Koch challenges Brunkhorst for SV village president

Four candidates run for trustee

Compiled by Sarah Nigbor
Posted 3/30/23

Incumbent Village President Marsha Brunkhorst* is facing challenger Theresa Koch. Two challengers will face two incumbents for three open trustee seats: Liz Erickson*, Ruth Lukes*, Peter Koch and …

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Koch challenges Brunkhorst for SV village president

Four candidates run for trustee

Posted

Incumbent Village President Marsha Brunkhorst* is facing challenger Theresa Koch. Two challengers will face two incumbents for three open trustee seats: Liz Erickson*, Ruth Lukes*, Peter Koch and Chris Davis. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk. 

Village president

Marsha Brunkhorst*

Occupation: Retired from 3M Co.

Prior elected offices: Spring Valley Trustee and Village President

Community/civic activities: Spring Valley Lions, Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce, Spring Valley Food Pantry volunteer

What specific skills and/or experiences have helped you to serve as village president? Best help I've had all through the years is the people I have served with on the SV Village Board - all of the knowledge that they shared is invaluable.

What issues are most pressing in the village? What would you do about them? Budgets - deciding where to spend the limited funds and trying to build a larger tax base to increase our revenue.

If you are an incumbent, what board/village accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? Being instrumental along with previous board members in creating or facilitating: Business Park, Tax Increment Districts to provide financial assistance to help businesses locate in SV and improve downtown facades, building water and sewer infrastructures, maintenance of existing streets, bridges and sidewalks, and housing developments

What do you see as priorities the village should focus on? Housing for both families and mature adults; continue to help facilitate business expansion

If you received a $1 million grant to use for the village in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why? I would like to help establish a medical clinic in Spring Valley once more, which might require that the village helps finance the facility.

Where are your favorite places to spend time in the village? Why do you live here? I live here because of the sense of community, the beautiful location and the ease of commuting to any activities I want to attend, i.e. theater, sports, shopping etc.

Why should people vote for you? What differentiates you from other board members/candidates? The thing that differentiates me is my experience and knowledge of ongoing projects. I would like to complete a couple of open projects - mainly working with our management firm to revitalize the Spring Valley Care Center and completing the Van Buren Road and walking trail.

How can people contact you? Home phone – 715-778-4382 or email brunkhor@svtel.net

Theresa Koch

Occupation: Payroll/Human Resource Specialist

Prior elected offices: No prior government office held. But I have enjoyed being on the Eau Galle Rush River Sportsmans Club board for over three years now.

Community/civic activities: Growing up in Spring Valley and raising three active kids here, I have enjoyed being a sports mom, helping with Post Prom activities, being an active club member in the Eau Galle Rush River Sportsman’s Club, working concession stands, and most recently being involved in the Spring Valley Trap Team.

If a challenger, what skills and/or experiences have prepared you to take on this role? With several years of leadership and management experience, as well as receiving several awards in my previous profession, the first thing in my running for Spring Valley President is to recognize we are a team. We need to work together to help create a safe, healthy and friendly vision of the village TOGETHER. I'm only one part of the whole team and I would take my part as an honor to serve our community.

What issues are most pressing in the village? What would you do about them? In talking with the Spring Valley community and listening to their feedback on "pressing" issues, I have recognized a few topics that get repeated by several. Water bill costs, the nursing home and costs of, helping our local family businesses succeed, building up our industrial park, and my passion – the great outdoors. Taking care of our river and recreation areas. This is to name a few. As a board we would need to prioritize these issues and work together to conquer them. Another pressing issue for me in the HR field is making sure your employees are taken care of so they can better take care of you. No one will do their job to the best of their ability if they do not feel appreciated. And if you are plowing snow on hardly any sleep so our commuters can get to work on time - I appreciate you!

If a challenger, what has the previous board done well? The previous board has done well overall maintaining Spring Valley. However, it is time for new board members with a new vision of our future and the residents here.

What do you see as priorities the village should focus on? With younger families moving into Spring Valley, I feel jobs are always very important. How nice to be able to work close to home and have a place for your teenagers to work that is also close to home. I'd also like to find a way to stop the rising cost of the village water bills for families that are already on a tight budget. Hopefully, we can find businesses and fill our industrial park to conquer both of these areas.

If you received a $1 million grant to use for the village in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why? I would like to put money into the village infrastructure. Road improvements, getting rid of old pipes and updates accordingly for water, sewer drainage. I'd also like to improve our Police and Fire accordingly and work with the school district on adding a school officer. Protecting our community and children is very important to me and I prioritize them. The community.

Where are your favorite places to spend time in the village? Why do you live here? My absolute favorite place is my backyard. I'm blessed to live on the Eau Galle and have the wildlife visit each day. To walk out my backdoor and fish is heaven to me. From there I would say our local businesses. Kevin's butchery is amazing and anyone that has stopped at our bakery can agree it's top notch. And worth waiting in line! This is to name a few. A kayak trip in our lake or just jumping in Lake George is also something we may take for granted. And recently I made an effort to go to Crystal Cave and mini golf or refresh my childhood memories of touring the cave. After a stressful day at work my husband and I enjoy a walk on the walking trail past the dental office. There we say hello to passersby and stop to visit a neighbor. By the time we get home the stress is gone, and you are reminded how blessed one is to live here.

Why should people vote for you? What differentiates you from other board members/candidates?  First off - VOTE. Just get out and vote. It matters. And as long as you are going to vote, I'd appreciate you voting for me. Help me help you. It's really that simple. I will take great pride in serving our community and make extra effort to listen. Then, as a team our board will do our best to conquer all that is ahead of us. And we will do it for you. OUR NEIGHBORS.

How can people contact you? linder_theresa@yahoo.com

Trustees

Liz Erickson*

Occupation: Retired educator

Previous elected offices: At present, village board trustee

Community/civic activities: I am involved in my church SV Sacred Heart Catholic Church, SV Stagehands, President of the SV Lions Club, Cardinal Quilters

What specific skills and/or experiences have helped you to serve as trustee? I have also been involved in a variety of organizations since moving to Spring Valley 49 years ago.

What issues are most pressing in the village? What would you do about them?  Management of the village. Follow the course and hope there are enough resources to maintain and improve the quality of life in the Valley.

If you are an incumbent, what board/village accomplishment(s) are you most proud of? If a challenger, what has the previous board done well?  I am proud of the improvements that we have done on the Community Center, on management of the Spring Valley Care Center, the upgrading of police and village equipment.

What do you see as priorities the village should focus on? Bringing business into town, encourage building and improving the infrastructure.

If you received a $1 million grant to use for the village in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why? I would put the funding into improving the infrastructure, specifically streets.

Where are your favorite places to spend time in the village? Why do you live here? I love walking through town; we are so lucky to be surrounded by green hills. We are very blessed to have some unique qualities with the Midwest’s Largest Earthen Dam at the end of the valley, an excellent school system, an active community theatre, plus the community is friendly and caring.

Why should people vote for you? What differentiates you from other board members/candidates? People should vote for me because I have a vested interest in Spring Valley’s future.

How can people contact you? email

Ruth Lukes*

Did not respond

Peter Koch

Did not respond

Chris Davis

Made a typing error when sending the questionnaire. The Journal provided Davis the question late once the address error was corrected. He may not have had time to respond.

April 2023 election, Spring Valley Village Board, Spring Valley, Wisconsin