Photo by Terri Davis graphic Chip Volcek and Marc Kaschke are the candidates for North Platte Mayor.

The last days of North Platte's mayoral race have been pretty amiable, as the most recent debate between the candidates.

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Marc Kaschke and Chip Volcek offer a few quiet differences in their priorities and how they plan to govern. In very polite tones, both candidates have run positive campaigns. Each has focused on his own strengths rather than his opponent's weaknesses.

If there is any momentum in either campaign, it could come from Kaschke's win the spring primary election. The two men combined for 91 percent of the total votes for mayor that day.

Kaschke won with 58 percent of the vote, or 2,534 votes. Volcek was second with 33 percent of the vote, or 1,279 votes. Tracy Martinez got 6 percent of the vote and his sister Carmen Cluck got 3 percent.

Voter turnout was low at only 28 percent in last spring's primary according to Rebecca Rossell, Lincoln County clerk. She said she expects to see much higher turnout in November because of the presidential election.

Those voters who show up to pick a president will also end up choosing who will lead the city for the next four years. Mayor G. Keith Richardson decided not to run in 2008, so no incumbent is on the ballot.

The North Platte Bulletin introduces you to the two men who want to be the next North Platte's mayor. We'll just have to wait until Nov. 4 to learn who it will be.

Marc Kaschke

Marc Kaschke holds a degree in economics from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1996. He is a lifelong entrepreneur who began by selling sweet corn on the corner as a teen and stared my first storefront business selling used CDs in college. He continued to help get new companies started over the past decade in industries ranging from technology, to transportation, to lumber. He’s now the owner and operater of Valentino’s restaurant. He recently married Kimberley Kaschke and they have five kids Lexi, 5; Gracie, 7; Camden, 8; Ashi, 16; and Jordan, 19.

Is North Platte on the right track?

I choose to live and raise my family here because I believe North Platte offers a great lifestyle and has great potential. I want a city we are all proud to call home. I look to create a shared vision for moving our city forward by setting both short and long-term goals. Only by planning for a bright future can we make the decisions that ensures our success.

What do you think is the most pressing issue for the city’s next mayor?

Lowering property taxes and controlling spending.

What, if anything, would you do to make North Platte more attractive to businesses?

I have spent the majority of my adult life working with new business creation. I have worked with dozens of new startup companies and understand what it takes to create new jobs and what companies are looking for when they decide to relocate. We have a great local workforce and the strong values that employers want. I am committed to playing an active role in business recruitment and I will use my experience to help meet the individual needs of the companies looking to make North Platte home.

What occasions in your life have you demonstrated the leadership to be mayor of a city?

Being mayor requires the wearing of many different hats. I bring a wide variety of experience from many different fields. I gained political insights and connections by working with U.S. Senator Exon and State Senator Bernard-Stevens. I am the only candidate who brings years of financial experience as a small-business owner and entrepreneur. I know what it takes to make a payroll and meet a budget. I have also had to make the difficult decisions between “like to have” and “need to have”, which is important when you are dealing with a budget of more than $20 million. I have served my community and state by working with nonprofits that help abused and neglected children. I helped organize a group to engage, attract, and retain young professionals in the state. No matter which hat I have worn, I have worked to ensure the group, business or organization achieves success.

Planning and zoning have been seen as scattershot and controversial lately, the sexually oriented business ordinance being an example. What is your vision of North Platte in this area?

One of the reasons people choose to live in our community is because it is family-friendly and provides a great quality of life. As a community, I do not believe we want to wake up one morning with an adult bookstore near a school, church or playground. This is why I was in favor of regulating sexually-oriented businesses.

Planning and zoning can be a great asset for attracting new business. We need to ensure we are prepared when a company comes calling that we can rapidly respond to their needs so that we don’t let an opportunity pass us by. I feel it is also important to have a unified approach and plan for future city developments.

Rising property valuations and increased taxes create anxiety among many of our citizens who fear being driven out of their homes. If elected,what specific things will you do to address such concerns?

We have not had an income problem in our city. Tax revenues have continued to grow over the last decade. The mistake that cities frequently make is to quickly spend each additional tax dollar that comes in the door. I am a fiscal conservative who believes the best way to return money to taxpayers is to control spending. I want to work with the City Administrator and the department heads to look for specific areas of savings and inefficiencies. I am committed to making sure my administration shows restraint.

Imagine you are speaking with a bright young person who is trying to decide whether to stay in North Platte and make his life and career here or to move elsewhere. You have two minutes to persuade him that North Platte is the place to be. Give us your pitch.

I am proud to call North Platte home. It is great to live in a handshake community where neighbors help neighbors. We offer a great family environment with numerous opportunities in recreation from festivals to parks and lakes. One of the most exciting opportunities for young people is the ability to make an immediate impact by getting involved in nonprofits, church groups, and business organization at a young age. Likewise, in business, opportunity abounds whether you are looking for a job on the railroad or looking to get your own business started. I have had the opportunity to do extensive travel and I can guarantee you won’t find better people anywhere in the

country.

Chip Volcek

Chip Volcek received an associate's degree in business from the National College of Business and engaged in numerous entrepreneurial activities including owning a café at Lake Maloney, selling insurance, working at a video store and running his own satellite sales and service business. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad for 6-1/2 years before joining the North Platte Fire Department in 1986 and retired in 2007. He and his wife Brenda raised three adult children.

Is North Platte on the right track?

Taxes - I believe we need to explore more ways to reduce the mill levy by cutting expenditures and raising revenue.

