Mount Pleasant President Candidates Tell Why They're Running for Office

Three candidates are running for president of Mount Pleasant: incumbent Carolyn Milkie, former police chief James Majdoch, and write-in candidate Sharman Turek. 

Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant Patch caught up with the candidates to ask them why they're running for office. We also asked them what they feel is the most important issue facing their village and what they love about living in Mount Pleasant. Those stories will run in the coming days.

Why are you running for President?

Carolyn Milkie: I'm running on my experience and my past successes with consolidation to save taxpayers money. I also think I have good relationships with neighboring communities so we can keep working on the partnerships we have and reach out to make new partnerships. I also have in-depth knowledge of tax incremental financing districts and how to make them work for the village, and I've helped bring jobs to the area with companies like May Steel, Gordon Foods, and the international headquarters for SEDA.

James Majdoch: I don't see things changing. I was hoping that the board would look at alternatives to business-as-usual by not accepting just the information given to them as the only option available. For example, what about relocating the new village hall to a smaller parcel that wasn't as expensive? I question whether it's necessary to create more parkland to connect with an existing park. That area is ripe for development that would have added to the tax base.

Sharman Turek: After I lost the primary, I received so many phone calls from residents who said we need a fiscal conservative, especially in light of the budget mess in Madison. It's time to change from constant tax and fee increases. Incumbents were recently voted out and now it's time for the president to change as well. Mount Pleasant needs a fiscal conservative, and I am the only one running.