Appleton Common Council: Three candidates to compete in District 4 primary election

Appleton Post-Crescent

APPLETON — Voters in District 4 have three choices for their next representative on the Common Council.

The candidates for the nonpartisan office are Christopher Quann, Martyn Smith and Virgil Van Asten. The top two finishers in the Feb. 20 primary election will advance to the April 2 general election.

Van Asten was in a similar situation in 2022, when he advanced from a three-way primary election before losing to Israel Del Toro in the general election. Del Toro didn't seek reelection.

District 4 includes the area bounded by Buchanan and Weimar streets on the east, Fremont Street on the south, Lawe and Drew streets on the west and Pacific Street on the north.

As part of The Post-Crescent's election coverage, the candidates were asked to complete a questionnaire to explain why they're running for office, what makes them the better candidate and how they would address the most important issues facing the city. Their answers are published below.

For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.

Christopher Quann

Address: 504 E. North St.
Age: 60
Occupation: Retired
Highest education: Bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Virginia and a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Utah
Relevant experience: In Salt Lake City, where I lived before moving to Appleton, I was involved in community councils and served on the Capital Improvement Program Citizen's Board and the Salt Lake City Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Campaign website: www.facebook.com/quann.for.district.four

Martyn Smith

Address: 7 S. Meadows Drive
Age: 51
Occupation: Associate professor of religious studies at Lawrence University
Highest education: Doctorate in comparative literature from Emory University and a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary
Relevant experience: Leader of First-Year Studies program at Lawrence University; part of a team that created a new business major at Lawrence; board member of the Kanonji Appleton Partnership
Campaign website: www.facebook.com/MartynSmithforDistrict4

Virgil Van Asten

Address: 1035 S. Kernan Ave.
Age: 53
Occupation: President of Integrated Solutions Inc., a business and technology company
Highest education: Graduate of Appleton East High School
Relevant experience: 35 years of helping businesses and municipalities streamline their operations with technology for accounting, personnel, communication and manufacturing systems.
Campaign website: www.vvanasten.com

Why are you running for office?

Quann: I love Appleton and want to help it become the best place it can be.

Smith: The past few years I've seen we need strong, progressive candidates in local government. I've lived in Appleton for 17 years. My wife and I have sent four kids to AASD. When I learned this alderman position was open, I knew it was time to give back to this community.

Van Asten: I've been self-employed in the IT industry since 1997. That's 27 years of getting paid only when we come up with solutions to solve complex problems. Appleton's debt keeps growing. Projects that should take months are taking years. Appleton should have a council that solves problems rather than creates them.

What makes you the better candidate in this race?

Quann: My love for this city, my previous careers in architecture and nursing, and my past experience community building give me the passion and skills to identify our city's needs and to build teams to get things done.

Smith: I am a candidate with level-headed leadership skills, and I will work to keep Appleton moving forward with vibrant public spaces and opportunities. The position of alderman requires not just technical skills, but a vision for what this city can become based on experience living in this city.

Van Asten: I have a lifetime of leaving things better than I found them. I still volunteer at my daughters' high school, even though they've graduated. I was born here and will retire here. Appleton is important to me, which means all who live here are important to me.

What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them?

Quann: People I have been talking to want safe streets, strong neighborhoods and an environment that promotes small businesses. These concerns and many others depend on embracing our most central asset: the Fox River. I would strive to create safe streets and trails so that people can better enjoy this place we live. I would strive to create a strong city that welcomes everyone.

Smith: I'm just beginning to knock on doors and talk to a cross-section of people in my district, so look for me at your door. People see a lot of change, and much of this is making Appleton a vibrant and open city that will attract young people to stay and raise a family. With these changes we have to make sure that the city remains affordable and that our neighborhoods remain safe. We all know that we are too divided, and I will bring to my work as alderman a communication style that locates common ground rather than accentuates division.

Van Asten: Accountability. Our alderman was going to save the bees, which is good. Unfortunately, because of the irresponsibility of his research, it just created a divided community. The Post-Crescent reported in April 2023 that the No Mow May study was retracted by the authors and PeerJ editorial team "after finding several potential inconsistencies in data handling and reporting." We have a library that's roaming around the city for years because our council can't finish a remodel. Appleton's residents want accountability. They're tired of being used to enhance a resume and sold to the highest donors.

Editor's note: Israel Del Toro, one of the authors of the No Mow May study, said the research was retracted after reviewers were critical of comparing residential lawns to nearby parkland and of identifying bee species by sight, when it oftentimes requires laboratory equipment. The study was replicated to compare No Mow May lawns and mown lawns and to improve the identification of bee species, Del Toro said, and the data confirmed and strengthened the benefits of No Mow May. He said the study was resubmitted and is under review.

Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.