- Incumbent Bill Galvin faces Jon Shelton, Dane Lasecki and Douglas Yates in Feb. 20 primary election
- Top two vote-getters in District 4 advance to April 2 general election
GREEN BAY – Voters in Green Bay District 4 will need a primary election to narrow the field of City Council candidates from four to two.
Four-term incumbent Bill Galvin faces challengers Jon Shelton, Douglas Yates and Dane Lasecki in the Feb. 20 primary election. The top two vote-getters will move on to the April 2 general election, the winner of which will serve a two-year term on the Green Bay City Council.
Green Bay District 4 is roughly bounded by Joannes Park and Stuart Street to the north, South Monroe Avenue to the west, Grignon Street to the south and Abrams Street to the east.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
Ahead of the primary, the Press-Gazette requested each candidate provide basic biographical information and answer three questions. Candidates were asked to limit each response to 100 words. The candidates, and their responses, have been listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.
Jon Shelton
- Address: 1045 S. Webster Ave.
- Age: 45
- Occupation: Professor of democracy and justice studies, UW-Green Bay
- Highest education level attained: PhD in U.S. History
- Relevant experience: Equal Rights Commission (vice-chair from 2021-22); president, UWGB-United (faculty and staff union at UW-Green Bay); vice president of Higher Education, American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin
Douglas Yates
- Address: 324 S. Clay St.
- Age: 41
- Occupation: UA Local 400 Journeyman welder/fitter
- Highest education level attained: Welding diploma, Bay De Noc Community College; 5-year apprenticeship with UA Local 400
- Relevant experience: I’m a member of the community for the last eight years and have a vested interest in seeing the community succeed.
Bill Galvin (i)
- Address: 1244 Emilie St.
- Age: 64
- Occupation: Retired Green Bay Police captain
- Highest education level attained: Associate’s degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- Relevant experience: 34 years’ Green Bay Police Department. 8 years, Green Bay City Council. Current member of the city’s Ethics Committee, Green Bay Stadium District Board, Personnel Committee, Finance committee and Facilities Committee. Past member of the Protection and Policy Committee.
Dane G. Lasecki
- Address: 1025 Crooks St.
- Age: 27
- Occupation: Owner and retailer, Gent, Chaps & Blokes
- Highest education level attained: Master’s degree in political management from George Washington University and bachelor’s degree in political science and urban planning from UW-Milwaukee.
- Relevant experience: Brown County Planning Commissioner, Policy & Constituent Services Advocate for northeastern Wisconsin on Capitol Hill, local small business owner
What motivated you to run for City Council in 2024?
Shelton: I am running to represent the values of my friends and neighbors. My district values an inclusive future for the city, where we celebrate our growing diversity and ensure everyone can afford to live here, whether they were born in Green Bay or it is their chosen home. My neighbors want the city to prioritize affordable housing, and they want a council that will stand up for our city’s election workers in the face of bad faith attacks to undermine them. On City Council, I will work with my constituents to advance all those important values.
Yates: I was motivated to run for office four years ago after my son was struck by a car on his way to school. The alderman at the time promised to put crossing guards back and flashing lights warning of school crossing. He didn’t. In fact, he refused all contact about it afterwards. After talking with others in the community, I found out it wasn’t the first or last time they’d be inattentive. This time I am running partially for the same reason, but also because things have only gotten worse over the last two years all over town.
Galvin: After four terms, I believe the city has accomplished a lot, and I am proud to have been part of that. We have improved a lot in our parks and still have ongoing projects. Crime is down significantly. We continue to improve our processes for citizens to interact with City Hall. We have listened to our employees and are improving their wages, and benefits. But I still think we can do a lot more to move this community forward and I want to continue to be part of that improvement.
Lasecki: Running for City Council in 2024 is a natural progression of my commitment to Green Bay. As a born-and-raised resident and small business owner, I’ve seen the city face both triumphs and challenges. I believe now is the time for dynamic leadership, fresh ideas, and a strategic vision to propel Green Bay into a brighter future. My motivation stems from a deep-rooted love for this community, coupled with a desire to contribute meaningfully to its growth and prosperity.
What three issues do you want to prioritize if elected to the City Council?
Shelton: As a member of the Equal Rights Commission (ERC), I believe our city should do everything it can to support dignity for everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and people of color. Through the ERC, we’ve also learned how difficult it has become for so many people in Green Bay to find good housing. I will work to advance the recommendations the ERC put forward last year in our housing report. Green Bay must also be on the front lines of creating a carbon-free infrastructure. I will be a vocal advocate for the recent recommendations of our city’s excellent Sustainability Commission.
Yates: My top 3 issues facing the city are crime, safety, and poverty. I lived here eight years and based on my experiences, crime has skyrocketed, become more violent, and spans the city. We brought West Coast policy to the Midwest, it didn’t work there and won’t here. Public safety is a priority. In my experiences, people don’t feel safe walking home after dark, so we need more streetlights. I have lived all over the state and feel we are one of the highest taxed cities in the state. We need to find funding to help in the drug and homelessness crisis.
Galvin: (1) Expand development of housing, commercial and industrial development. (2) Improve the interaction and processes between different city departments and the public make it easier and faster for developers, entrepreneurs, business owners to help our city grow to meet our needs. (3) Develop a plan to replace or update city infrastructure that is in disrepair or need of replacement that integrates the city tax dollars along with other public or private monies that are available for us to use.
Lasecki: My commitment to District 4 is grounded in empowering our community, driving economic growth, improving local infrastructure, and preserving our historical heritage. As an advocate for a thriving local economy, my aim is to spearhead initiatives fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing neighborhood infrastructure, and championing historical preservation. Amid a crowded primary, my campaign stands as a beacon of solutions-focused leadership. I envision a district where residents actively shape our future, fostering growth and preserving our city’s heritage. As your representative, I pledge to lead initiatives addressing the present while laying the foundation for a resilient and vibrant tomorrow.
What community service or work on public committees do you do?
Shelton: For the past three years, I have proudly served as one of Mayor Genrich’s appointees to the city’s first-ever Equal Rights Commission. (I was the ERC’s first vice-chair, in fact.) I have been elected UW-Green Bay’s faculty and staff union president and, just last fall, to my fourth term as vice president of Higher Education for the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin. I am on the executive board of COMSA, a nonprofit in Green Bay that serves refugees and immigrants, as well as the Wisconsin Labor History Society, an organization devoted to the history of working people in our state.
Yates: I’m not on any public committee, but I do volunteer in the community. My sons and I pick up garbage in the community every other weekend in random areas. I volunteer as a coach for both baseball and softball for youth sports. We do canned food drives as well as every weekend when I grocery shop, we donate to the local food pantry.
Galvin: Following are the organizations I have volunteered with:
- 15 years teaching religious education at St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Parish, Green Bay
- 12 years coaching SAY and club soccer
- Founding member of the Brown County Dog Park Association
- Leadership Green Bay curriculum Committee
I am a past board member of:
- Brown County Crime Prevention Association
- Kroc Council of Salvation Army, Ray and Joan Kroc Center
- Foundations of Green Bay
- Envision of Green Bay
- Currently I and my wife volunteer at St. John’s homeless shelter.
Lasecki: I am currently serving as a Brown County Planning Commissioner, bringing a wealth of experience in public policy to the table. This role has allowed me to contribute to thoughtful and strategic planning for the city and county’s future. Additionally, I have been actively involved in local community initiatives, volunteering at pantries and shelters, supporting local businesses, and engaging in conversations that aim to address the concerns and aspirations of our neighbors. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the unique challenges our residents face, fueling my commitment to effective and compassionate leadership.
Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 orjbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.
