2025 Mayoral Race Chris Kahlow
Learn more about your 2025 candidates for La Crosse Mayor

Chris Kahlow
Candidate for La Crosse Mayor
Contact: [email protected]
La Crosse Primary is February 18th, 2025
The General Election for City Offices is Tuesday April 1st, 2025
WIZM La Crosse Talk interview with Kahlow:
CHRIS KAHLOW
Can you tell us about yourself — your work, family and history in La Crosse?
Since 2019, I have represented District 6 on the La Crosse City Council. In 2023, I was elected President of the Council by my colleagues. My public service began in the early 2000 with service on the Board of Park Commissioners and the Heritage Preservation Commission. Born and raised in Mayville, WI, a small river town in southeastern Wisconsin, I graduated from UWL and purchased my first home in 1991 in La Crosse’s downtown neighborhood. I choose to put down roots in La Crosse because I saw a place like nowhere else: the beauty of the bluffs, the river, our urban wetlands and historic neighborhoods. I have been a small business owner, starting two successful small businesses in downtown La Crosse. And, I have been an active participant in revitalizing our downtown, rehabilitating several historic homes as rental properties. I have two adult children, both graduates of La Crosse public schools and share my home with Mercy, a collie resembling Lassie.

Why did you decide to run for mayor and what experiences do you feel will help you excel in office?
Many people urged me to run for Mayor. La Crosse is at a crossroads: we face real challenges and also have opportunities before us. This is no time for on the job training. We need a Mayor who can hit the ground running on day one and my experience on the City Council, as a small businessperson, and as someone deeply involved in her neighborhood and community make me uniquely qualified to serve as Mayor. Together, we can make La Crosse a city where everyone thrives.

How would you plan to enhance community involvement in city planning and decision-making processes?
The Mayor must be a leader for La Crosse, sharing a vision and direction for the City with the people she serves. The Mayor must ensure the City’s business is conducted openly so that the public is fully involved.
As Mayor, I will actively engage the community in city planning by implementing initiatives that bring government closer to the people and ensure everyone has a voice. My plan includes:
Hosting “Coffee with Kahlow” Events: I will create opportunities for informal conversations where residents can share their concerns and ideas directly with me in a relaxed setting.
Launching Traveling City Hall: I will bring city services and planning discussions to public venues such as grocery stores, libraries, and parks, making it easier for residents to participate without traveling to City Hall.
Setting Up Pop-Up Engagement Booths: I will work to establish interactive booths at local events and markets to provide updates on city projects and gather feedback from residents.
Leading Interactive Workshops: I will organize hands-on sessions where residents can collaborate with city planners to develop solutions tailored to their neighborhoods.
Strengthening Neighborhood Associations: I will prioritize supporting neighborhood associations by providing resources, fostering collaboration, and ensuring they have a direct line of communication with city leaders. Strong neighborhood groups are essential to healthy communities and effective city planning.

The City Council decided to delay a vote on hiring a City Administrator until after the election. Do you support the creation of this position? If so, how would the City Administrator collaborate with the mayor’s office, and what would their role entail?
I am eager to see the recommendations that are being developed by the working group that has been created to evaluate the need for, and potential role of, a City Administrator. I would not support adding layers to City government unless the work group’s analysis shows an Administrator would help streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance overall governance. Input from stakeholders, including community members, is an essential part of this process. The ultimate goal must be to ensure any changes made serve the best interests of the city and its residents.

Do you support the Pathways Home initiative? If so, what aspects of the plan do you find most effective?
La Crosse residents are frustrated with the City’s uneven past responses to encampments and I understand their frustration. Homelessness is a complex issue that cannot be fully addressed by local efforts alone. I have supported and continue to support the Pathways Home Plan as a meaningful step in addressing this challenge. While the Pathways Home Plan lays a strong foundation, several critical areas require external support, particularly in expanding access to treatment facilities for addiction and mental health services. These services are essential to addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing individuals with the tools they need to rebuild their lives. We also need our neighboring communities to be part of the solution. The solution cannot rest solely on the shoulders of city residents and taxpayers.
In addition, adopting preventive strategies can further help individuals and families remain housed. For example, implementing a hub model of community safety, which brings together social services, law enforcement, and community organizations, can help identify and address risks before they escalate into crises. This proactive approach ensures that individuals and families receive the support they need early, reducing the likelihood of homelessness and related challenges. Collaboration across all levels of government is essential to addressing these systemic issues.

