TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD — Barry Ketchum is a candidate for supervisor on the Springfield Town Board in the April 2 election. There are three candidates for two town board positions. Dan Dopkins and incumbent supervisor James Mahoney also are candidates.
Ketchum, age 39, and his wife, Gena, have three children, Derek, Sammy and Ryan.
The Tribune Press Reporter sent out questionnaires to candidates in the spring election.
Here are Ketchum’s answers:
• What is your occupation? I work at Donaldson’s in Baldwin as a tool room machinist.
• What is your educational background? I went to school at CVTC in Eau Claire for a welding degree and a machine tool degree.
• What experience do you have as an elected official? My elected official experience includes trustee for the Village of Woodville from 2006 to 2011 and village president from 2011 to 2014 until I resigned 2015 after moving out of the village into Springfield Township.
• Why did you decide to run for the town board? I decided to run because it’s a strong interest of mine to do so and there was an open position available.
• What makes you particularly suited to serve on the town board? I think my prior background in local politics gives me advantage when facing any and all issues that come up that face the town board. I have equal understanding to all points of view and believe all topics deserve an honest debate when it can affect the residents financially or have a general impact to their daily lives.
• What do you believe to be the biggest challenges facing your township? Roads is the single most important issue in the township and how to plan and pay for the necessary improvements.
• What do you hope to accomplish serving on your town board? I hope to accomplish a solid plan for your needed road improvements with limited cash flow available. This is something that will not be easy but I’m confident there is a way to build a plan that suits the needed requirements.
• Other comments? I hope to accomplish a greater understanding of how rural governments function in comparison to a village and to make Springfield the best possible township in St. Croix County!
