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2025 City Council Candidate Gary Padesky

GARY PADESKY
La Crosse city council District 7 candidate

CONTACT: [email protected]


WIZM La Crosse Talk interview with Padesky:


Padeksy’s answers to WIZM questionnaire:

About You:

Can you tell us about yourself — your professional background, family, education, and history in La Crosse?

I was born & raised In LaCrosse, graduated in 1974 from LaCrosse Central high school, I helped run our family business (Shimshak’s Tavern) with my mother & father (Jack & Millie Padesky) from 1974 – 1989 then I owned the business w/friend Martin Gaul for 2 years and I moved on to Wettstein’s for a year before working for the city of LaCrosse for 22 1/2 years.  I have been happily married for 18 years to Kris (Skiles) Padesky and we love to ride our trikes, spoil our dogs and enjoy supporting our local businesses.


RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL

Why did you decide to run for City Council, and what experiences or skills do you bring that will help you represent your district and the city effectively? 

I decided to run for city council again because I don’t think the city is listening to the needs and wants of its residents. PLUS: I really miss that hands on feeling of helping people. I believe my 22 1/2 years working for the city, being on City Council for 6 years, County Board for 4 1/2 years and living here my whole life gives me a real good understanding of what people want.


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

How would you ensure residents in your district are actively involved in city planning and decision-making processes?

Well, they have to take the responsibility of getting involved in their Neighborhood Associations and or emailing or calling those of us in office, attend meeting and have their voices heard. I NEVER dodge people who want to or ask questions.


CITY ADMINISTRATOR

The City Council delayed a vote on hiring a City Administrator until after the election. Do you support the creation of this position? How do you see this role working in collaboration with the City Council and the mayor’s office?

I support a City Administrator (LaCrosse County) is a great example of what a good administrator can do and save $$$$ for us. I do believe though that the Mayor’s position should be a part time position then  at the end of our next mayors term.


HOMELESSNESS

What role do you see the City Council playing in addressing homelessness in La Crosse? 

Do you support the Pathways Home initiative?

  • If so, what aspects of the plan do you find most effective?
  • If not, what alternative solutions would you propose to address homelessness in La Crosse? I do support Pathways Home. But we need to be patient, have continued partnerships with the hospitals, business owners and everybody involved to keep working together moving forward.  The state has to get involved to help all the different cities & counties that struggle with this.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

What steps would you take to increase the availability of affordable housing, particularly for working-class residents and vulnerable populations, in your district and the city?

Well my district is mostly housing  with the old Kmart site being the only place for growth. I know the residents of District 7 are looking forward to that development. as far as the city, there’s has been lots of new options being done or worked on for housing.


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

How would you balance supporting new business development and sustaining existing businesses while preserving the unique character of La Crosse’s downtown and neighborhoods? Are there specific projects or ideas you would advocate for in your district or the city? 

I just really want to help get the Copper Rocks project going at the Kmart site and make sure we talk about parking for these type of projects.


POPULATION DECLINE

Recent reports show a decline in La Crosse’s population. What strategies would you support to attract and retain residents, particularly younger people and families?

Well LaCrosse is a beautiful place to live, the bluffs, the river, education, medical access, LaCrosse Center to name a few things…we have to keep improving our parks, protect our bluffs and work with the business owners to keep good jobs.


INFRASTRUCTURE

What is your approach to improving and maintaining the city’s infrastructure, including roads, public transportation and utilities? How would you ensure equitable access across the city?

While on city council and under Mayor Kabat’s and Council President Martin Gaul’s leadership we increased the amount of streets being replaced from a few miles up to 8 miles a year, while maintaining a good MTU system, worked with the utilities to improve sewer issues when replacing roads.


TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY

How would you advocate for improvements to transportation options in your district and the city? What ideas do you have for public transportation, bike lanes or pedestrian-friendly pathways?  

We have to continue to support the MTU (add routes where we can) improve lighting where needed for safety, bike lanes in areas that make sense.


PUBLIC SAFETY

What strategies would you support to ensure that La Crosse remains a safe community for residents and visitors? What plans do you have to address issues such as police-community relations, crime prevention and emergency response preparedness? 

We have a GREAT police and fire service in LaCrosse and I think the LaCrosse area has done a good job with police-community relations.


CLIMATE ACTION & SUSTAINABILITY

What climate action policies or sustainability initiatives would you champion in your district and citywide? How would you address renewable energy, waste reduction, and the protection of green spaces?  

Again, we started putting solar on some city buildings while I was on council, started using less paper, buying electric buses, maintain a great recycling program. (But we need to return the large items pick up in the spring)


EDUCATION & YOUTH SERVICES

How can the City Council collaborate with the school district and community organizations to ensure educational opportunities and services for young people? Are there district-specific needs you would focus on?  

The MTU is a valuable partner for the above mentioned collaboration needs, while on the Board of Public works we worked w/Longfellow school to put in much needed stop signs for student safety in the area around the school, continue to partner with the school district on projects like the park next to Emerson school.


TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

What role do you see for the City Council in fostering tech innovation and improving digital infrastructure? How could your district benefit from smart city initiatives or local tech industry development?  

I think the BEST way for the City Council to help is to just fund (when we can) or where we can and don’t try and tell experts how to do their job. But we have to keep moving forward.