La Crosse is like many cities facing challenges with affordable housing. How would you work to improve the availability of affordable housing for working-class residents?
La Crosse needs housing of all kinds – marketplace, affordable, and workforce. We must also make housing more affordable. As mayor, I’ll work to create incentives for small, incremental developers. Additionally, we must ensure that new housing integrates context-sensitive design, preserving the character of neighborhoods while meeting the demand for affordability. Balancing growth with design integrity is key to sustainable development.
I have been committed, as a member of the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC), to supporting initiatives that promote all types of housing opportunities. My efforts have focused on ensuring that initiatives assisting homeowners with critical home repairs remain funded and accessible. These programs are vital for preserving existing housing stock and enabling residents to remain in their homes, fostering long-term stability within our community.
I have also supported the approval of numerous housing projects spanning all price ranges, ensuring that the housing market meets the needs of our residents. Additionally, I voted to allocate funds for first-time homeowner down payment assistance programs, which strengthen neighborhoods, assist families in achieving their dreams of homeownership and build generational wealth.
Furthermore, I have supported accessory dwelling unit (ADU) initiatives and zoning updates to remove barriers to housing development. These efforts are aimed at creating more opportunities for a multitude of housing types and increasing the overall housing supply in our community.
What is your vision for economic growth in La Crosse, particularly in attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones? How do you plan to balance development with preserving the character of downtown and neighborhoods?
Balancing development with preserving the character of downtown and neighborhoods is essential to fostering sustainable economic growth and maintaining a strong sense of community. With 27 years of small business experience, I deeply understand the need to support local businesses and entrepreneurs and to encourage responsible growth while respecting the unique character that makes a place special.
On the City Council, I sponsored initiatives such as lowering license fees during COVID, outdoor café legislation to support local businesses, and creating a sprinkler grant program to help building owners redevelop upper floors safely. These initiatives create opportunities for new businesses to establish themselves in revitalized spaces and for existing businesses to expand into updated locations.
Preserving historic properties must be a priority. By protecting these structures and facilitating their redevelopment, we honor our past while making them vibrant, adaptable spaces for modern needs. Additionally, by supporting incremental development and homegrown developers who live and invest in our community, we create housing and business opportunities that align with the character and culture of our neighborhoods.
This approach directly contributes to economic growth by attracting new businesses to revitalized spaces while supporting existing ones with improved infrastructure and foot traffic. Vibrant, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and downtown areas become destinations for residents and visitors, creating a thriving environment that benefits everyone. Encouraging restoration and adopting strategies that support context-sensitive design will ensure downtown and our neighborhoods flourish while preserving their unique identity.
Recent reports show a decline in La Crosse’s population. What strategies would you implement to attract and retain residents, particularly younger people and families?
The next Mayor must overcome this challenge with an effective, focused approach. Working together we can ensure that La Crosse is a place where people want to live, work, and raise their families.
I will focus in three key areas:
Support our local business. Small businesses are the heart of our community. I will continue to support them with resources and incentives to grow jobs and keep talented people in La Crosse.
Housing and Safe Neighborhoods. We need safe neighborhoods and housing options that fit everyone’s needs, including affordable homes, townhouses, and “missing middle” housing.
Focus on our quality of life. To keep and attract residents, I will continue to make our city vibrant and welcoming. This means investing in our parks, trails, and the arts which contribute to a great quality of life.
What is your approach to improving and maintaining the city’s infrastructure, including roads, public transportation and utilities?
As Mayor, I will be a careful and wise steward of our taxpayer dollars. That means we will be smart about planning for infrastructure improvements and we will make the most of available dollars. We must focus on critical repairs and projects that ensure safety and which have the greatest impact. As Mayor, I will leverage state and federal government funding and grant programs.
Further, we will integrate climate strategies such as green infrastructure and expanding the urban tree canopy. Green infrastructure, including rain gardens and permeable pavements, helps manage stormwater naturally while enhancing public spaces. A healthy urban tree canopy improves air quality, reduces heat islands, and protects infrastructure from extreme weather impacts. On the Council, I have spearheaded projects like the King Street Greenway and downtown tree planting, which showcase the benefits of these strategies.
How do you plan to improve transportation options in La Crosse? What ideas do you have for expanding public transportation, enhancing pedestrian and bike pathways?
Improving transportation is essential to creating a more accessible, safe, and sustainable community. By focusing on safety, accessibility, and sustainability, we can create a transportation system in which our streets are safe for all users, regardless of their choice of travel.
As Mayor, I will support our mass transit system as I have as a City Council Member. We must ensure our mass transit system is robust and reliable by maintaining adequate funding. A well-supported public transportation system is critical for those who rely on it.
Collaboration with local law enforcement and community leaders is key to enforcing traffic laws and addressing behaviors like speeding and distracted driving. La Crosse should adopt Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries. This effective approach includes analyzing crash data to identify and address high-risk areas and implementing speed management strategies, such as reducing speed limits in residential and high-traffic pedestrian zones. I will expand public education campaigns to promote safe driving, cycling, and walking practices.
To enhance bike and pedestrian safety, I will prioritize expanding and protecting bike lanes where possible, and focus on safety at sidewalks and crosswalks, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic or a history of accidents. We should also consider implementing traffic calming measures like narrower lanes, raised crosswalks, and pedestrian refuge islands in more high-risk areas to further improve safety for all users.
What strategies would you implement to ensure that La Crosse remains a safe community for residents and visitors? How do you plan to address issues such as police-community relations, crime prevention and emergency response preparedness?
Public safety is a foundational responsibility of City government. As Mayor, I will continue to support the La Crosse Police Department and the dedicated, professional officers who serve us. I will ensure they have the resources to both keep us safe and improve public safety.
Our police department does a tremendous job of engaging with the community through community policing, which means officers are actively involved in neighborhoods, building trust and cooperation to address issues before they escalate. Additionally, our Crisis Response Unit (CRU), which pairs officers with mental health professionals, is crucial in handling non-violent incidents and de-escalating crises, ensuring better outcomes and improving public safety.
Quality-of-life crimes, including property damage, vandalism, thefts related to addiction, and criminal trespassing, are serious issues that deeply impact residents’ sense of security and the overall well-being of our community. These crimes degrade our neighborhoods.
As Mayor, I will also support the “hub” model of community safety. This model focuses on creating a centralized, collaborative approach where various community stakeholders—including law enforcement, social services, mental health professionals, and community leaders—work together to address both immediate safety concerns and also the underlying issues contributing to crime and instability. By coordinating resources and responses, the hub model can help prevent crime and provide better support for individuals at risk, creating another tool as a solution to community safety.
What steps would you take to address climate change and improve sustainability efforts in La Crosse, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, waste reduction, and green spaces?
The effects of climate change in Cities including increased urban flooding and dangerous, higher temperatures, can be mitigated with smart, cost-effective and well-tested approaches. As Mayor, I will continue to support our Climate Action Plan and it its implementation. I will support renewable energy projects, encouraging energy efficiency in buildings, and promoting sustainable development practices. Additionally, I will continue to champion integrating green infrastructure into urban planning and efforts to protect natural resources, both of which are critical to our community’s resilience against climate impacts.


