Four candidates vie for three seats on Gilman Village Board

There are four candidates running for three seats in the Gilman Village Board.

Questionnaires were sent to all the candidates. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order by the candidates’ last names.

Russell Baker

My name is Russell Baker and I am running for Village Board Trustee. I have a varied background. I've worked in many different jobs including: construction, maintenance, manufacturing, sales and financial services.

Local government is not glamorous but the need for it is still there. Someone has to do it. And I don't want to see our Village cease to exist.

I think some of our challenges are getting businesses in our nearly empty Industrial park, increasing housing, and dealing with unpopular and difficult burdens put upon small towns and Villages by the Government, EPA, and DNR.

I've been on the Board before and I'm on the Board currently, I plan to use my previous experience to help the Village deal with the challenges we are currently facing and those that come with the future.

We have been working to get the community more involved and more informed of the challenges facing the Village and welcome their input as to how they would like us to proceed.

I will continue to work to keep our Village solvent and to help it prosper.

Karen James

Please tell us about yourself. What is your background? I have an associate degree in Administrative Professional and I am currently the Customer Service & Sales Manager for Gilman Cheese. I have lived in Gilman for many years while my children have attended the Gilman School District.

Why do you want to serve on village board? I want to serve as village board because I am passionate about contributing to the growth and well-being of our community. My goal is to listen to the needs of our community members, advocate for them, and work alongside fellow board members to seek resolutions.

What do you think the biggest challenge facing the village over the course of the next 5 years will be and how would you address it? In my opinion, the biggest challenge the village will face over the next five years is managing housing and utilities cost. With recent increases, the board should work together to find efficient and effective solutions to reduce these costs.

What skill or ability can you bring to the village board that will help the county continue to move forward? My ability to listen, analyze issues, and work effectively with others will contribute to decision making and strategic planning as we move forward.

What is something the village is doing right? The village does a great job keeping the community informed about local events promoting new business growth & ideas as well as prioritizing the overall needs of our community.

Mark Person

Please tell us about yourself. What is your background?

My name is Mark Person. I live in Gilman with my wife, where we have raised all 6 of our children. I am also a graduate of Gilman High school. Besides being a current Village Trustee, I have been the Chairman for the Zion Lutheran Church for 10 years.

Why do you want to serve on village board ?

I want to contribute to making the village a better place for everyone—whether through enhancing local services, improving infrastructure, or creating more opportunities for residents to get involved. I want to ensure that development is sustainable, that the village thrives for future generations, and that environmental and economic impacts are considered in decision-making. I have a desire to serve the community, a willingness to work, and I have an understanding of the kind of community Gilman is. Gilman is such a great place, and I want the village to keep growing. I want to give the community members the respect they need, and I want to hear all their desires and aspirations as citizens and what they would like to see happening in Gilman.

What do you think biggest challenge facing the village over the course of the next 5 years will be and how would you address it?

Gilman needs to ensure its long-term economic viability. This means attracting new businesses that can provide jobs and contribute to the local economy, while also supporting existing businesses and local entrepreneurs. We need to help existing businesses grow and thrive. We need to prioritize projects that have the greatest impact on our community's economy and quality of life while involving the residents in the planning process to ensure that infrastructure projects meet the needs of the community. Also, I believe that we need to keep the water and sewer costs at a reasonable level. We will need to work together and investigate how we can have a healthy and safe water and sewer system but still keep the costs from becoming too outrageous for our community members.

What skill or ability can you bring to the village board that will help the county continue to move forward?

I believe that my roles of being the Church Chairman and being a Village Trustee have taught me how to be a leader and has helped me develop many qualities like being open minded to new ideas, good listening skills, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, willingness to dive into a wide range of issues, and the ability and willingness to communicate thoughts in a clear, concise and logical manner.

What is something the village is doing right? The village has been working on increasing housing availability to families and also infrastructure improvements. These initiatives demonstrate the village's dedication to improving housing, infrastructure, and financial management to enhance the quality of life for its residents. I believe that ALL the business owners also have played a huge part in improving our village. When you drive through Gilman we have so much to offer for a small town. I am proud to be a Gilman resident, we have a great town, and I am happy to see everything that all the business owners and community members do to make Gilman a great place to live and makes it inviting for others to want to come to Gilman.

Derrick Romig

Please tell us about yourself. What is your background? I am Derrick Romig and I am a lifelong member of the Gilman community. My background consists of being a member of the Miller Dam Lake Association, a member of the Village of Gilman Tree Board, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 86 Gilman Boy Scouts, Assistant Chief for the Gilman Rural Fire Department, a member of the Gilman Community Betterment Association, and a Journeyman Plumber for Romig’s Inc.

Why do you want to serve on village board? I want to use my skills and experience to contribute to a cause I believe in, make a positive impact in our community, develop leadership abilities, and gain valuable insights into inner workings while shaping its direction through strategic decision-making.

What do you think biggest challenge facing the village over the course of the next 5 years will be and how would you address it? I think the biggest challenge facing the village over the next 5 years is economic development. The most effective strategies to help with economic development include analyzing the local economic context, identifying economic opportunities and resources, and collaborating with industry, government, academic, and community stakeholders.

What skill or ability can you bring to the village board that will help the county continue to move forward? Respect, Civility and Courage What is something the village is doing right? Something the Village of Gilman is doing right is trying to bring in more affordable housing to help with growth in the local area.