I am excited to present the following information on candidates for South Milwaukee alderman, in the contested Fourth District.
Each candidate was asked to answer the same questions, and their responses are shared here verbatim. Thanks to each of the candidates for responding — and for stepping up to serve the community!
Please share this information far and wide … and use it to make informed choices at the ballot box.
In-person absentee voting starts Tuesday, March 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 2. Get more information, including voting locations and sample ballots, here. You can vote for up to two candidates in each aldermanic race.
Fourth District candidates listed in alphabetical order …
David Bartoshevich
- Name: David R. Bartoshevich
- Address: 1406 17th Avenue
- How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? Lived in South Milwaukee since 1972
- Family: Married—to Vicki and have two boys Todd (four grandchildren and one great grandson) and Troy (three grandchildren).
- Occupation: Retired Project Engineer
Why are you running for office?
Over the years I have truly appreciated your confidence and trust in me to represent you in our district. My valuable experience and knowledge in understanding the inner workings of our city, has taught me the importance of asking questions and researching issues thoroughly before voting. Our community needs an alderperson who is experienced in doing this as well as someone who will listen to their constituents and be accessible to them.
What is the most important issue in your race?
In the 4th district, it is the proposed redevelopment of the property at 100 15th Avenue for 20 residential units. The Common Councill needs to make sure the project is executed responsibly and the neighbors are supported.
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
To meet both the levy limit and expenditure restraint budget requirements imposed by the state.
What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?
The redevelopment of the former Everbrite and Bucyrus manufacturing campuses as well as the city-owned vacant lot at 2318 10th Avenue pose the biggest opportunities. New construction will allow the city to grow the operating budget and further invest in our important city services like police, fire, and emergency response. The new single-family housing development approved at 7th and Monroe Avenues will create up to $2.5 million in new value. This success can spread throughout the city.
Ryan Breaker
- Name: Ryan Breaker
- Age: 29
- Campaign website/social media URL(s): I do not at this time have a social media or website set up for the campaign but would encourage anyone who would like to reach out to please send an email to: ryan-southmke@breaker.rocks. I will also be out and about throughout District 4 knocking on doors over the coming weeks until election day.
- How long have you lived in South Milwaukee?: I have lived in the suburbs south of Milwaukee for most of my life but officially moved to South Milwaukee in October 2021.
- Family: Engaged, getting married the week after election day!
- Occupation: Software Engineer
Why are you running for office?
I believe South Milwaukee has some of the most potential in the Milwaukee metro area as an up-and-coming livable and walkable small city. I was personally inspired by organizations such as Strong Towns when I learned more about the topics of urban planning and safe streets and decided to start taking action after experiencing first-hand how poor street design negatively affects our residents, especially those who are unable to drive or want alternative options to transport themselves besides driving, whether it’s due to finances, disability, age, etc.
Why should voters vote for you?
I’ve heard from quite a few other residents some amount of disdain about the local government or that it isn’t worth going to the city over an issue because “they won’t do anything about it.” I want to try to change that perception and act as a reliable point of contact to residents and quickly address struggles in the community. I believe we need to remain humble in observing our own community and if we can ask ourselves what the next smallest thing is we can do to address a struggle, it makes it much easier to actually do that thing and do it right away, then rinse and repeat as needed.
What is the most important issue in your race?
It seems everyone agrees that speeding and dangerous driving habits are a real problem around here, particularly along Chicago Ave and Milwaukee Ave but no one seems to have any new ideas on what to do about it or have accepted that that’s just how life is. I want to work with the city’s engineering department to ensure we strive for safe street designs that will make a difference and maintain that as a policy decision. Given our limited land, our zoning codes are also incredibly inefficient which makes building new housing or opening new businesses unnecessarily restrictive. Fortunately our codes are currently going through a modernization effort and I want to make sure we address those points as well as see the city take a more active role in making our community a safer and more livable place such that anyone who wants to be here can live here. I believe those ideas would help make South Milwaukee stronger as a community and what I would like to initially focus on as an Alderperson.
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
South Milwaukee is a small landlocked city of roughly 4.8 square miles and we are very limited on what land we still have available for development or redevelopment. One of our biggest upcoming challenges I believe is deciding how to best or most efficiently use this limited resource, as well as how can the city invest in itself while keeping within its means and avoid increasing taxpayer burden or taking on additional debt?
What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?
We have some incredible upcoming redevelopment opportunities with a beautiful downtown and lakefront. If we play our cards right with the right infrastructure and policy decisions, South Milwaukee could benefit immensely from these resources in many ways.
Peggy Clark
- Name: Peggy Clark
- Address: 1004 18 th Ave. South Milwaukee
- How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? 27 years this summer
- Family: I have been married for 39 years to Steve. I have 2 amazing children, Bryan: 33 and Jordin: 28. I have the most AMAZING son-in-law on the planet – Joe: 29, a beautiful grandson Theo and another one expected in May.
- Occupation: I own a small business in South Milwaukee. Littlest Flowers Center for Achievement Childcare Center opened in 2015. We are located on College Ave.
Why are you running for office?
My love for this community has fueled my desire to become a part of the governing body of South Milwaukee. South Milwaukee is an amazing place to live and work and I want to ensure that the things that we have put in place to keep taxes low, keep services that effect our citizens current, and to build business, continue to move forward.
Why should voters vote for you?
I am extremely dedicated to the citizens I serve. I invest in them and the city as a whole to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and well represented. I have invested over 20 years serving the city and feel my job is just beginning. We are at a unique time in our country and I feel that it is our job at the city level to make our voices heard by the State and Federal Politicians. It was through this hard work that our city received $745,000 additional dollars from the state which allowed us to further prioritize public safety and improve city services.
What is the most important issue in your race?
The most important part of our city is our CITIZENS! It is very important to me, to make things easier for them, keep them informed and ensure that they have the opportunity to engage in their city government and that their voice is heard. In the past few years, we have:
- Launched a new website: smwi.org,
- Created a citizen complaint app: smworks in the app store.
- Created a new city newsletter emailed monthly. You can register for the newsletter on the city’s website listed above.
- Added online payment options and expanded our payment options to make things more convenient for our residents.
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
I think the safety of our residents is my biggest priority. This is something we need to assess on an on-going basis and meet challenges and issues as they arise with creative solutions. This past year an issue that needed to be addressed was lead pipes delivering water to many households within the city. We knew this would be a very big financial burden for our residents so we dedicated $500,000 in ARPA funds to offset the costs and ensure safe drinking water for our citizens.
From 2018 – 2022 the city achieved a drop of 35% in violent and property crimes. The Police Department deserves our continued investment and support to ensure the safety of our residents.
What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?
The biggest opportunity facing the city is redevelopment of our downtown and city as a whole. The Bucyrus Campus, the Everbrite Campus and our downtown are opportunities for the city in the next few years.
We have done some amazing things in the last few years:
- The city received a $2 Million dollar grant from the Bucyrus Foundation which allowed us to create The Bucyrus Commons, and the Bucyrus Club. Due to the success of these projects the Bucyrus Foundation has committed $10 Million additional dollars to the city.
- Our downtown has added many businesses that proudly serve our community.
- Voices were heard in the desire for single family development and the 7th and Monroe project will create $2.5 Million dollars in new valuation for the city.
- Last year, Steele Solutions moved their World Headquarters to South Milwaukee and is the 5th largest employer in the city. It is crucial that momentum is maintained.
As President of Crusherfest and a small business owner myself I see the need to build traditions, bring our community together and continue to advocate for our city and its future! PLEASE vote Peggy Clark to allow me to continue to serve this AMAZING community!
South Milwaukee Blog 