Gubernatorial candidate visits downtown

Posted: Feb. 24, 2010

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Carol Spaeth-Bauer/Staff Photogr

VISITING LOCAL BUSINESSES - Mark Neumann (center) and his wife Sue visit with Bartle Jewelers owner Steve Bartle about the state's economy, the struggles of small businesses and why Neumann is running for governor during a visit to Mukwonago on Feb. 9.

Carol Spaeth-Bauer/Staff Photogr

VISITING LOCAL BUSINESSES - Mark Neumann (center) and his wife Sue visit with Bartle Jewelers owner Steve Bartle about the state's economy, the struggles of small businesses and why Neumann is running for governor during a visit to Mukwonago on Feb. 9.

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Lake Country resident Mark Neumann and his wife, Sue, stopped by to chat with the Focus on Tuesday after a trip around downtown as part of his Mark on Main Street visits as part of his campaign for governor. Neumann stopped in at My Place Café, May's Garden Center after starting at his wife's Weight Watchers meeting.

"Jobs are No. 1," Neumann said of Tuesday's conversations. "You see empty storefronts, and it comes back to the fact that government has taken jobs out of Wisconsin and money with tax increases."

Neumann's platform addresses decreasing taxes as a means to increase jobs and consumer spending. He is also a critic of the proposed high-speed rail, which could potentially see a stop in Oconomowoc.

"People downtown didn't say they were against the rail, but they are against people paying for it that won't be using it," he said. "I feel that the government doesn't have the money for the costs to operate it." Neumann said the money allocated for the high-speed rail project could be better used in other ways. "Wouldn't it be better to cut taxes?" he asked

Neumann said the state Department of Natural Resources was another topic that came up often among people in downtown Cooney on Tuesday. He said much of the discussion centered on whether DNR employees should be appointed by the governor or board. Neumann said if employees are board-appointed, then there is no accountability for their actions. He also said many people have a negative outlook on the DNR because of the way DNR staffers treat the public they interact with.

"A lot of people are upset about the DNR's attitude, and I've seen both sides. Some employees truly care about what they're doing, and others are just power crazed. I think making their employees more like us is part of the answer," Neumann said.

May's Garden Center employee Roger Mayer said it was interesting to meet Neumann face to face. Mayer had prepared a set of questions in anticipation of the visit and said Neumann answered them well.

"I asked him things like 'should Milwaukee Public Schools be controlled by the mayor,' and his response was that might be possible, but that there should be a plan for it instead of just to go for it," Mayer said.

Mayer said he also discussed the business climate and that with so many regulations and taxes on businesses, many are finding it more convenient to just leave entrepreneurship.

"I also asked about unemployment compensation being extended multiple times. I recognize the need to have income, but I wonder if this is curtailing people from looking for a job," Mayer said.

Neumann said he was concerned about the many vacant storefronts he saw downtown, but added that Oconomowoc's vacancies aren't as bad as other areas he's visited.

"It's not as bad off as other communities. But it all goes back to the concept of the government taking more money. We've got to get spending under control and be in a position to cut taxes. If we cut taxes, you get to keep more money, and then you can spend it at places like downtown Oconomowoc.

"It's frustrating that politicians don't understand this simple concept," Neumann said.

Overall, he said his visit to downtown Oconomowoc was positive.

"People here care about their country and what's going on, but people here are struggling. When I mentioned the topic of jobs, every head in the room nodded. But our strength is in the community, not politicians; strong people get through the downturns," Neumann said.

For more information on Mark Neumann, go to mark forgov.com