Economic Development - We appear to not be as aggressive as I would like. I have the desire to work with the new Director of the Chamber/DEVCO to reemphasize business growth and development.

Life in North Platte - We have much to be proud of in North Platte. We have great schools, a relatively low crime rate, a great work ethic, and a loyal sense of community. Although we have some people with negative commentary, I believe that each member of the city council, the city administrator, and the employees of the city truly desire to make North Platte a tremendous place to live. I will bring a positive attitude to the Mayor’s office and strive to make North Platte the envy of all other first class cities.

What do you think is the most pressing issue for the city’s next mayor?

I think the biggest issue now and for the next four years will be controlling the mill levy. Taxes are high in Lincoln County. The leadership in North Platte can work together in reducing the mill levy by reducing the expenses and searching for other sources of revenue that does not involve an additional tax or user fee. There is no way a mayor can promise to reduce taxes and fulfill that promise. The city’s share of property taxes is under 28%. A good example is the 2008-2009 budget. The mill levy requirement was reduced, yet property taxes will increase. The other variables that the city cannot control are the budgets of the North Platte School System, Lincoln County, and the property valuation. All we can do as a city is to control our 28%. I would like to end my first four years where the city’s portion is down to 24%.

What if anything, would you do to make North Platte attractive to businesses?

For the small business, I would push for the revitalization of the downtown area. I looked at the JEO plan and am excited to see the possibilities to make the North Platte’s downtown a vibrant retail experience for those who live in the area and those visiting. I believe we need to meet with the Downtown Merchants Association and the building owners and create a reasonable public-private venture that makes a plan become reality.

For larger businesses, the city needs to make North Platte a community that young people want to either stay or come here to live. We need to create a potential work force that bigger businesses look at and know they can sustain a profitable existence. We also need to consider incentives that do two things: 1). Make it affordable to the city, and 2) make an attractive incentive for business to locate here.

What occasions in your life have you demonstrated the leadership to be mayor of a city?

For 13 of my 20 years on the North Platte Fire Department, I was an officer, the last six being the Assistant Chief. Over those years I made many decisions that affected the lives of many people in this area. I truly had to make life and death decisions. As the Assistant Chief, I also had to help make policies and provide a direction for the department. I am prepared to help make those types of policies give direction to the entire city. As I stated earlier I also have had leadership roles in state and local task forces.

I have been chosen by the American Cancer Society’s Regional staff to chair the state’s council, which also gives me the opportunity to sit on the High Plains Relay Task Force, a six-state committee to promote the education and fundraising efforts to fund researchers in an effort to find a cure.

I believe these examples make me an excellent choice for mayor of North Platte.

Planning and zoning have been seen as scattershot and controversial lately. The sexually oriented business ordinance being an example. What is your vision of North Platte in this area?

Anytime you put restrictions on people or businesses, it can create controversy. There are steps that can be taken to attempt to reduce the tension. When zoning issues come up, give those affected ample time to voice their concerns. This means do not suspend the rules and allow for the three readings. The city needs to listen to opinions from both sides of an issue that have a factual base. This should be done on every issue. The mayor and the city council must ask for and heed the legal opinion of the city attorney. This does not mean that the council must pass an ordinance, but feel comfortable that if passed the ordinance can withstand legal challenges.

Rising property valuations and increased taxes create anxiety among many of our citizens who fear being driven out of their homes. If elected, what specific things will you do to address such concerns?

As I stated earlier, the city’s portion of the property tax burden is just under 28%. This is too high. As mayor, I will work with the city administrator in preparing a budget that is fair to the citizens and to the departments.

There are a couple of areas that can be looked at during the next 6 months before budget preparation commences. The first is Iron Eagle. I intend to have all the past financial records and the existing contracts put before me to get an accurate measurement of where we have been, where we are, and how to move forward. Once the information is gathered, a plan will be put to the city council. I will appoint a committee to assist in the review and make a recommendation. The second issue I will look into is the police/fire pension account. We need a current actuarial study done to see if the account is being adequately funded. This will not be an effort to short the fund and the pension fund will continue to operate according to state law. This is an opportunity to see if the city is over funding the account thereby asking for more tax dollars than necessary.

Imagine you are speaking with a bright young person who is trying to decide whether to stay in North Platte and make his life and career here or to move elsewhere. You have two minutes to persuade him that North Platte is the place to be. Give us your pitch.

Thirty-one years ago I was in your same position. I was fresh out of college and trying to make that ultimate decision on where to put down roots. I chose North Platte and never have regretted it.

In North Platte, there are opportunities to start your own business, or if you can chose the employment path. There are positions in the medical fields, education, public safety, retail, and industrial.

This is a positive city, and with our civic and city leaders, we are ready to move forward. We will be the envy of the state. This city has the following going for you:

The school system is very good. The teachers and principals are very caring and put students first.

The medical community is outstanding. We have excellent doctors and a regional medical center that has state of the art facilities.

Our public safety is second to no one in this state with our fire and police personnel.

There are houses in all price ranges.

Our retail owners and personnel are ready to assist and help you whether you need a new suit, television, or a new car.

There are museums, The Veterans Memorial, The Spike, high school sports, hunting and fishing, craft shows, kids sports programs, churches of almost all faiths, biking and hiking trails, golf courses, a recreation center, parks of all sizes, a public library, Buffalo Bill Ranch, NebraskaLand Days, Rail Fest, and more.

Mr. Young Bright Person, North Platte has a lot to offer, and you have a lot to give. This is a perfect fit. Nebraska-The Good Life, North Platte-The Best Life.