads. We are doing 40% more reconstruction and resurfacing projects over the 10-year average (2010–19) and we created a comprehensive five-year capital improvement plan so we can better manage long-term borrowing needs.
Flooding. I worked to secure the installation of two major lift stations, a pump, and a new storm water retention pond/greenway in our district. Crime. A recent surge in violent crime has residents feeling unsafe and we need to isolate bad actors. I was the first to call attention to the rise in shots fired incidents, created a violent crime suppression task force, coordinated listening sessions and advocated for ARPA funding to support our police and systemic solutions to prevent criminal activity from happening in the first place.
Knight: So much of our community supports revitalizing our new Shipyard District along South Broadway and State streets. As alderman, I’ll organize with business and property owners to form a Business Improvement District, which will incentivize growth and development for our businesses and neighborhoods. I’ll support relocating the coal piles on the banks of the Fox River, remediating the sites, and creating a public waterfront with affordable housing and business opportunities. Additionally, I’ll organize with community leaders to start a community-owned co-op market downtown, which will offer affordable food and drink selections and locally sourced organic and bulk options for over 20,000 citizens.
This is a nonpartisan race. How will you ensure that you are prioritizing the concerns of your constituents, even if they don’t align with your personal values?
Johnson: Local government is a nonpartisan position; unfortunately, Madison and Washington politics have started to influence our policies. We have basic responsibilities including infrastructure, police, fire, parks and economic development. Most people do not care if a Democrat or Republican is calling City Hall to find out why their garbage wasn’t picked up, how they can secure a variance on their building permit, or getting a pothole filled. These are the types of calls that consume 90% of an alder’s constituent service responsibilities and all residents, regardless of party affiliation, deserve this support from their local government.
Knight: As alderman, I’ll be committed to bringing balanced, common-sense leadership and representation for all our residents and businesses to create a city that works for all of us. I’ll always be an open line of communication, and I’ll always try to consider all sides of an issue. I’m a firm supporter of working with all people across District 9 to create a collective, democratized vision for our city, which means asking folks to voice their concerns and keeping the door open to new and different opinions.
When it comes to representation, what will you do to guarantee that all of your constituents, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender, religion and creed, are listened to and given fair, equitable treatment?
Johnson: Every resident of our community deserves fair and equitable treatment. District 9 is incredibly diverse, from the qualifying census tract on the near west side that is one of Green Bay’s most ethnically diverse to the downtown commercial districts, from portions of the Astor Park Neighborhood to the residential and industrial areas that extend west to the Lambeau Field corridor. I am often commended for my careful listening skills and ability to craft solutions that bring together differing opinions. Good policy is inclusive and reflects the perspectives of those we represent and I consistently create outlets through neighborhood meetings to ensure everyone’s needs are heard and represented.
Knight: A big part of why District 9 is such a great place to live and work is our wide variety of different incomes, backgrounds and cultures. Through my business, The Tarlton Theatre, I’ve worked with local nonprofit organizations and community leaders to support important causes and offer programming for all members of our community. As alderman, I’ll continue working with cultural leaders throughout our district and all folks across our city to build bridges instead of walls by advocating for different voices and creating the necessary changes to improve the standard of living for all of us.
MORE: Crowd packs Green Bay City Council meeting as some call for election changes, resignations
Natalie Eilbert is a government watchdog reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay City Council District 9: Randy Scannell takes on Robert Miller
