Answers to South Milwaukee Blog

· Name: Michal Olechowski

· Age: 44

· Address:  

· Campaign website/social media URL(s): michalolechowski.com

· How long have you lived in South Milwaukee? Nearly 15 years.

· Family: Married, kids, etc.

• My wife and I have been happily married for over 16 years. She's an outstanding high school teacher, and we share a common hobby of visiting national parks. We've been fortunate enough to explore around 50 of them and can't wait to discover more.
  

· Occupation:

•  I am a Senior Design Engineer with 16 years of experience, including over a decade of working at Bucyrus/Caterpillar locally. I have led and successfully completed projects of various scopes and budgets. I graduated from MSOE and had previously held jobs assembling bicycles and handling airplane baggage.
  

· Why are you running for office? 

• My goal is to bring a fresh perspective to the council and represent the residents' voices while keeping the city's best interests in mind. I have observed that the current council may sometimes show deference towards large developers while small business owners face challenges. I strongly believe in treating all parties equitably.

• To promote greater transparency, the government should go beyond the bare minimum, especially in areas lacking local news coverage. I will prioritize expanding transparency and communication with the community.
  

· Why should voters vote for you?

•   I have been actively introducing myself to as many people as possible in the district by knocking on doors. I will continue to walk the blocks until the day of the election. My commitment to connecting with the district will continue even after I am elected. Only a handful of voices are often heard in council meetings. As a council member, I believe it is the board's responsibility to reach out to the community and not wait for someone else to do so.

• I am fully committed to being an independent voice for District 2, and I am confident that my professional background makes me the ideal candidate to serve as their council member. The district's residents can count on me to be a strong and effective advocate for their needs and concerns.

· What is the most important issue in your race?

  Choice.

•  Residents of District 2 are fortunate to have the freedom to choose who will represent them for the next three years. At least one new alderperson will be elected, and voters can replace both current alderpeople. Two other districts in South Milwaukee have no options for candidates to vote for. Without anyone running in those districts, residents in those areas will not have a real voice in the government. I hope to earn the vote of every District 2 resident, as I intend to represent every resident.
  

·What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

• Although progress has been made to enhance the appearance of vacant storefronts, an excessive number still exist. The efforts of the current economic development team must continue, but all stakeholders must work together proactively to bring development and vitality to South Milwaukee.
  

· What is the biggest opportunity in front of the city?

• The Everbrite site is an exceptional 29-acre property with 1000ft of frontage on Lake Michigan. Very few properties in Milwaukee County can match its unique features. The city must seize this opportunity to transform the property into a true gem that will benefit the community for future generations.