For the second time in two months, a new alderman has been appointed to the board to fill an unexpired term. Kurt Krueger is the city’s new Ward 3 Alderman as of Jan. 13, following the resignation of Cathy Friedmann.
“I feel it’s very important that each ward has equal representation,” Sunset Hills Mayor Pat Fribis said. “We have a lot of things to vote on tonight and the next (three) months before the election.”
Though the November appointment of Mark Colombo to the Ward 4 seat following former alderman Lindsay Hof’s move from Sunset Hills didn’t outwardly ruffle any feathers, the board was split this time. Those opposed to Krueger’s appointment adamantly emphasized that it had nothing to do with the candidate himself, but rather the fact that he is running for the very seat he was appointed to, which some believe will give him an unfair advantage come April.
“The Board of Aldermen has a responsibility, in my opinion, not to render to any potential candidate favoritism in any way, shape or form,” Ward 4 Alderman Fred Daues said. “Fairness, integrity, fair play should be what we are all about as a city. The ethics of this decision, in my mind, are clear.”
Ward 1 Alderman Ann McMunn spoke next, seconding her colleague’s statement. Ward 3 Alderman Greg Colombo then began sharing his thoughts, though the civil conversation was interrupted by a mishap on Zoom in which unwanted audio and video began playing from an unknown source. When things settled down on the video conferencing platform, the discussion amongst the aldermen had taken a tense turn.
“You’re the one who’s making it political. It’s the mayor’s privy to do this. For you to interject this as a political event that she’s trying to endorse, or we’re endorsing anybody — I don’t think any of us endorsed anybody,” Ward 4 Alderman Mark Colombo said. “I know the man. He’s a capable man. He’s an outstanding man. He’s served the city with distinction for years … I don’t know why you feel it’s so wrong for the mayor to appoint someone who she feels would honestly represent that ward.”
As the comment was directed towards Daues, he replied, stating again that the issue is not about the particular candidate’s character, but the fact that he is running in a competitive race in a few months against another candidate who will not receive the incumbency advantage.
“Recognition does matter … In this city, there are not a whole lot of people (who) run for office,” Ward 1 Alderman Brian Fernandez said, echoing Daues’ sentiments. “I do believe that any vote we have does appear, right or wrong, Mark, that it is an endorsement of some kind of this board.”
Mark Colombo then reiterated that Fernandez was making the situation political, adding that those in opposition to the appointment were “making a boogeyman that doesn’t exist.”
Ward 2 Alderman Casey Wong, participating on Zoom, weighed in next, stating he saw both sides of the argument, though he ultimately agreed with moving forward with the appointment.
“For the upcoming election, it is undoubtedly an advantage to be appointed and be kind of seen as the incumbent. But that being said, where is the division in terms of how many months out from an election?” Wong said. “Even though I believe it to be an advantage, I don’t think it’s an unfair advantage … I would question more if the mayor had put somebody up who wasn’t interested to the point of running an active campaign in an open election.”
With that, a vote was held, with McMunn, Fernandez and Daues voting in opposition; Wong, Ward 2 Alderman Marie Davis, Mark Colombo and Greg Colombo voted in favor, narrowly approving the appointment.
“He’s already been an alderman … He is someone who already knows how to make decisions and make them quickly. As (Fribis) said, we have a lot of things coming up. We want to get some firm decisions made. So that’s why I changed my mind,” Davis explained following the contentious vote.
Krueger was promptly sworn in and will serve as Ward 3 Alderman until the upcoming April 7 municipal election, in which he will face off against Angie Weigel for the seat.
Sunset Hills will see a competitive race across all four aldermanic seats this April. In Ward 1, Natalie Akins and former Sunset Hills Ward 1 Alderman Frank Hardy have filed for candidacy; McMunn did not refile for her seat due to moving out of the area. In Ward 2, Wong will run against Greg Zveitel, a lieutenant and senior watch commander with the Sunset Hills Police Department, as well as Mark Schwarz. Friedmann will face Mark Colombo for the Ward 4 seat.
Before Krueger’s recent appointment to the board, he previously served as Sunset Hill’s Ward 3 Alderman from 2013 through 2020 when he was defeated by Friedmann — then a newcomer to public office, but nonetheless, a vocal community advocate — in the June municpial election. The election was held late due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his position as alderman, Krueger, an architect, also previously chaired the Public Works Committee, served on the Capital Improvements Committee, Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, Economic Development Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission and the Architectural Review Tax Force.
Editor’s note: It was previously stated that Greg Zveitel is a former lieutenant with the Sunset Hills Police Department. He is still currently employed by the department.
