Rick A. Talford
Village Trustee
Together Everyone Achieves More !
Constitutional
General Election Date: April 3, 2007
Reason for Running
I would like to serve on the board , to assist our community in returning to the Pleasant and Thriving town it once was. Bringing new Business, and keeping our current Businesses here is a goal. I have been following our boards actions for the past 4+ yrs now, and feel there is a need for change.
Family and Community
I have a 21 year work history. I have been with my Wife Kris for 20 years. I have 2 sons, 14 & 16 yrs old. We have a Small Business in Elmwood, that donates many needed hours a year, to the community needs. We are a Sponsor of the Adopt-A-Hwy program within our community. We have also made donations to our Parks.
Leadership and Service:
I have a High School Diploma, rec’d after I completed the High School Equivalency Diploma in 1997. I am a State Licensed Restaurant Manager since 2001. I began my own Small Business in 2002. ( Talford’s Snow & Lawn Care Co.) I am a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee, and have received awards for being active with the organization. In 2003, I received the National Leadership award, and Businessman of the Year award. I was named a Chairperson of the Small Business Advisory Board in 2004. I have received the Ronald Reagan Gold Medal award in 2004, & 2005. The Champion of the Party award, and Businessman of the Year award also in 2005. In 2006 I received the award for the high standards kept with citizens in mind, The Congressional Order of Merit. We are part of the National Wildlife Federation, and have a registered Backyard Habitat. we also keep up with other memberships such as : USO, WFFA, NGS, ASPCA, NPCA, CWPT, PCTP, And we like to help out the Special Olympics and the WI Vets associations.
Issues:
Issue 1: Tax increases-- I feel that the increases are always being introduced, due to the lack of good money management by the board committee’s. This is an area, the community members must be kept aware of.
Issue 2: Businesses and Residents pulling up stakes-- We can’t survive if the people of the area do not feel safe in the town. Our growth is a delicate area. We all have to put our best foot forward, to achieve a thriving community.
Issue 3: Public Official Integrity-- This I have found to be at an all time low. We as community members are being pushed around. When anyone wants to speak to our local Reps, You just do not get the response you should, and deserve. Everyone must be treated with equality, even when they don’t agree exactly. The higher up in standings you are in a community, should not mean your opinion is greater, than those of the community without a NAME. Equality means everyone gets a chance to be heard, whether they are popular or not.
Issue 4: Community Awareness & Participation-- In the past 4+ years, I have watched how our community has failed to keep up with the boards actions. Only a handful of people show up to the meetings. The boards are left to make decisions, basically on there own, due to the lack of citizens having involvement and input to all the decisions that are put in front of the board.
Issue 5: Public School Agenda--This is an area much the same as the village boards. The school boards are run with very little public input, and have even been requested to run without any public input. The school board does not want anyone questioning what they are doing, This has created some issues, that helped create a Task Force Team for the District, but was short lived. 3 months went by, and the Task Force was gone. The District must pull together and stand against the wrong actions taken by the board, and administrations. Our children are the future, we all must help guide them , and keep the school a safe place for them to learn and grow with integrity and morals.
I would very much appreciate hearing from you regarding my candidacy, the issues, and your expectations for your elected officials. Please feel free to contact me through the following forms. If you have any questions or comments that require a response, I will reply to you shortly.
Thank You!
Rick A. Talford
123 W. Shaw Ave.
Elmwood, WI 54740
(715)639-2313 or fax 2314
email- rtalford@centurytel.net
