Divided board picks Rishel to fill trustee seat

It took three ballots, one candidate suggesting he might drop out of the running and almost 90 minutes before the Grafton Village Board on Tuesday appointed former Ozaukee County Supr. Scott Rishel as its new trustee.

Rishel, who was sworn into office Tuesday, takes over the seat formerly held by Dave Armstrong, who was appointed village president three weeks ago to fill the post vacated by Dan Delorit, who retired.

The seats now held by Rishel and Armstrong will be up for election again in April.

Rishel, 516 W. Highland Dr., was one of four people who applied to fill the open trustee seat. The others were former trustee Andrew Schwartz, Bill Harbeck, whose wife Lisa Uribe Harbeck was a trustee for 16 years but did not seek re-election in April; and psychologist Wendy Freitag.

The Village Board interviewed all four candidates Tuesday, with each applicant addressing the board for about 15 minutes without the other candidates in the room.

On the first ballot, Rishel and Schwartz each received three votes. Freitag and Harbeck did not receive any votes, eliminating them from the ballot.

Trustee Sarah Scarpace urged trustees to vote for Schwartz, who served a two-year term on the board but was not re-elected in April.

“He is truly someone who looks at this community from all perspectives,” she said. “His knowledge of our community is vast.”

Schwartz was very involved in the Ozaukee Central Fire Department, Trustee Kevin Curtis said, 

“That is a big thing. That is going to be one key in the coming year.”

Trustee Luke Spykstra argued Rishel was the better candidate, saying his business background and tenure on the Ozaukee County Board would benefit the village.

“I think we desperately need experienced communicators,” Spykstra said, adding this is one of Rishel’s attributes. “He brings experience at the county level we don’t have. I think he makes a lot of sense.”

Rishel and Schwartz tied on the second ballot, leaving some officials to ask the board if it preferred to leave the seat open until the April election.

“You need a majority vote to fill the seat,” Village Administrator Tim Wellnitz said.

Rishel suggested he would consider withdrawing from consideration, saying he wanted the seat to be occupied rather than left vacant until the spring election.

“I want the seat to go to a good person,” he said. “Andy’s a good person.”

Schwartz wasn’t in favor of that, saying he would prefer a coin toss, then telling the board that naming a new trustee was ultimately a decision for them to make.

“I don’t think you should drop out, Scott,” Schwartz told Rishel, adding, “He’s an excellent candidate.

“It’s a very difficult decision to have to make. But you have to make a decision.”

On the third ballot, Rishel received four votes to Schwartz’s two.

The board then approved Rishel’s appointment on a 4-2 vote, with Scarpace and Curtis dissenting.

Rishel, who said he’s lived in the village for almost 30 years, served on the Ozaukee County Board for eight years.

He said he decided to seek the board seat after retiring, adding he and his wife Michelle are committed to remaining in Grafton.

“I have the capability to add a lot to the board,” he said. “I know it’s going to be very rewarding.”

He spent his career in business, Rishel said, and brings a businessman’s mind to the board.

“I’m a numbers guy,” he said, adding he considers budgeting, levy limits and capital investments to be the biggest challenges facing the board.

He noted that emergency medical services make up about 25% of the tax levy, and asked, “Is that sustainable?” 

Rishel said he believes crime is heading north from Milwaukee and the village needs to be prepared for it.

He said he would like to see increased communication between the board and residents and vacant downtown storefronts filled.

But if the village develops too much, Rishel said, “I’m concerned we might start to lose the small-town feeling.”