Paul Zovic: Why I'm Running for Trustee

Editor's Note: Paul Zovic is a Shorewood resident and candidate for Shorewood Village Board. The views in this letter are his own and not in anyway representative of the views of Patch or its staff.

I am running for Shorewood Village Trustee because I have a profound commitment to and deep concern for our community. 

In the coming years we will face continued pressures to deliver services at desired levels, maintain affordability for residents, and provide amenities for our businesses and their customers.  Addressing these matters requires the ability to listen, to learn and to lead.  It requires knowing that the best decisions aren’t always the easiest and that decisions that favor the special interest or the loudest groups aren’t always the best for the Village as a whole. It requires the ability to work on financial, technical, personnel, public relations, safety and a myriad other disciplines and program areas. I have proven experience and demonstrated abilities to serve in this regard - business, technical and management expertise built on effective listening and communication, a system-based thinking approach and consistent, solid decision-making. 

I worked for many years as a laborer for the City of Milwaukee and I gained an insider’s appreciation of how the various elements of public works programs, projects and operations function.  I was a mid-level manager for a Fortune 500 company and learned about the importance of accurate budgeting, transparency, and shareholder accountability.  I was a small business owner and gained first-hand experience with finance, policy and personnel matters.

I am a life-long resident of Milwaukee and Shorewood.  My wife, Joanne, and I came to Shorewood in 1988 for the great neighborhoods, excellent schools, and the diverse and engaged residents.  We raised our four kids here (yet a work-in-progress with two in college and two at Shorewood High) and I am continually amazed at the great work done in our schools by excellent teachers, professional staff and dedicated administrators.

In 2001, I saw that my ability to work collaboratively on challenging issues combined with my desire to serve the community could be put to work here, and I ran for the Shorewood School Board.  I served nearly eleven years on the School Board and I have in-depth knowledge and perspectives of our schools, of public finance and unique understanding of how the School Board and Village Boards can work together.

I am running for Village Trustee because I have a desire to continue to serve our community. The work of the Village Board and the decisions they make are well aligned with my professional experiences. As well, through my school board service I have come to know many of the issues in ways very different than my opponents.  I have had direct and significant contact with many many citizens and stakeholders in Shorewood; contact and interactions that will play meaningful roles in my work and decisions on the Village Board.

Looking ahead, one of our most significant challenges is the necessary improvements to and ongoing maintenance of our aging infrastructure. Our top priority must be to complete the design and construction of improvements to alleviate street flooding and protect homes from back-ups - the value of our properties, our ability to sell/develop properties, and our quality of life depend on sound, affordable solutions. 

Our infrastructure needs also include our roads, alleys, sidewalks, parking facilities information technologies and communications systems; all of which need care and thoughtful attention. In my day job, I have worked with other municipalities on the myriad public works projects and in this regard and am uniquely qualified to serve as Village Trustee.

Infrastructure, parking, budgeting and planning are all areas where we can benefit from new solutions, creative approaches.  As I School Board member several years ago, I suggested overdesigning the drainage system that was being installed beneath the Lake Bluff school ball fields. My rationale was that if designed appropriately, the system could have served to capture runoff from not only the fields and playground, but some of surrounding streets and alleys – minimizing the stress to the storm sewer system in the area. That was a creative approach that could have addressed two issues.  Sadly that concept did not find receptive audiences, or ample funding.  It is nonetheless, a good example of the type of creativity and approach that I bring to all challenges and decisions. 

I was recently called a pessimist because I stated that our property taxes are already scarring potential homeowners away.  I said that not based on some ingrained chicken-little complex or simple conjecture, but on recent conversations with two such families. For sure, Shorewood remains an attractive place to live and the Village Board cannot lead without awareness to such reactions.

There are certainly continued options for shared service and consolidation.  I look forward to working with the Board and continuing the serious and deliberate evaluation of all options.  While some might be inclined step back or stop looking after the first sign of resistance, I will continue to press hard to find ways to minimize the stress on taxpaying public. 

Many things in Shorewood are working well and we are benefiting from community leaders that have been thoughtful, respectful and mindful of the many interests that must be served and balanced. We are fortunate that to a certain extent, the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” adage applies to much of our community, though I do feel very strongly that we cannot rest on our past accomplishments. Forward vision is of paramount importance- we must look hard and deep for creative ways to serve all residents, conserve increasingly scarce dollars and preserve our quality of life.

If elected, I promise to work hard to maintain the trust of the community and strive tirelessly to provide and promote our shared success.  I do not and will not accept the status-quo for status-quo sake; I will ask lots of questions and I promise to listen to all stakeholders.  As a Village Trustee, I will deliver solid representative leadership and sound decision making.

Thank you very much,

Paul Zovic