Sheboygan’s newest Alder is looking out for the common good of her city and her neighbors.
District 4 Alder Alanza Grawien was elected to her seat on the Sheboygan Common Council earlier this month, and spoke with SeehaferNews.com to discuss how she came into the role, how the first few weeks have gone, and what she’s looking to accomplish along with her fellow Council members.
She told us that this wasn’t something she really planned on doing.
“I wasn’t really drawn to do this,” She said. “The reason I am where I am is because I was asked by my coworker and friend Bob LaFave. We worked together for quite a few years, and he felt that I would be a good person to step up in to his place.”
While adding, “It’s not like I really sought it out. It kind of found me.”
When speaking to the Common Council before her election, Alder Grawien adamantly expressed her desire to keep partisan politics out of City Hall.
She explained to us how crossing party lines and beliefs can ultimately benefit her fellow Sheboyganites.
“We need to be working together, and yeah, we’re all going to have different ideas and all live different lives, and we have different experiences. But that diversity is what gives us the strength,” the District 4 Alder said. “We can look at this from all different sides and try to all go together towards something good, something better.”
She also pointed to the current state of federal and state governments as to why partisan politics often look to benefit political parties over the good of an elected representative’s constituents.
She stated emphatically, “I think we’re seeing a lot in our federal and state politics. Nobody’s happy. Nothing’s working. Nothing’s working because people aren’t working together.”
In the few weeks since taking over for former District 4 Alder Robert LaFave, it has been a whirlwind for Grawien.
She has been extremely busy with wall-to-wall meetings and tours and reading extensively to get up to speed on all the items on the Common Council’s agenda, on top of her professional life.
To close, Alder Grawien shared a message for her constituents she now represents.
“I came into this with a sense of duty and to try to help out my fellow Sheboyganites, as I believe in Sheboygan. I love Sheboygan. With all these meetings, I am excited for our city, and I hope that others also feel some of that hope and excitement for our city,” Grawien said with passion.
