LETTER: Election loss was a call for change in Port, not a defeat

To Ozaukee Press:

My name is Dakota Brace, and I ran against Dan Benning in the City of Port Washington election for alderman.

When I made the decision to run, I was already involved with the Great Lakes Neighbors United organization, which had gained strong support from community members who opposed the data center in Port Washington. I was looking for a way to get involved in something that aligned with my values—and more importantly, to better understand the concerns of my community.

From there, I became more engaged. I helped collect signatures for the recall effort against Mayor Neitzke, but what mattered most during that time was the opportunity to connect with residents.

I listened to concerns about the data center, transparency and a growing feeling that voices in our community were not being heard.

I submitted my nomination papers on Jan. 6, and they were validated the same day. Just three days after my submission, my candidacy was challenged by a sitting council member. The challenge claimed that six of the 22 signatures I submitted were invalid because the signers had Grafton mailing addresses. However, those individuals physically reside within the City of Port Washington and are eligible voters here. In response, I filed an affidavit to clarify the municipality and to ensure that those voters’ rights were recognized. The challenge was ultimately rejected, and my candidacy moved forward.

I made the unconventional decision not to speak with the press and not to campaign. I did not want to shape or persuade public opinion—I wanted simply to offer another option. I believed that being on the ballot in itself was meaningful. It created space for choice, and it acknowledged that some in our community were seeking something different.

While the results showed a narrow victory for my opponent, I do not view this as a defeat. Instead, I see it as a clear message from the community: people want to be heard and they want meaningful change. Campaigns and public messaging matter, but they do not replace genuine representation or accountability.

To those who supported me and cast their vote in my direction—thank you. Your support was both humbling and unexpected, and it reinforced what I had come to believe over these past several months: our community is engaged, thoughtful and ready for progress.

I also hope this experience encourages others to step forward in future elections. Running for office is not easy, and it often comes with uncertainty—but it is one of the most direct ways to participate in our democracy and advocate for change. If you are considering it, you have my full support.

Now that the election is behind us, my hope is that our current leadership will take seriously the voices that have spoken. Port Washington deserves a government that listens, responds and works collaboratively for the good of all.

Thank you, Port Washington. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the process.

Dakota Brace

Port Washington

Editor’s note: We are pleased to give Ms. Brace the opportunity to explain her candidacy for a seat on the Port Washington Common Council to our readers, but the value of her comments to voters is diminished by the fact that they come after the election. Before the election, she refused to be interviewed by Ozaukee Press, rejecting the opportunity to inform voters of her qualifications for office, her knowledge of the issues facing the city and her ideas on how to address them. Running for office is, as she writes, a direct way to participate in democracy, but participating in that way requires more than merely being a name on a ballot. An informed electorate is a fundamental element of that democratic process. Knowing that, all this year’s candidates except one in all of the communities served by the Press shared their views on the issues facing their local government or school district in the newspaper for the benefit of voters.