LANNON – Incumbent President Jerry Newman and Dave Nagler are facing off for Lannon village president and while Newman focuses on development, Nagler has concerns about a possible fire department consolidation.

Newman has been on the board since 2006 and said he was born and raised in Lannon with a family history of more than 100 years in the village.

“We need to maintain our infrastructure with the limited funds from the tax levy limit,” Newman said.

Some of his major accomplishments during his years on the board include getting $300,000 for new lighting for the village’s baseball parks and providing a water system for the village.

“I was appointed in 2006 as program manager to make it happen,” he said about the water system.

The water system allows the unused land around the village to be accessible for future sites that Newman is hoping to discuss with developers if re-elected. Opponent Nagler is running for president and trustee and said he has always been interested in civic functions and his biggest concern is the fire department consolidation discussions with Menomonee Falls.

“Personally, I would rather the village of Lannon stay autonomous like it has for over 100 years,” he said. “But, fiscally it may not be possible.”

He said he would be wiling to have discussions about the issue if elected.

He wants to discuss easing permits and regulations on local businesses along with creating a growth development strategy for the village. He wants to try and attract new homeownership, not just rental units, so “the people are caring about the community and not just passing through,” he said.

Incumbent trustees Scott Balsiger, David Bartelt and Janice Manor-Schmidt could not be reached for comment after several attempts by The Freeman.

Newcomer Tom Gudex, running for trustee, said community involvement is important.

“Communication between residents and elected officials is essential for local government to work,” he said.

An emphasis on “more communication and cooperation, not litigation,” is key to the process, Gudex said.

His main point is to create less-intrusive government.

“My idea of government is that it is there to protect us, to be like a safety net if you are really in trouble,” Gudex said. “But, is it not for managing my life or my neighbors’.”