GREEN BAY – With one incumbent vying to keep her position, voters in District 3 will have the opportunity on April 5 to vote on their next City Council member.
Lynn Gerlach, who won against 18-year council member veteran Andy Nicholson in 2020, is seeking her second term. Her opponent, William "Bill" Morgan, meanwhile, enters the race with four decades of law enforcement experience with the Brown County Sheriff's Department.
Gerlach and Morgan are contending to represent aneast-side district thatextends from Edison Park on the east to Abrams Street on the west, Newbury Conservancy on the north to Willow Street Parkway on the southeast.
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This is Morgan's debut run as a Green Bay council member. The retired patrol sergeant is largely campaigning on lowering crime,getting drugs off the street and fixing roads.
Gerlach is a retired Green Bay teacher and communications consultant who says she'll focus her attention on a variety of issues, from addressing crime to beautification to reducing speeders in her district.
As part of the Green Bay Press-Gazette's election coverage, the newspaperhas reached out tocandidates to answer questions about their qualifications, why they're running, and how they plan to center constituents' concernsin City Council discussions given that the position is nonpartisan. Below are their answers, limited to no more than 100 words, with each candidate listed alphabetically.
For information about registering to voteand polling locations, visit theMyVote Wisconsin websiteatmyvote.wi.gov/en-us.
Lynn Gerlach
Address: St. Bernard Drive
Age: 72
Occupation and highest level of education:Communication consultant, bachelor's degree.
Relevant experience:Currently serving on Green Bay City Council
William 'Bill' Morgan
Address: 2405 Grouse Court
Age: 71
Occupation and highest level of education:Retired, Brown County Sheriff’s patrol sergeant.Graduated from Denmark High School,attended Fox Valley Technical College, Lakeshore Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Relevant experience: Morgan listed awards he's received:
- 1977 recipient of “Brown County Outstanding Policeman Award” from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
- 1978 recipient of the “Distinguished Officer Award” from The Optimist Club of Green Bay.
- 2004 recipient of the “Medal of Valor,” the Sheriff’s Department’s highest award.
- 2004 recipient of the “Book of Golden deeds award” from the Green Bay Area Exchange Club.
- 2005 recipient of the “Community Service Award” from the Wisconsin National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Why are you running for office?
Gerlach: I’m about to finish my first two-year term, having spent more than an entire year of it in my basem*nt on Zoom. That hasn’t prevented me from attending meetings and learning all about the city and how it works. Now, I’d like a chance to apply my learning — and toactually be present in Council Chambers with the staff and the public in attendance. As the only new alder in 2020, I recognized the need for an orientation manual for alders. I’ve been working with all city departments to complete that, and I hope to get a chance to use it.
Morgan:I have lived in Green Bay for 50 years, and, for the past 38 years, in the house we built in District 3. In the past few years, friends and neighbors have been victims of crimes that were not as prevalent in Green Bay in the past. Lately, too many local news casts start with a report of another shooting in Green Bay. The Green BayPolice Department is not fully staffed. This is an issue nationwide. I would love to see recruitment emphasized. Besides becoming a hot bed for shootings, we are seeing more victims of drug-related incidents,fentanyl use one of the worst among them. We need to get behind Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis and make sure our department is one of the best trained and equipped around — and fully staffed — to do their job.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Gerlach:My experience on the council is absolutely critical in that distinction, but I’m also committed to researching and learning, as I’ve demonstrated over and over. I think, for myself, I've focused on the city’s overall wellbeing. I’ve actually demonstrated my determination to hear all sides, get my questions answered, assemble factual evidenceand vote my conscience. I believe my constituents would say I’ve never passed the buck or ducked their calls, although some problems are lot harder to solve than others. At least now I know where to go for answers. The learning curve is steep.
Morgan:I was a Brown County deputy sheriff for 41 years, 39 years full-time in the Patrol Division. I taught catechism classes at St. Bernard Parish for several years. I’ve coached youth baseball for 31 years, starting my 13th this year with Preble High Schooland American Legion Varsity baseball teams. And for the past 10 years, I have worked as a funeral director’s assistant. Through all these years I listened to citizens' praises and complaints on how they were treated during their experiences. I have worked with people in every kind of situation, sometimes in life-or-death situations. I want to help make the decisions that can lead to District 3 and all of Green Bay—the city we grew up loving—safe again. And to show our citizens therespect they deserve.
What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how are you addressing them?
Gerlach:While speeding on their streets remains a constant theme (although most confess that they, too, speed on Green Bay streets), I see a rising interest in combating crime. At the same time, though, people are interested in the small, specific issues that affect them daily: potholes, trashy yards, neighbors’ unkempt lawns, garbage cans left out, noise, blocked driveways…Each constituent concern is unique. Honestly, I don’t hear a lot of consistency in complaints and requests for help. I hear frustration, and I do my best to help solve every single problem, large or small. I see more variety than consistency.
Morgan:
- Shootings, crime and drugs.
- Voter integrity and knowing their vote counts.
- Lack of respect and openness given tothem by City Hall.
- Road deterioration.
- Flooding, especially the area of the 1900 block of Main Streetin District 3.
As an alderman I would vote to find solutions for these and any other problems that affectour citizens and anyone else who visit our city.
This is a nonpartisan race. How will you prioritize the concerns of your constituents, even if they don’t align with your personal values?
Gerlach:As long as constituents are interested in obeying city ordinances and state statutes and insisting others do so too, no partisan issues arise. Safe streets and neighborhoods know no political bias. Honestly, political affiliation or personal values have not become issues. Most people want security, privacy, prudent spending of tax dollarsand freedom to pursue happiness —and their political affiliation (if any) doesn’t have a lot to do with that. They all want streets and sidewalks repaired, a strong police force, a responsive Fire Department, well-maintained parks, flood mitigation —and the lowest taxes possible.
Morgan:As I did in 39 years as a law enforcement officer, I will look at both sides and make my decisions based on the legality and then what is best for our citizens.
How will youguarantee all your constituents, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender, religion and creed, are listened to and given fair, equitable treatment?
Gerlach: That’s easy —or difficult —depending on your personal convictions, biases and experiences. I have three sisters: two are white and one is Black; two have husbands and one has a wife. I was a U.S. Army wife for 20 years.My life was filled with diversity and change. Here in Green Bay, I have neighbors who are white/English speaking, Latino/Spanish speaking, Asian/Hmong speaking, and now even some Afghan neighbors. I love them all. I have no problem at all representing all my constituents —including those who don’t vote. Life experiences shape our responses to others.
Morgan:My first employment was in the entertainment industry for sevenyears. I even was a member of Local 205 of theAmerican Federation of Musicians. Then, 41 years of law enforcement, 31 years of coaching and now 10 years in the funeral industry. I have worked with every person that this question describes. I have never let my feelings determine how I handled anyone. I believe I have always treated everyone equally and preserved their rights given to them by the Constitution.
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Natalie Eilbert isa government watchdog reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You canreach her atneilbert@gannett.comor view her Twitter profile at@natalie_eilbert.
