Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

FEBRUARY 2014 Page 2A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove Former mayor to challenge incumbent in Brookfield The FREEMAN Established in 1859 Speaker lost close election to Ponto in 2010 By Katherine Michalets Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD – Four years ago incumbent Jeff Speaker lost to then-Alderman Steve Ponto for mayor. In April, there will be a rematch between the two men for that same position. It was a close race in 2010, with Ponto, who had served as alderman since 1998, edging out the two-term mayor Speaker by an unofficial vote tally of 4,458 to 4,253 – or a percentage of 51.1 for Ponto and 48.8 percent for Speaker. Speaker explained recently why he was running again. "The citizens of Brookfield have come to me and asked to run again. They feel like they are not being heard," he said. "They know I had a true open-door policy." Speaker feels he can beat Ponto, especially since there was a low voter turnout in 2010 and voters are assuring him they will turn out this time. Ponto is seeking re-election because he feels that things have gone well in Brookfield the last four years while he has served as mayor. He is optimistic about future economic development in Brookfield. Ponto said the city has a good economic development administrator, Tim Casey, whom he plans to continue working with to help further growth. "I think that I have worked very closely with Tim Casey and also with (Community Development Director) Dan Ertl on making presentations to businesses that express interest in locating in Brookfield and working with developers," he said, adding he THIS MONTH How to reach us also works with business organizations. "I think we have been particularly active in reaching out." Speaker too highlighted working with Casey . "We do have an economic development person on board and I think by just working with the local businesses who do the majority of the hiring in the area, working with them to have expansions and to grow their businesses, we will grow our economic development in the area," Speaker said. 801 N. Barstow St., P.O. Box 7, Waukesha, WI 53187 262-542-2500 Hours: M-F 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If you have a news tip from the Brookfield/Elm Grove area, contact Mary Reardon at 513-2657 or news@conleynet.com To advertise in "Brookfield & Elm Grove This Month" call the advertising department at (262) 513-2624. Candidates discuss Sileno project Looking back, Ponto said he wouldn't have handled the controversial Sileno property project any differently, which involved hauling clean fill from Wisconsin Department of Transportation projects to the former quarry on Burleigh Road. "I really think from the city's standpoint, we did a really good job in handling it," he said. "We were open and fair." Ponto highlighted how state legislation prevented the city from enacting its zoning codes in this particular situation, but said the city supported residents' efforts to create direct legislation. Now the land will likely be bought by a local apartment building owner. Speaker said he felt the city administration could have handled the issue better. "I think it should have been handled earlier on in the process," he said. "That is one of those core properties that we have to be more proactive on and I think had it been under a developer's agreement from the beginning it wouldn't have gotten as far." Speaker said residents should Brookfield & Elm Grove To subscribe to the daily Freeman call 542-2500 Steve Ponto Jeff Speaker Address: 19755 Kilkee Court, Brookfield Age: 66 Family: married to Mary Ponto for 32 years; two daughters, Stephanie Ponto, 28, Elizabeth Ponto, 27 Job: mayor; senior counsel for Metavante Corporation. Elected experience: mayor of Brookfield for 4 years. Alderman for 12 years (April 1998-2010), committee chairman 10 years, council president for two terms Address: 18520 Milwaukee Ave Age: 55 Family: married to Colleen; four children Job: security director at Brookfield Square Elected experience: 2002 to 2010, mayor of Brookfield vote for him in April because he is the right man for the job. He also highlighted his eight years as Brookfield's mayor and his 20-plus years in law enforcement, with the majority spent on the Brookfield police force. "I think we continue to grow on that and we continue to move forward," he said. Ponto people should vote for him because of his education, experience and "proven leadership in the role of mayor." He also highlighted his 31 years of highlevel legal experience and 12 years as alderman. During his tenure as mayor, Ponto said, Brookfield has had the lowest increase in taxes and lowest increases in levy limits during the past 20 years. 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FREEMAN MANAGEMENT Bill Yorth - Editor-in-Chief...........................513-2671 byorth@conleynet.com Mary Reardon - Managing Editor...............513-2657 mreardon@conleynet.com Jim Baumgart - Freeman Group Ad Director 513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Tim Haffemann - Circulation Director....513-2640 thaffemann@conleynet.com Matt Marlett - Plant Manager......................513-2633 mmarlett@conleynet.com Patricia Scheel - Prepress Manager...........513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Local News - Mary Reardon.........................513-2657 news@conleynet.com Sports - Lee Fensin..........................................513-2667 lfensin@conleynet.com Death Notices - Shana Duffy.......................513-2618 obits@conleynet.com Newsroom Fax...........................................262-542-8259 CLASSIFIEDS: 542-2211 Hours: M -F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Orangetheory Fitness puts focus on heart rates BROOKFIELD – When working out at Orangetheory Fitness, the focus is on getting a person's heart rate into the orange zone, which is 70 percent to 80 percent of the maximum heart rate for that individual. Individuals are connected to heart rate moni- tors that they can assess, in addition to the trainers. This new take on physical fitness is catching on around the country and Canada, said Monica Larson, manager of the future Brookfield location. Membership sales have begun for the 3,000-square- foot Orangetheory Fitness location behind Brookfield Commons, 15375 W. Bluemound Road. The anticipated opening date is April 1. Meanwhile, a presale studio will be open in the strip mall and will have staff available to explain what an Orangeth- eory workout is and how equipment will be used. Classes at Orangetheory Fitness will be an hour long and will contain one to 24 people. During that time, participants will spend half their time doing cardio and the other half doing strength train- ing, Larson said. The goal is to maintain a heart rate in the orange zone for 12 to 24 minutes, which will help the person burn more calories throughout the rest of the day, Larson said. – Special to The Freeman BRING YOUR NIGHT TO LIFE. MILWAUKEE'S BEST DINING, BARS, LIVE MUSIC AND HIGH-ENERGY GAMING ALL UNDER ONE ROOF. BRING YOUR NIGHT TO LIFE AT POTAWATOMI. PAYSBIG.COM • MILWAUKEE • 1-800-PAYSBIG • MAKE A SURE BET—KNOW YOUR LIMIT. PHOTO REPRINTS Color reprints are $25 each. Call 542-2501 PAGE REPRINTS Go to www.gmtoday.com/freemanreprints The Freeman is printed on recycled newsprint.

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