Politics & Government
Election 2011: Candidate Profiles for North Hudson Village Board, Municipal Judge, Village President
North Hudson residents will have the opportunity to vote for village board members, a village president and a municipal judge on April 5.
Hudson Patch asked all the local candidates on the ballot in the April 5 election to provide some information about themselves. The following is the information submitted by North Hudson candidates with minor grammatical edits:
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North Hudson Village PresidentGeorge K. Klein
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Occupation: Retired from 3M
Experience: Two years as Village President; seven years as Trustee. In that position, chaired the Public Safety Committee and served on the Finance Committee and chaired the Building Management Committee. That committee oversaw the North Hudson Village Hall renovation and expansion project.
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Why do you want to be the Village President on the North Hudson Village Board of Trustees?: I have been encouraged to continue in this position for at least another term. I recognize that it takes at least a year to learn the job and to become effective. With the support of the trustees and staff, I am confident that together we will keep this ship on course.
What is the most pressing issue facing North Hudson and where do you stand on that issue?: Upcoming budgets. With the cooperation of the staff and the Finance Committee, we were able to actually lower our tax levy for 2011. The real challenge is 2012, when our state aid will be cut by $41,161, which is a 41 percent drop from 2011, and this does not include a reduction in transportation aids.
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North Hudson Village Board of TrusteesCollen O'Brien-Berglund
Occupation: Degree in Nursing.
Experience: First appointed to the Village Board on April 4, 2006 to fill a vacant seat. Chair of the North Hudson Park Board and is a member of the Public Welfare and Public Safety Committees.
Why do you want to be on the North Hudson Village Board of Trustees?: O'Brien-Berglund declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
What is the most pressing issue facing North Hudson and where do you stand on that issue?: O'Brien-Berglund declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
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Marc Zappa
Occupation: Owner, Exit 1 Fireworks.
Experience: First elected to the Village Board of Trustees in 1989 and served until April 1999. Did not seek re-election, in 2003 he was elected again and is currently still serving as a Trustee. He serves on the Public Safety and Public Works committees.
Why do you want to be on the North Hudson Village Board of Trustees?: Zappa declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
What is the most pressing issue facing North Hudson and where do you stand on that issue?: Zappa declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
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Daniel Ortner
Occupation: Public Works Department, City of Hudson.
Experience: Currently serves on the Police Commission, the Plan Commission and the Extraterritorial Zoning Committee for the Village of North Hudson.
Why do you want to be on the North Hudson Village Board of Trustees?: Ortner declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
What is the most pressing issue facing North Hudson and where do you stand on that issue?: Ortner declined to participate in the Hudson Patch candidate profiles.
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North Hudson Village Municipal JudgeBen Wopat
Occupation: Semi-retired; currently a part-time casualty adjuster with Crawford & Company, an independent, international insurance claims company—handling mediations, pre-trials and selected claims.
Experience: Retired in 2006 after 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, primarily managing a federal environmental regulatory program in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but also served as Chief of Emergency Operations, and Assistant Chief of Operations for the Corps. Served two partial terms on the Board of Trustees for the Village of North Hudson, and has been the Municipal Judge since 1985. Has also enjoyed community involvement with the North Hudson Pepper Festival, Hudson Hockey Association and Community Action.
Why do you want to be a North Hudson Municipal Judge?: I am a strong believer in community service, and find that my role as municipal judge is a good continuing use of my law degree. As judge, my goal is to provide a fair, impartial, and convenient forum for local citizens. I want citizens who appear in my court to feel that they received an open and professional consideration of the facts of their case.
What is the most pressing issue facing the North Hudson and where do you stand on that issue?: Balancing the desire by younger residents in the village for improved services against the concerns of the older residents who are on fixed incomes and fear the costs of increased services will be too difficult to bear.
