Sheboygan Mayoral Candidates Weigh in On Issues Ahead of Spring Election

Ryan Sorenson

1. Over the past four years, we’ve made significant strides in moving our city forward. We’ve completed more than 50 road repair projects, making substantial progress in improving our infrastructure—though we recognize there’s still more work to be done. In addition, we’ve made strategic investments in our police and fire departments, increasing public safety personnel to better serve our community. Our commitment to enhancing public spaces has also paid off, with new developments like the senior center and improvements to our parks, ensuring residents of all ages have access to quality amenities.
2. The city has taken important steps to facilitate a broader range of housing options in our community. We’ve been proactive in partnering with local businesses to align housing development with workforce needs, helping to ensure that residents can live closer to where they work. One of our key strengths has been collaborating with local housing non-profits like Partners for Community Development, which has been instrumental in expanding housing opportunities. Additionally, we’ve identified and prioritized key locations for new housing developments, including the former Memorial Hospital site, the old Jakum Hall lot, and land on the far Southside, all of which will help diversify and expand our housing stock.
3. One of the most pressing areas for improvement is updating and modernizing our zoning code. By making these updates, we can encourage the development of a wider range of housing types, including duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), to better meet the needs of our growing community, and build homes for working-class folks. Diversifying our housing stock is crucial for increasing affordability and accessibility, ensuring that individuals and families at all income levels have viable housing options. Additionally, we must prioritize the development of more senior housing to accommodate our aging population and allow them to remain in the community they call home.

John Belanger

1. This is an important question because of the incredible people who work for the city and those who make up the Sheboygan community. Unfortunately, the city has let them down in recent years. When I was reelected as alderman last April, I was shocked by the rampant dysfunction at City Hall. I met regularly with the city administrator, who was constantly cleaning up one mess after another. There are multiple ongoing lawsuits from former employees and settlements costing taxpayers money. The city has also experienced unprecedented employee turnover. Even more concerning, the city’s insurance carrier threatened to drop coverage due to excessive costs caused by the current mayor’s actions. In desperation, the city negotiated an outrageous deductible, effectively making Sheboygan self-insured. Additionally, a major data breach and ransomware attack occurred—an event that was entirely avoidable with proper network setup and adherence to cybersecurity protocols. Across multiple departments, there is a lack of training and clear expectations. On the city’s website, the current mayor refers to himself as the CEO of Sheboygan, yet the absence of training, clear expectations, and strategic direction falls squarely on his leadership. Despite these challenges, I firmly believe brighter days are ahead for Sheboygan. City Administrator Casey Bradley is committed to hiring top talent and has placed key department heads in critical roles. Under his leadership, the culture at City Hall is improving. There is still much work to be done, but Sheboygan is moving in the right direction. If we can increase transparency and accountability to the level taxpayers deserve, we can move forward from a tumultuous and embarrassing past four years. Our dedicated city employees and the people of Sheboygan deserve that.
2. City Administrator Bradley commissioned a comprehensive housing study looking ahead to 2032, involving key stakeholders and employers. The study confirmed Sheboygan is facing a housing crisis, with a need for 2,100 rental units and 3,000 owner-occupied homes. There is a perception that the city is focused only on apartments. This stems from the urgent need for rental units, but the reality is Sheboygan must address the full housing shortage. Several developments are in progress, yet the current mayor has failed to create the state-required comprehensive plan, which is essential for long-term, strategic property development. I will implement a comprehensive plan to guide growth by design, not default. Development is crucial to Sheboygan’s future, and long-term planning is key to aligning growth with the city’s evolving needs. The current mayor has shown little understanding of Sheboygan’s long-term housing challenges. While apartments attract young professionals, single-family homes are necessary for long-term residency. Without them, young professionals will leave when their housing needs change. Having raised a family in Sheboygan, I understand what it takes to build a life here—and I’ve been frustrated by the mayor’s failure to grasp that reality.
3. The most urgent area for improvement is the city’s comprehensive plan. Required by the state of Wisconsin, this plan is years overdue. While some municipalities delayed their plans due to COVID, the current mayor has been in office for four years and has still not prioritized it. That is unacceptable. Sheboygan needs housing at all income levels, but the current mayor has focused almost exclusively on apartments. While apartments address immediate needs, single-family homes are essential for long-term community stability. This is where I differ. I understand the needs of families looking to plant roots in Sheboygan because I’ve done it myself. Trendy apartments alone won’t retain the best and brightest—we need intentional, strategic housing options to attract and keep talent here long-term. My approach is development by design, not by default. I have demonstrated that by working with Administrator Bradley on developing the former Aurora Memorial Hospital site in my district to create single-family homes to meet the current setting of the neighborhood. A well-planned, comprehensive strategy will ensure Sheboygan meets the needs of both residents and employers, creating a stronger future for everyone. The first thing I will do is implement a plan that prioritizes key development goals and shifts Sheboygan from reactive growth to intentional progress.