Race for district seven common council seat heats up

By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — After his opponent in the district seven race for Marshfield Common Council issued a release criticizing his positions, candidate Ed Korlesky has responded.

The March 30 release from Korlesky’s opponent Jason Zaleski said that Korlesky “has criticized the mayor and all members of the common council.” The Zaleski release also said that Korlesky had “complained that the city should intervene in the Marshfield Clinic/St Joseph Hospital flare-up. (Meanwhile,) Candidate Zaleski held the position that commerce and business relationships should be settled outside of government intervention.”

Korlesky detailed his views in a previous interview with Hub City Times. He also responded to Zaleski’s comments in an email to Hub City Times yesterday. The following are his remarks:

Based on comments made by Mr. Zaleski, I do not think he understands my position on the role of city government or my opinion of the current city leadership.

To be clear, my position is that there is a lack of leadership and vision within with the current city administration. There is a huge difference between intervention and leadership. The role of city government is to provide a vision and leadership for the future growth of the city. This may include providing mediation services to improve lines of communication for the betterment of the community and/or to maintain critical services, or to promote the city benefits and resources to new prospective business. City government has little ability and should not intervene in the day-to-day operations of area businesses.

Likewise, I do not recall criticizing “all members of the common council.” I have known some of the members of the council for over 25 years and respect their commitment and knowledge of city government.

Having lived in Marshfield for over 35 years, I realize that this is a good community, not a great one. It can only become better if city government has the leadership and vision to make it better. Growth will not happen by itself. My opponent seems content with the status quo. I am not.

The choice on Tuesday seems clear. Are you content with Marshfield as it is, or do we need to work together to create a greater vision of what Marshfield can become?

The spring election will be held on Tuesday, April 5. For polling information, visit myvote.wi.gov.