Candidate Profile: Eric Couto For Shorewood Village Board

SHOREWOOD, WI — We asked each candidate running for a spot on the Village of Shorewood Board of Trustees to share more about their platform and ideas. The board will have an election for two seats on April 5.

Patch will be publishing each candidate's profile as responses are recieved, and we'll be keeping a close eye on the results come election night. Three people are running for the seats.

Eric Couto

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Village of Shorewood Trustee

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife- Nadine; Daughters- Gabriella and Francesca; Dogs- Miles and Gus

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Lake Bluff, SIS, SHS and UW-Milwaukee

Occupation

Executive Director at Wisconsin Progress where I work with local candidates, elected officials and community members to make Wisconsin a better place to live, work and raise a family. We focus on community engagement, listening and coalition building to solve problems.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Appointed to the Shorewood Plan Commission, Wilson Drive Task Force and Shorewood High School Alumni Association

Campaign website

facebook.com/coutofortrustee

Why are you seeking elective office?

To work with my neighbors to make sure Shorewood is great community to live, work and raise a family in.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As I've said before, there is no single most important issue facing Shorewood. Like every community across Wisconsin, we have a number of challenges. Aging infrastructure, housing affordability, environmental sustainability and transparency are some areas to highlight. Infrastructure, environmental sustainability and transparency are issues we can address immediately through ordinance and basic good government practices. Housing affordability will require a multi-tool approach using affordable housing, an end to village-sponsored corporate subsidies and an increase in government efficiencies. First and foremost, we as a village need to start listening and working together. Only then can we truly move forward.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The critical difference between myself and my opponents is my many years of community building and engagement with local officials and communities across Wisconsin. That expertise coupled with my experience growing up in Shorewood and serving on the Plan Commission and Wilson Drive Task Force gives me a unique perspective. I understand what makes Shorewood special but I also see numerous ways to make our community better by working better together.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Aging infrastructure, environmental sustainability, housing affordability and transparent governance are all issues that deeply concern me and the folks I'm talking to across the village. I hear everyday from residents that we need to find a way to work together to address lead laterals, safe drinking water, affordable housing and closed government.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My profession is service to others working to make their communities a better place to live, work and raise a family. I have trained over 1,000 of our neighbors across the state to built coalitions, ask hard questions and work together to accomplish difficult tasks. This unique background has taught me to listen first and assume best intentions even when I disagree with someone. Much like my time serving on the Village Plan Commission and Wilson Drive Task Force illustrates my ability to work together with neighbors to do what's best for our village. We don't always get it right, but we do our best and we continue to learn so we can do better in the future.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You never learn anything by talking.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running for Shorewood Village Board because I want to help tackle complex issues like affordable housing, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and good governance. I don't have all of the answers but I'm willing to learn and do what I think is best for the village.