Drexel Town Square center point of Oak Creek aldermanic race

Oak Creek - The 1st District will see a three-way struggle for its aldermanic seat, forcing a primary election Feb. 12.

Incumbent Dan Jakubczyk faces challengers Shawn Vollmer and Steven Kurkowski.

The three differ in their views about Drexel Town Square, the planned home of a new City Hall, library and, potentially, fire station.

Jakubczyk has voiced a strong support of the development. He was alderman when former-mayor Richard Bolender pushed for Drexel Town Square, and said Bolender convinced him Oak Creek needs the new buildings.

Citing that Oak Creek's population was 16,000 when he moved in in the mid-1960s and that the population now hovers at more than 35,000, Jakubczyk said: "I told Mayor Bolender at the time, 'Fifteen years down the road probably both of us will be pushing up daisies, but I hope people look back and think that we knew what we were doing when we built this.' I think the citizens of Oak Creek are going to be proud of that complex we have planned for going in on the old Delphi plant."

His views aren't shared by his opponents, especially Shawn Vollmer.

Vollmer is rather new to the community, having bought a home in Oak Creek five years ago. But he said he's in Oak Creek for the long haul, and he's adamantly opposed to the development of Drexel Town Square.

While collecting signatures for his candidacy, Vollmer said, many constituents in the 1st District told him they want to see roads and sidewalks repaired before money is spent on a new town square.

"I don't believe a new City Hall and a new library is a necessity," he said.

Kurkowski, who has lived in Oak Creek 15 years, has mixed feelings about the development. While he knows there are other issues facing 1st District constituents, he said, he believes the project has progressed too far to stop it. Still, he wants the site to be further scrutinized before going forward with the development.

Plans call for the library to be between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet.

"That may be too much or not enough because technology is going so paperless. Are we building a library that is going to be too large or are we building the right size? I'm concerned that we don't overbuild and overspend," Kurkowski said.

Steven Kurkowski

AGE: 55

ADDRESS: 1110 E. Milwaukee Ave.

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: 15 years

OCCUPATION: retired special agent from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

EDUCATION: two years at University Center of Michigan

GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: none

MILITARY SERVICE: U.S. Coast Guard

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: previous board member of Oak Creek Little League; active in Hales Corners Lutheran Church

FAMILY: wife, Rebecca; children, Micah, 17, and Seth, 15

CONTACT: (414) 336-0125;

steven.kurkowski@gmail.com

Dan Jakubczyk

AGE:70

ADDRESS: 7441 S. Logan Ave.

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: 43 years

OCCUPATION: retired engineer

EDUCATION: associate degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering

GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: alderman since 2009

MILITARY SERVICE: U.S. Air Force during Vietnam War

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Veterans of Foreign Wars

FAMILY:wife, Bonnie; adult children, Dennis and Nancy

CONTACT: (414) 764-6752

Shawn Vollmer

AGE: 39

ADDRESS: 7324 S. Logan Ave.

RESIDENCY IN DISTRICT: five years

OCCUPATION: owner of Three Cellars

EDUCATION: bachelor's degree in criminal justice from University of Wisconsin-Parkside

GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: none

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Pack 221 Cub Scouts, has volunteered at Edgewood Elementary

FAMILY: wife, Kristina; children, Ariana, 10, and Aidan, 8

CONTACT: (414) 745-3090, shawn.vollmer@att.net