LETTER: Equal representation for all will guide Benning as mayor

To Ozaukee Press:

After the November 2020 election, which featured many uncontested races in the area, it is a breath of fresh air to have two excellent candidates running for mayor of Port Washington.

While Dan Benning and Ted Neitzke share a similar vision for Port Washington, it is Benning who stands out as the obvious choice to lead the city. He has been highly involved in city government since becoming an alderperson in 2017.

The recently created Equity and Diversity Committee is the result of Dan’s efforts to ensure the city and local agencies represent everyone who lives here, regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status. We’re not immune to the rise of white supremacy and fascism we are seeing in the U.S. Efforts such as the diversity committee will ensure Port Washington stands against these evils.

Dan’s willingness to listen and learn are great examples of his soft spoken servant leadership style. He’s heard the struggles many of us have communicating with or getting information from the city and has plans to improve greatly in these areas. This includes streaming all Common Council meetings and improving the city website to make information  easier to find.

He understands the need for a master plan to ensure the city’s direction is set by citizens, not just developers. Government should work for the people, not those in positions of authority or privilege, and Dan has shown he’ll take feedback from everyone.

Benning is the mayoral candidate who understands that Port Washington’s future is brightest by focusing on inclusivity and the shared connection we all have as neighbors. Please consider casting your vote for him.

Peter Vander Velden
Port Washington