By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
While most of the races in the City of Burlington will be uncontested, the Aldermanic race for the Second District is shaping up to be a battle.
Incumbent Peter Hintz is facing challenger Bob Grandi. Aldermen Jon Schultz (Third District) and Todd Baumann (Fourth District) are running unopposed, while John Ekes is a write-in candidate for the first district position vacated by Bob Prailes – who chose not to seek re-election.
Bob Grandi
Age: 59
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Grandi, who has been involved in the community in a number of different sports-related roles and as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, St. Mary’s Church and the Transitional Living Center, was motivated to seek office after being involved with the City of Burlington citizen budget partners.
“I feel my business experience and my ability to listen and work with people will be a benefit to the City Council,” Grandi said. “When my four daughters were growing up, I was very involved as a coach and board member.
“Now, I would like to devote my time and energy in helping Burlington move forward in a positive direction.
He also stressed that his first priority if elected will be to the people in his district.
“I would make a point of understanding their needs,” Grandi said. “I owe it to my constituents to take an active role in City Council affairs. I will get involved. I will be of service to people in my district.”
Grandi said there are a number of different issues facing the city right now.
“The two concerns I hear the most are, one, we need to resolve the recent issues that have been in the news and get the city moving back in a positive direction. Two, to draw more businesses to the downtown,” said Grandi, adding that he would work with new City Administrator Carina Walters on a long-term plan.
Peter Hintz (Inc.)
Age: 62
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administrator, UW–Whitewater.
Hintz has served two separate terms as an alderman: first from 1996-2006 before losing his seat in an election. He was then being appointed to fill out Bob Miller’s council term in 2008 when Miller became mayor and has since been re-elected.
A former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, Hintz said he’s served the community in just about every way possible.
“I think I’ve got pretty much a handle on the city from top to bottom,” Hintz explained. “There’s probably not anything I don’t know about the city.
“I’m dedicated to the community,” he added. “I like public service and I like serving the community.”
Hintz said the biggest issue facing the city is the budget, with stressors like the community pool, City Hall and library repairs needing to be address with dropping revenue and tax limits from the state.
He said the pool situation would likely go to referendum, but the City Hall and library will need to be addressed.
His priority is to keep the city a great place to live.
“It was a great place to grow up in, a great place to raise my family in,” Hintz said. “I would like for future generations to have it better than I did.”
District 1
Ekes is a former alderman. Ironically, Prailes filled the spot Ekes vacated when he chose not to run several years ago.
Ekes said he still holds a “conservative approach to spending the citizens’ money and how the city should be run.”
“I believe we need to grow the manufacturing base, merchant base and the services available to the people in the city and the general area,” he said. “I feel that my business experience (business ownership, corporate management and engineering) can aid the city and its citizens in doing these things.”
Town of Burlington
There are no contested races for the Town of Burlington Board positions.
Chairman Ralph Rice is running unopposed, as are board members Rick Isaacson and Tyson Fettes.
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