Primary Preview: 3 Vying for Sturtevant Village President

Three candidates will square off in a primary election Tuesday for Sturtevant village president, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the April 2 general election.

Trustee John Johnson and former trustee Daryl Lynaugh are challenging incumbent Village President Steve Jansen for the post.

The candidates

A lifetime Sturtevant resident and self-employed flooring contractor, Jansen, 52, has served as village president for the past decade, holding a trustee seat before that. He has also been chair of the Planning Commission since 2003 and was a volunteer firefighter as well.

Lynaugh, 65, a registered electrical and telecommunication designer, served two terms as trustee before being ousted in last year's spring election. He has served on various committees, including two decades on the village's Community Development Authority as well as volunteer for various community events and been a member of the Moose Lodge, more than the 30 years he has lived in the village.

Johnson, 58, a correctional sergeant, has several terms as trustee and been a volunteer firefighter for 10 years, as well as serving on several committees including the Racine Wastewater Commission, Fire Oversight Board. He is also coached for farm league baseball when his children were playing and participated in activities with the Sturtevant Lions Club with his father.

A balanced budget

While the candidates disagreed on some issues facing the village, they all came to a consensus on the top issue in Sturtevant: money and a balanced budget.

Jansen said for years the village was faced budget shortfalls, but in recent cycles, those have been eliminated.

"Over time we've eliminated our general fund deficit, which was approaching $800,000 at the time, to now for the second year in a row we not only retired that deficit, we have ended these past two years with a surplus to begin building our undesignated reserve fund," Jansen said. 

Johnson said keeping on top of continuing fiscal issues and unfunded state and federal mandates are important to him. 

"(I would) remind the trustees that we can only spend each dollar once," he said. 

While Lynaugh said keeping village operations in the black and never letting the debt get out of control again was vital. 

"Planning responsible growth with an eye to keeping out long term debt advantageous to the Village of Sturtevant," he added. 

Spurring business growth

Utilizing tools like business incentives, tax credits and grants available to municipalities to attract new businesses, in addition to effectively marketing the village, is the key to spurring business growth, Lynaugh said

Jansen said in an ever-changing world, municipalities need to be aggressive in attracting new businesses. 

"The village must be a willing partner in order to recruit and have businesses' locate within our village," he said. "If you don't take an aggressive approach, these businesses' will locate elsewhere."

Johnson said making certain zoning and building ordinances are up-to-date and reflect the vision for the future, and opening another special taxing district (TIF) after the current one closes, is key.

Balancing growth and services

With more growth comes the need for more village services and a need to balance the need for increased services like police and fire protection, while keeping in mind the resident's desire to maintain the line on property taxes and fees. 

"Your biggest bang for your buck comes with commercial and manufacturing growth," Jansen said. "While residential growth is fine, it doesn't cover the true cost of services like commercial and manufacturing does. Realistically, they tend to require fewer services than residents. So our challenge has been to have our village balanced between all three."

Lynaugh said the village is land-locked due to past Village Board decisions, but planning a growth rate of 70 percent business, 30 percent residential growth may be an advantageous approach. 

Johnson said, if the residents of the village want more of their police and fire departments, they'll have to pay for it.

"Nothing comes for free," he said. 

South Shore Fire Department

When asked about the notion of Mount Pleasant dissolving its contract with South Shore Fire Department, leaving Sturtevant to go it alone in terms of fire protection, the candidates differed on their opinions. 

Jansen said he has not been contacted by Mount Pleasant about the possiblitiy of dissolving the department.

"If, hypothetically that were to happen, we'll cross that bridge when we get there," he said. "Being a village of our size, I'd explore a paid on call department modeled after what Union Grove/Yorkville does in how they provide fire and EMS services."

Johnson said: "I believe the best solution is to look at the part-time-paid-on-call option. For a village the size of Sturtevant it just isn't feasible to try and provide a full time paid department on our own."

Lynaugh said while the question hasn't officially been put on the table, as an Oversite Fire Committee member, he has voice concerns of how it may severely impact residents.

"Working sessions between the two municipalities are a must to resolve this issue," he said.