Beyond the current economy, says Nickels, "the huge challenge we’re going to face is our age demographic is elderly and getting older. It’s always been ‘my grandfather worked at Mirro, my father worked at Mirro, I work at Mirro.’ Well, Mirro’s not here anymore.
"We’re seeing people my age getting their degrees and leaving. One of my goals is to show people my age that this is a place you want to raise your family."
Orion Energy Systems, which moved its corporate headquarters from Plymouth to Manitowoc earlier this year, and Tower Tech are companies that can replace Manitowoc’s lost manufacturing jobs; "that’s what’s Manitowoc is starting to build," says Nickels. "Local governments are limited as to what they can do with bringing in business. There’s little we can do except helping them reduce their costs and keeping the quality of life strong."
"I think we need to be on the lead of those things, and those are great companies," says Szyman. "We have to make sure those companies stay in the area, and that we have the workforce they need to stay in the area."
Along the quality of life theme, Nickels wants to upgrade the city’s lakefront and riverfront because "There’s really no beach space in Manitowoc that’s clean and family-friendly."
Nickels is looking at extending a boardwalk near a new condominium project on the Manitowoc River to connect to the Maritime Trail, which connects Manitowoc and Two Rivers, and possibly farther west. The city may be able to use Tax Incremental Financing funds and possibly federal and state stimulus funds for waterfront improvements. The city is already using $500,000 of stimulus funds to dredge the river and the harbor.
Nickels also wants to investigate the possibility of converting 10th Street and Eighth Street, both one-way streets, to two-way streets. That would be part of improving downtown, which was named to the state Main Street program in 2008.
Nickels wants to expand upon a theme Crawford helped spearhead, to make Manitowoc a center for alternative energy businesses. The city is the first in the state to allow wind turbines as tall as 40-story buildings to be installed in industrial-zoned areas. Nickels wants Manitowoc to be the first city in the state to put wind turbines into Lake Michigan.
Nickels echoes Crawford in believing the county’s opposition to wind farms is misguided. A bill pending in the Legislature would set uniform standards for wind farm permitting, taking much of that authority from counties or municipalities.
"We have a company that’s locally producing them," says Nickels. "One simple act would put millions of dollars into our economy."
Nickels believes he did not get support from what he called "big business" in Manitowoc — a group he identified as including the Herald Times Reporter, the Manitowoc home-builders association and officials of The Chamber Manitowoc County — an assertion with which some observers disagree.
"I campaigned as a common man for the common guy," he says. "I think I can because I spoke to the little guy. It’s going to be a challenge. We’ve all got to work together."
"Kevin was a very, very good ally of the EDC, and David Less, the city planner, is a very good ally of ours as well," says Steve Shellman, past president of the Economic Development Corporation of Manitowoc County. "And Justin was on the City Council for four years, so he’s seen the EDC in action. We’re all in this together, is how the EDC looks at it."
From Madison to Manitowoc
The education Nickels got in state government as a middle-school student has been resurrected with the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit. State officials in May were proposing 5-percent shared revenue cuts to cities.
"That’s $300,000 out of our budget," he says. "Shared revenue goes directly to the general fund, which goes directly to police and fire, parks and recreation. The state is spending frivolously, and that’s what we’re not going to do here."
Meanwhile, Ziegelbauer, the state representative who gave Nickels his first taste of partisan politics, is now Manitowoc County executive as well.
"Bob and I get along very well," says Nickels. "We haven’t had an issue yet where he and I have had to go head to head."
After mayor
It may be an odd question to ask a 22-year-old man who just began his first job, but Nickels’ precocious political career prompts the question of where he wants to go after his four-year term, or terms, as mayor end.
"I love elective office," he says. "Ever since I was 9 I wanted to be president. This was an opportunity to better myself and to contribute to the community. If the opportunity presents itself [for higher office], I’d consider it."
