Paid for by Magnus for Mayor
I am proud to be your Mayor and am thankful for the opportunity to serve for a second term.
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I firmly believe that my experiences in building several successful businesses and my work in executive roles as CEO, CFO, and Board Chairman for other companies translate well to community leadership.
Strong leadership is crucial and requires active engagement, respect, collaboration, open communication, and compromise. I have enjoyed working alongside the experienced City Hall staff, civic leaders, and engaged community members and look forward to continuing to do so for a second term. Working together, we will continue to positively impact the community we call home.
VISION
Over the past decade, we have experienced considerable growth and development that has revitalized our city. With change comes new challenges and opportunities. My vision is to continue to enhance our small-town charm by focusing on what we currently have and balancing new growth to improve the services to our residents. In many communities, we see change at the expense of the current residents. We must focus on the values of our existing community, control costs, and promote positive, smart growth and development.
I am pro-business but even more, pro smart business, looking at both the short and long-term gains to the city and its residents. Cost and benefit must be balanced so as not to damage the unique community that is Oconomowoc. Transparency, communication, leadership, and strategic growth are at the forefront. I am committed to putting the interests of the City of Oconomowoc residents first and am excited about what we will accomplish together in the years ahead.
ABOUT ME
​I was born in Sheboygan in 1962, and in 1974 our family moved to a 120-acre dairy farm in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. I was fortunate to have been raised in a wonderful household, and both of my parents inspired me with their hard-working, entrepreneurial spirits. They influenced me greatly, and their example is largely responsible for who I am today and what I have accomplished.
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I married my veterinary school classmate, Dr. Gina Markson, in 1985. After considering many communities, we moved our family to Oconomowoc in 1988 and still reside in the home we bought over 30 years ago. We raised two daughters who attended the Oconomowoc Public Schools and graduated from Big Ten universities.
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My wife Gina and I are very involved in our local community, serving our city on many levels over the years. Together, we have supported our community at the YMCA, Oconomowoc Food Pantry, Lake Area Free Clinic, Festival of the Arts, Oconomowoc Area Foundation, Rogers Behavioral Health, Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Family Promise, Adopt a School Program, and more.
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Through our work in the community, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges that many of our area residents experience. We have an economically diverse community where everyone deserves a voice. I will continue to listen, and all residents will be heard. I am proud to serve as the Mayor of Oconomowoc, a great place to live, work, play, build a business and raise a family, and I hope to continue to do so.