Name: Mike Gengler

Age: 72

Occupation: Lawyer

Years lived in Town of Mount Pleasant: 11 (21 as property owner).

Incumbent? Yes

Have you been on the town board or held any other public office before? If so please describe: Town board and Secretary of Plan Commission since 2007, town board chair since 2015.

Why are you running for town board? This term (which will be my last), to provide a smooth transition to new leadership. Of our other two board members, one has served one year and the other has recently been appointed. Our Clerk took over in August 2015, after Dan Karlen's death. Our Treasurer was appointed in April 2016. There are many very technical actions that town government has to perform. Because I am a lawyer, and because I have always been willing to learn new tasks, during my ten years on the board many of those tasks came to me. For example, I make sure the town gets its General Transportation Aid payments from the state, that we get semi-annual TRIP funds for road repairs, that TRIP contracts are advertised as required by law and protect the town, that the town's public annual budget is fully transparent, accurate, and conforms to state law, and that the town has adequate insurance coverage. I send an annual letter (at my personal expense) to all town residents to inform them of all major issues before the board, and to seek their feedback. This is the wrong year to replace me with a candidate who has no experience in town government.

What issues do you find most important to the town board? How would you handle these issues? First, I need to work with my fellow board members and the town officers for a smooth transition when I leave the board. Last year's tax increase may tempt protest votes. Please remember that on the board I have only one vote and that the two other members are long-time residents who will also represent your interests.

Second, I want to continue the following priorities as I have in the past: (1) fiscal soundness (our fund balance meets the UW Extension standard of 50% of an annual budget), (2) economic and professional management of road projects through Green County, (3) compliance with applicable laws and our own ordinances, (4) fair and equal treatment of all citizens, not just a group of insiders, and (5) help for town residents and prompt action on land divisions and driveway permits. We can't go back to old ways; those old ways got the town in the position it now finds itself, especially on roads.

Any additional comments? The board will be better able to respond to town residents during the next two years if I am reelected. Also, the town will be in a much better position for new leadership at the 2019 election.