Posted November 29, 2006

Evans 2nd candidate for county executive

Supervisor wants to restore civility

By Paul Brinkmann
pbrinkma@greenbaypressgazette.com

Brown County Supervisor Patrick Evans is the second person to declare himself a candidate in the 2007 election for county executive.

Evans announced his candidacy in a press conference Tuesday at Titletown Brewing Co. in Green Bay. He said restoring civility to county government and exploring regional police and fire services are two top priorities.

"I am ready for Brown County — the question is, is Brown County ready for Pat Evans? I promise that as county executive, it will not be government as usual. We will do many positive and proactive items," Evans said.

Former Sheriff Tom Hinz, 64, announced his candidacy on Nov. 10.

Evans, 37, of Green Bay is chairman of the County Board's high-profile Human Services Committee. He has been at the forefront of recent debate over closing, renovating or building a new mental health center. He made a point of not naming the center as a priority in his campaign for executive. He said he will help solve that issue in the next few months as a County Board member by "bringing forth a plan," but he didn't give any details.

Evans held various leadership positions with local banks. He started a new job Monday as president of St. Mary's Hospital Credit Union. He has a master's degree in organizational leadership from Marian College.

Evans promised, if elected, to begin formal studies of metropolitan police and fire service. Other priorities included tackling illegal immigration by authorizing local officers to enforce laws and by investigating welfare fraud, speeding up road paving and infrastructure repairs and encouraging economic development.

Taxes also were on Evans' list. He said he would continue to support budgets that "lowered taxes." When asked what his tax limits were, he said: "What I believe is that we have to be fiscally conservative with the funds we get from our taxpayers. One of the benchmarks I would use is population growth and inflation. If you add those together, it basically comes out to a zero-tax increase."

The county executive is like a president or governor in Brown County government. He or she proposes a budget, has executive authority over administrative staff and line-item veto power over the County Board.

County Executive Carol Kelso has yet to announce her intentions for the election. She said recently she would wait until after the 2007 budget is finished; the final budget meeting is tonight. A primary would be held in February if more than two candidates file. The executive's office is considered nonpartisan, but Kelso, Hinz and Evans all identify themselves as Republicans.


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