Pleitner fends off challenge for council seat with ease

The makeup of the Port Washington Common Council will remain unchanged as incumbent Jonathan Pleitner held off a challenge by Robert Brooks in Tuesday’s election.

Pleitner held onto the 5th District seat on the council by a vote of 412-282.

Turnout in the district was 63%.

Pleitner, who garnered 59% of the vote to Brooks’ 40%, said Tuesday that the campaign had energized him.

“It reminded me why I’m doing this, to help people,” he said. “I’m so happy I can continue to serve my constituents on the west side of the city.”

Pleitner noted the city has done a significant amount of work in the past several years that will pave the way for its work in the future, including strategic planning, conducting an inventory of assets and creating a five-year capital plan.

“There’s so much information we have now. We need to start acting on it,” he said.

At the top of the list, he said, is making a decision on fire and ambulance staffing and then on a new fire station.

Development on the west side of the city is another topic to be tackled, Pleitner added.

Brooks said he is “extremely disappointed” in the results of the election.

But, he said, he is not giving up on the idea of public service.

“I’m still looking for ways to serve,” he said. “I’m absolutely not giving up and walking away from giving back to the community.”

Pleitner was the only alderman to face a challenger in Tuesday’s race, but he’s not the only one who was re-elected.

Running unopposed were Deb Postl, 1st District; Mike Gasper, 3rd District; and John Sigwart, 7th District.