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• St. Croix Economic Development Corp. looks to fill committee vacancies
• Gherty and Cameron express strengths

The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation is seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on its executive committee.

According to SCEDC officials, Trudy Popenhagen, Pam Brion and Greg Ewig have served the maximum number of terms on the committee and are not eligible to seek re-election.

The new directors will be selected during the May 13 annual meeting.

Applicants are asked to contact the EDC offices at 715.381.4383 or jacki@stcroixedc.com and request a candidate biography worksheet.

The executive committee, acting as the nominating committee, will review the worksheets and forward them to the board of directors for consideration.

Directors are elected to three-year terms. The maximum service on the board is two terms or six years.

The current board consists of 19 directors. Representation from across the county is encouraged.

The group's bylaws require that three county supervisors serve on the board. They are appointed by the county board chair following the April election.

Organized in 1993, the SCEDC is a private, nonprofit entity that operates as the independent economic development arm of St. Croix County.

The group focuses on business retention, expansion, recruitment, start-ups and small business/legislative advocacy.

Additional information can be found on the SCEDC's Web site, www.stcroixedc.com.

By Jon Echternacht, RiverTown staff

With spring just begun and elections on the horizon, the two candidates for the new St. Croix County Branch 4 circuit judge position expressed some final thoughts before the polls open.

Mark Gherty, private attorney, and Howard Cameron, public defender, both of Hudson, will face off in the April 1 election. They collected the most votes in the Feb. 19 primary among five contenders.

Gherty stressed his trial and courtroom experience in St. Croix County over the 27 years of his practice as the most important factor for his election to the bench.

"I believe I am the most qualified candidate based upon my active trial and courtroom experience in St. Croix County," he said in an e-mail response to the Star-Observer.

"I have tried simple traffic matters to homicide and cases ranging from small claims to wrongful death. I have the experience of trying civil and criminal matters in Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as federal courts in both states," Gherty said.

"I intend to allow people appearing in court to tell their story within the confines of the rules of the court, I will be respectful and courteous and will expect the same from attorneys and clients," he said.

Cameron said his varied background, not only in the law but also in the workplace, is his strong suit.

"I am an experienced attorney with a diverse work background who is committed to St. Croix County," he said during a campaign stop at the county commissioners meeting last week.

"I'm still campaigning hard, trying to get the message out," he said.

"There are some programs in other counties that I think we should have a look at," Cameron said. Some counties have programs that deal with intensive supervision of OWI offenders. "They are aimed at reducing recurrence of drunken driving," he said.

"Eau Claire County has a community service coordinator who handles assignments for those who have been sentenced to perform community service. I think we should investigate that," Cameron said.