What is your plan for supporting local schools and youth programs in La Crosse? How can the mayor’s office collaborate with the school district and other organizations to ensure educational opportunities and services for young people?
Youth programs provide safe, enriching opportunities that benefit young people and families and strengthen our community. As Mayor, I will continue to support these vital initiatives. Our summer youth programs, in particular, are crucial for families, offering parents affordable option and meaningful support during the summer months.
I will also strongly support funding to keep the Northside Pool open and the enrichment of all neighborhood parks. By improving and maintaining these spaces, we ensure that children and families have access to safe, vibrant environments for recreation and connection. Additionally, partnering with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club enhances programming, creating even more opportunities for youth to thrive.
With technological advancements affecting cities across the nation, how do you plan to incorporate tech and innovation into La Crosse’s growth? This could include areas such as digital infrastructure, smart city initiatives or fostering a local tech industry.
As Mayor, I will support innovations in technology that will improve the lives of our residents and make La Crosse more efficient. Partnerships with the private sector, such as La Crosse’s sustainability initiative, can bring private sector expertise to help meet challenges and save money. Fostering a local tech industry can help us stop the “brain drain” in La Crosse by keeping and attracting talented entrepreneurs. Our Municipal Transit (MTU) is enhancing its service to riders with a new and improved AVL (bus locator) App that will provide more accurate real-time bus information and enhanced features. We must continue to innovate and improve across all City departments to better serve our residents.
