By Kathy Danke:
Let’s Vote!!
As promised, I reported that I would be interviewing the candidates for our village trustees:
Traci Bloedorn is the first person running that I interviewed. She has lived in the village for three years and actually arrived with all the fanfare of a holiday parade. We had warned her that the street would be blocked off for the Santa Parade in December, and that it might impair her moving. Well guess who was part of the 2009 parade. The new girl in town that was in the process of moving, of course, who else? She joined the parade and pulled right into her driveway with her furniture on the truck, the parade progressed to Whistle Inn. And that is the way her stay in Nichols has been ever since.
As the owner of TLC Reflexology, Main Street, she has recognized that there is a need for change in the village. Recently voted as president of Nichols Advancement Association, her main objective has been to start the wheels moving to finalize the plans for the Nichols sign that is to be erected on Hwy 47. Everyone who has been involved with the promise of that sign knows it has been in the works for the past several years. “It’s time for it to go up, people have been waiting too long and the state highway traffic has to know we are here waiting for them to visit” was her response when the question of an update was asked.
As a graduate from Clintonville who moved to Seymour, then Black Creek and now Nichols she believes that the people in small towns are looking for someone who is willing to listen to their concerns. She wants to get that small town feeling back while improving highway conditions and always encouraging businesses to join the community. When asked what she wanted to leave the voters with she replied, “Small changes can create big differences and if you want change vote for Traci.”
Claude Figlinski was my second to be interviewed. Claude now sits on the board as an appointee replacing a prior “electee” who became unavailable to finish his term. As a member of the community for over 40 years and one who was born northwest of town on Navarino Rd. Claude believes that part of what needs to be stressed in the day to day village operations is business considerations. “New business needs to be sought out while looking at the way the village board is functioning now,” he said. “If something needs to be fixed let’s fix it right, don’t waist the taxpayers money on a quick fix, if we need to redo the street, dig it out and fix it right so we don’t have to do it again in a couple of years.
“My grandfather lived here when it was part of the town of Cicero long before it was the Village of Nichols and I believe we have to look at how our money is being spent, now. Should the fire department water usage be coming out of the village budget? Or should they be held accountable for their own financial responsibilities? We need to stand for what is right and make sure there is no conflict of interest in the decision makers.” As a long time resident Claude has many concerns and believes the best way to make change happen is to hit the issues head on.
To the candidates: I hope I have quoted you correctly and portrayed you in the way you hoped for, if not I strongly apologize. To the voters: I believe that both candidates only wish the best for our community. To my readers: After interviewing both of these candidates it has certainly given me a lot to think about, how about you? VOTE!!
Watch next week’s publication for interviews with Incumbent Ben VanVleet and candidate A.J. Griesbach.
